Secretaries General and Directors of CEMR Member Associations Gather in Belgrade

The meeting of Secretaries General and Directors of the member associations of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), with the participation of more than 40 guests from various European countries, was held in Belgrade on 23 and 24 October 2025. This year’s host of the event was the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM).

In his opening remarks, Goran Cvetanović, President of the SCTM and Mayor of Leskovac, emphasized the importance of such gatherings for strengthening local democracy, sustainable development, and European solidarity.

“I am particularly pleased that this important meeting is being held here in Serbia. For us, this is more than just an internal event of our European organization – it is a symbol of recognition that Serbia is part of the European family of local and regional authorities, as well as confirmation that the voice of our region’s cities and municipalities is being increasingly heard within CEMR as the European network of local governments,” said Cvetanović.

Fabrizio Rossi, Secretary General of CEMR, addressed the participants highlighting both current and future challenges that local and regional authorities across Europe will face in the coming years.

The central part of the meeting focused on administrative topics related to the coordination of activities among CEMR’s member associations. Special attention during the program was devoted to current social challenges — social inclusion, the labor market, and climate change. Over the two days, Secretaries General, directors, and experts from European associations of local and regional authorities exchanged experiences and discussed the challenges faced by local governments in these areas, as well as opportunities to strengthen mutual cooperation and launch joint initiatives at the European level.

The meetings of CEMR Secretaries General and Directors are of great importance: they enable the strategic alignment of national associations’ activities, strengthen institutional cooperation within the CEMR network, and facilitate the creation of common positions towards European institutions. They also provide a valuable opportunity to showcase good practices and innovative solutions from different countries that can contribute to improving local governance and the quality of life of citizens.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is the oldest and broadest European organization representing local and regional governments. Founded in 1951, it brings together more than 60 national associations from 40 European countries, collectively representing around 130,000 local and regional authorities. CEMR advocates for strengthening local democracy, decentralization, sustainable development, and citizens’ active participation in decision-making, as well as for ensuring a stronger voice for local and regional authorities in European and international processes.

The meeting in Belgrade underscored the importance of dialogue, solidarity, and joint action among European local governments in addressing contemporary social, economic, and environmental challenges.