Territorial and governance reforms are well underway on our continent, a development that can be viewed as an indication of democracy in motion. These reforms have encouraged greater decentralisation and a more effectual share of responsibility between the different spheres of government. Now, the unparalleled challenges that have arisen since the start of the pandemic have moved the issue of effective coordinated actions by governments centre stage and the efforts of local and regional governments (LRGs) and their national associations into the spotlight.
In this context, we are pleased to present this first edition of the TERRI Report, a publication that builds on the foundations of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions’ (CEMR) earlier studies entitled, ‘Local and Regional governments in Europe – Structures and Competences’. The TERRI report will examine territorial and governance reforms undertaken in recent years and the evolving nature of relationships between central and subnational governments, as seen through the eyes of CEMR’s national associations, using information compiled every five years.
Since its creation in 1951, CEMR has shown itself to be a key European player, pursuing a Europe constructed on the principles of local self-government, respect for subsidiarity and rule of law. Both the oldest and broadest of the European associations representing subnational governments’ interests, CEMR brings together national associations of local and regional governments from 40 European countries and represents them at all tiers of government – local, intermediate and regional. At the heart of CEMR’s core values are governance-in-partnership, true fiscal decentralisation and democratic governance, the basic essentials for the competent and accountable discharge of public policy. Rarely have these elements, which are also a metric of effective governance, proven so important and necessary as during recent times. We wish to thank all those who contributed to this important work, including the experts from our member associations, and the academics who generously shared their knowledge and expertise.
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Rutger De Reu CEMR Spokesperson on Governance,
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Gunn Marit Helgesen CEMR Co-President, KS President
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