Local and regional governance is essential for the success of EU politics and policies. Many of the EU’s objectives and policies are implemented at the local and regional levels, including when it comes to sustainable development. In this respect, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) have a unique role in representing local communities’ needs in the shaping of EU policies.
Since 2017, over the course of different framework contracts for services, Milieu has supported the CoR on issues ranging from environmental protection to the rule of law and fundamental rights. Milieu has also prepared studies relevant to local governance for the EESC, among other clients.
Some examples of Milieu’s work in this field are:
Multiple framework contract for studies in the field of Green Deal (going local), Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Space Policy – CoR ENVE
Since 2017, over the course of two framework contracts for services, Milieu has been supporting the Committee of the Regions’ Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) in its policy work. With multiple studies, Milieu has provided the ENVE Commission with knowledge and advice on issues ranging from EU funding for sustainability, and climate change adaptation at the local and regional level, to energy governance and mapping of climate and energy initiatives for local and regional authorities. Some of the studies completed include:
- Climate adaptation: Measuring performance, defining targets and ensuring sustainability (2022): https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/QG0322225ENN.pdf
- Financing the Green Deal: a toolbox for the implementation of the Green Deal (2021): https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/financing-the-green-deal-a-toolbox-for-the-implementation.pdf
- The local and regional dimension in the new Circular Economy Action Plan (2020): https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/Local%20and%20regional%20dimension%20of%20the%20CEAP.pdf
- Models of Local Energy Ownership and the Role of Local Energy Communities in Energy Transition in Europe: https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/local-energy-ownership.pdf
Multiple Framework Contract for Studies in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) and in the field of Rule of Law and Multiple framework contract for Constitutional Affairs, Multilevel governance and devolution – CoR CIVEX
Under two framework contracts for services, Milieu has been supporting the Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) in its work. Milieu has provided expertise and advice on various issues within the remit of the CIVEX Commission, including constitutional and institutional issues, local democracy and devolution, active subsidiarity and better law-making as well as the area of freedom, security and justice (covering issues such as migration and integration, fundamental rights and freedoms and active citizenship). Milieu’s work includes:
- EU cities and regions welcoming Ukrainian refugees – mapping multilevel coordination (2022): https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/Ukrainian%20refugees_study.pdf
- Developing a handbook on good practice in countering disinformation at local and regional level (2022): https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/Developing%20a%20handbook%20on%20%20good%20practice%20in%20countering%20%20disinformation%20at%20local%20%20and%20regional%20level/Online-disinformation_full%20study.pdf
- Developing a Decentralisation Index for the Committee of the Regions Division of Powers Portal (2021): https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/Developing%20a%20Decentralisation%20Index%20for%20the%20Committee%20of%20the%20Regions%20Division%20of%20Powers%20Portal/study_decentralisation-index.pdf
Shifting priorities towards post-COVID sustainable reconstruction and recovery – EESC
Recognising the scale of the challenge related to the extensive human and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of support packages were launched at various administrative levels, including the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that combined loans and grants of a total of EUR 672.5 billion. The study provides an overview of the extent to which a selection of national post-COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Plans have adopted the principles of wellbeing, economy and sustainable development. Key objectives of the study included to:
- Examine the extent to which the responses to the post-pandemic crisis by local and national authorities adopt the principles of a wellbeing economy/SDG implementation and take a longer-term approach to planning.
- Provide examples of how local communities as well as civil society and other stakeholders have contributed to plans for the reforming of the economy and society and to leaving no one behind.
- Identify and review some targeted responses to the COVID-19 crisis and draw parallels to the responses necessary to address the climate crisis, in order to provide recommendations on how the EU can better prepare to deal with the climate crisis.
The study is available here: Shifting priorities towards post-COVID sustainable reconstruction and recovery – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)