Ratification of the constitution of CEPLI ASBL | 16 -17 June 2011, Rome (Italy)

Starting with its creation in July 2008, the Constitutive Charter and the Partnership Agreement of 2009 formed the basis of the cooperation framework between the CEPLI members.

The participants agreed on the statutes of the ASBL and the new internal rules.

The President of CEPLI, Mr. Giuseppe Castiglione (UPI, Italy), the Vice-President, Mr. Paul-Emile Mottard (APW, Belgium), the Secretary-General, Mr. Claudy Lebreton (ADF, France) and the Treasurer, Mr. Helmut Jahn (DLT, Germany) have been reconfirmed.

The presidents of national associations representing the intermediate local authorities have decided to join their forces in order to increase their involvement and participation in the European decision-making process, to reinforce the consistency and visibility of their activities in the European area, to facilitate cooperation between intermediate local authorities and to establish the continuous exchange of information and good practices between their local authorities.

Third Political Conference - organized in Berlin (Germany), on 9 - 10 November 2010

Publish date: Wednesday, 10 November 2010

The European Confederation of Local Intermediate Authorities (CEPLI) appreciates the new essential innovations of the Treaty of Lisbon. The role of local and regional authorities, and therefore the role of Local Intermediate Authorities (LIAs), is finally recognized on primary law level. The Treaty acknowledges, for the very first time in the history of the European Union, the importance and significance the local level has in the field of policy creation and administration for its citizens.

From now on, it is necessary to put in place and develop the content of this innovation, which implies the upholding of the fundamental principles of local self-government, fiscal autonomy, subsidiarity, multi-level governance and cultural diversity in the political everyday business and in all the EU strategies and policies.

As directly involved actors for the implementation of European law, the Local Intermediate Authorities can, also with respect to their key position between national government and citizens, have an important contribution to this process.

We appreciate the legitimation of the principle of local self-government in the Treaty of Lisbon also with regard to the ongoing territorial reforms in many EU Member States. Given the extensive territorial reforms taking place, the enforcement of the right to self-administration and of the principle of subsidiarity is essential for LIAs.

CEPLI would therefore like to express its attachment to the principles of subsidiarity and free local administration which seems to be questioned through these reforms. CEPLI reminds that those principles were already enshrined into the European Chart of Local Self-Government of 1985 which has been ratified by all the European Union countries.

Moreover, CEPLI recalls that the inclusion of the territorial cohesion as one of the fundamental values of the European Union represented a considerable step forward for its economic and social cohesion. This cohesion will not happen without the contribution of Local Intermediate Authorities or without the intervention of all the territorial levels of EU.

The press release can be found here.

Second Political Conference - organized in Budapest (Hungary), on 12 - 13 November 2009

Publish date: Friday, 13 November 2009

The European Confederation of Local Intermediate Authorities (Confédération Européenne des Pouvoirs Locaux Intermédiaires, CEPLI) is the first and only European confederation of national associations of local intermediate authorities and associated networks.

CEPLI intends to be a model of cooperation and exchange to the benefit of its members and Europe. It aims to become a recognized partner of European institutions, other European, national and mondial associations.

European citizens are aware that the European Union is experiencing a crisis at different levels, which is far graver than previous situations. Within this context, we want to acknowledge the crucial role that local intermediate authorities are playing in ensuring territorial, economical and social cohesion.

The tsunami of the financial and economic crisis has put a halt to economic and social development in EU Member States, having severe consequences for social stability. Achieving the targets of the Lisbon Strategy will be increasingly difficult, taking into account the unemployment rates and the decrease of the GDP.

Local Intermediate Authorities (LIAs) can play a key role in providing immediate answers to the needs of the population and their territories. The knowledge they have because of their proximity and their critical mass makes them able to act in the most appropriate and efficient way.

In the current context, the structuring and cohesive role of local authorities is clearer than ever before. Local authorities are having to face the social consequences of the crisis and cope with a decline in economic development. They are perfectly aware of the fact that they must react and concentrate on the implementation of actions to help citizens face this economic and social crisis.

LIAs are carrying out innovative initiatives in order to fight the effects of the crisis at local level. This confirms that they have a great reaction and mobilisation capacity in response to a wide range of challenges.

First Political Conference - organized in Cáceres (Spain), on 5 - 6 February 2009

Publish date: Friday, 6 February 2009

This conference adopted the Convention of the Confederation and provided iteself with a President:
Mr. Claudy LEBRETON, President of the County Council of Coats d'Arms, President of the Assembly of Departments of France (ADF).

Also three vice-presidents were elected:

• Antoni FOGUE, President di Diputació di Barcelona, President of the Diputaciones Committee in the FEMP (Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, Spain)
• Ferenc ODOR, President of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Government, President of MÖOSZ (National Association of Megye, Hungary)
• Helmut M. JAHN, President of Hohenlohekreis, member of the Presidency of DLT (Deutscher Landkreistag, Germany)

The conference of Cáceres also discussed the position of CEPLI about the Green Book on Territorial Cohesion, which was officially submitted to the European Commission.

Meanwhile, all CEPLI members and associated networks agreed on a series of organizational provisions set forth in a Partnership Agreement, aiming at facilitating the achievement of the Confederation’s objectives.

Constitutive Meeting - organized in Avignon (France), on 15 - 16 July 2008

Publish date: Wednesday, 16 July 2008

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.