Our goal

More resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities.

Rationale for the support

Shifts in the global economy, climate change, the green and digital transitions, migration patterns, pressure on democracy, and demographic trends are major interdependent challenges impacting European communities.

European regions are gradually catching up, but many still struggle and are ill-equipped to reap the benefits of the green and digital transitions. Investments and innovation are increasingly concentrated in metropolitan areas, and the economic downturn has exacerbated existing economic, social, and territorial disparities. More than a fifth of the population in the EU is considered at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with women, immigrants, refugees, Roma, and other disadvantaged groups disproportionately affected.

Local and regional actors manage approximately half of European public investments, including the largest share of climate action. Sustainable local and regional development is hence the cornerstone of national socio-economic development, building resilience, diversity, prosperity, and democracy in a green and digital Europe.
 

Areas of support

  • Local investments in the green transition, climate action, environmental sustainability, resilience, social development and inclusion, employment, and the digital transition.
  • Local institutional development and public governance.
  • Local democracy, local and community media, information integrity, and open local government.
  • Socio-economic inclusion promoting equality, non-discrimination, diversity, and active participation of disadvantaged communities.
  • Networking and policy exchanges between municipalities, and with civil society and the central government.

How the objective will be addressed

Integrated, territorial, socio-economic development premised on local democracy, gender equality and human rights is key to achieving the programme area objective. Good governance should prescribe the necessary political and institutional processes and support improvements in public administration governance arrangements and capacity for policy design, implementation, and evaluation practices.

Capacity building of local authorities and stakeholders is highlighted, improving governance mechanisms, fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships, intermunicipal territorial cooperation, community-led local development, inclusion, integration, effective local democracy, and place-based approaches.

The objective is for local and regional authorities to better exploit their potential, aligning local development with EU objectives, aligning national and local priorities, and ensuring that investments are used to respond to citizens’ needs.

Focus is placed on holistic multi-sectoral methods supporting structural change, piloting novel approaches, enhancing existing initiatives and services, and improving access to, and use of, other sources of funding.

Key actors and beneficiaries

Local and regional authorities are crucial to achieving the programme area objective. The principle of partnership is the cornerstone, building on multi-level governance and ensuring the involvement of other key actors such as local communities, national authorities, civil society, economic and social partners, and academia.

Special emphasis is placed on disadvantaged areas and groups. Donor partners and international organisations can be valuable partners.