General presentation

CEPLI is the first European confederation grouping 6 national associations representing more than 800 Local Intermediate Authorities of six European Countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Romania) and two European networks of intermediate local authorities, Arco Latino and Partenalia.

Believing that a Europe of Member States can only be built and developed by drawing on the diversity of its territories, the CEPLI members, representing national associations and European networks of local authorities, are working together in order to:

• increase the participation of local intermediate authorities in the European decision-making process;
• represent their interests at European level, especially with regard to the European legislation affecting their activities and policies;
• develop a direct dialogue at European level, with institutions in charge of programs and major territorial policies as well as with other European associations and NGOs bringing together local and regional authorities;
• strengthen the coherence and visibility of their interventions on European territory;
• facilitate cooperation between local intermediate authorities and joint European projects
• establish a permanent exchange of information and good practice between local communities.

Local Intermediate Authorities hold a specific position and have common characteristics that, over the course of time, have proved particularly suited to achieving European social, economic and territorial cohesion.

CEPLI Charter and related documents

The Treaty of Lisbon opened a new phase in the process of European construction. Recognition of the subsidiarity principle, local autonomy, diversity and regional cohesion as the principles of the European Union, will contribute toward reasserting the role and place of local authorities in defining and implementing European policies.

In the context of globalisation, we need to build a much stronger political, social, economic and cultural Europe. In this development, the place of local authorities, and more particularly that of intermediary local authorities, will be a determining factor. Our collective responsibility is also to now support the evolution of the people's Europe.

Since its creation, the cohesion policy has given the territories decisive access to Europe by enabling local authorities to participate in the European Union area integration project beyond national frameworks.

Our intermediary local authorities play a key role in this process in each member state. On this basis, they have been able to bring their interventions within the various strategic frameworks of the European Union. As such, their contribution must be highlighted and recognised by the European Union.

Located across the European Union area, they hold a specific position and have common characteristics that, over the course of time, have proved particularly suited to achieving objectives for European social, economic and regional cohesion.

Our collective responsibility is also to now support the evolution of the people's Europe. The territories and their local authorities are now capable of providing access to Europe for its citizens.

CEPLI Statute

The political representatives adopted the ASBL statute (document attached) allowing CEPLI to acquire a legal personality and enabling it to act in a more efficient way at European level.

CEPLI governing bodies

President: Mr André Viola, councillor of the Aude Provincial Council, France, and CoR member of the National Delegation of France

CV here

Vice President: Mr José Manuel Baltar Blanco, President of Partenalia, President of Ourense County, Spain

CV here

Treasurer: Mr Tanguy Stuckens, Président du Collège de la Province du Brabant wallon

CEPLI technical bodies

1. The Technical Working Group is formed by the technical representatives of the national associations and associated networks. It will meet as often as necessary, being in charge with the development of the action plans. The Technical Working Group makes also proposals to the Political Body concerning the preparation of the Political Conferences and proposes the agenda of the meetings as well as on other initiatives agreed in its meetings.

2. CEPLI Secretariat within the Technical Working Group, run by a Brussels Office of a CEPLI member, will be in charge of the internal and external communications, coordinating the organisation of meetings.

CEPLI technical group

• Arco Latino – Blanca Soler Tobella
• ADF – Christine Cote
• APW – Bruno de Viron & Quentin Delhaye
• DLT – Andreas Listing
• Partenalia – Nicolas Reynès
• UNCJR – Mădălina Trandafir
• UPI (Observer member) – Alessia Belluomini
• ZPP – Jan Maciej Czajkowski