European and African local authorities renew EU partnership for sustainable development

The European Commission and five local authority associations have renewed a four-year partnership to make European and African communities more sustainable and pave the way for stronger EU-African relations.

The Commission recently signed five agreements with associations of local authorities to help them promote development in line with the 2030 sustainable development goals.

The aim is to make sure “future-proof solutions for our challenges are implemented on the ground,” said Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen on 12 September.

The agreements provide €50 million in financial support to local and regional government associations under the Commission’s NDICI-Global Europe programme.

Moreover, the EU executive committed to support local and regional governments’ actions with additional funds.

“By 2027, the EU will support local authorities’ work in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing inequalities with at least €500 million,” Urpilainen said, adding that “this will support your work on the ground.”

City diplomacy

Local authority representatives welcomed the new agreements with the EU, pointing to their role in building more inclusive and peaceful communities.

“We have to strive for city diplomacy,” said Jan Van Zanen, mayor of the Hague and president of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) association.

“If nations cannot make it or cannot have good relations, the mayors, the local governments can be peer to peer and learn from each other,” he added.

Moreover, local governments’ proximity to the communities can help better understand their needs and support them in facing current challenges, such as climate change.

“Local governments are the legitimate representatives of the population and they can raise awareness among the population,” said Fatimetou Abdel Malick, president of UCLGA, one of the two African associations signing the agreements.

Abdel Malick welcomed the continued support from the European Commission.

“It certainly has an impact on the daily life of our citizens in Africa,” she told EURACTIV, adding that “it will allow our community to learn and strengthen capacity for our sustainable development.”

She added that local diplomacy can play a more important role than national governments when it comes to political stability as “it’s local communities that can restore peace.”

Relations with Africa

According to the representatives, the EU’s support in Africa is also critical for education, sanitation, climate change and infrastructure investment.

“To make a difference on the ground, local governments need capacity and resources to deliver,” Innocent Uwimana, chair of the Rwanda and the East African local government associations, told EURACTIV.

In his view, the EU can provide both capacity building and direct access to funding instruments enabling local governments in Africa to improve conditions on the ground.

Moreover, according to CEMR and Platforma president Stefano Bonaccini, involving African communities is important to “guarantee reciprocal growth, development and opportunities.”

Meanwhile, the partnerships with local authorities can also reinforce international relations with the African Union (AU).

“Local authorities are key collaborators in our external actions,” said Commissioner Urpilainen, adding that “associations of local authorities will have a key role in the AU-EU partnership going forward.”

[Edited by Benjamin Fox]

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