Brussels, 03/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 3 October, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) called on the European Commission to strengthen the 2014-2020 “Europe for Citizens” programme, by giving it a symbolic budget of one euro per citizen, or a total of €495 million. This request was made in the final declaration adopted during the closing session of the European Congress on Citizenship and Twinning held from 29 September to 1 October 2011 in Rybnik, Poland.
The increase from the current amount of €215 million would make it possible to continue to support twinning links, of which there are currently 40,000 in Europe, and to extend partnership possibilities to countries to the east and south of Europe, according to a press release. Support the town twinning in EU neighbouring countries would notably help promote mutual awareness and understanding, and allow for the development of local democracy and decentralisation in these countries. In order to facilitate the opening up of the “Europe for Citizens”programme to neighbouring countries, the CEMR also recommends that the new European External Action Service include at least a dedicated expert for local and regional authorities. (LC/transl.fl)