COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries_for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes
Date: 2013-05-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: association of local authorities, decentralisation, development aid, financial management, local government, urbanisation

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 15.5.2013  
COM(2013) 280 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries 
for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries 
for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes 

1. 

BACKGROUND 

Centrally-led,  top-down  development  policies  and  programmes  cannot  alone  succeed  in 
addressing  the  complexities  of  sustainable  development  and  fighting  poverty.  Public  and 
private actors have their role to play especially at local level. In the last two decades, many 
central  governments  in  developing  countries  have  attributed  responsibilities  to  Local 
Authorities1  in  country  development  processes,  with  a  view  to  allow  for  the  definition  of 
public policies and service delivery on local realities.  

However, this political recognition has not always been accompanied by an adequate level of 
autonomy,  capacity  development  and  financial  resources,  leaving  their  empowerment 
incomplete.  In  many  EU  partner  countries,  funding  directly  channelled  through  Local 
Authorities  still  represents  a  marginal  part  of  national  public  sector  expenditure  and  of 
international development aid. 

A  certain  number  of  obstacles  have  to  be  overcome  in  order  to  unlock  the  development 
potential of Local Authorities. It is with this purpose that the European Commission reaffirms 
the importance of Local Authorities in partner countries, in achieving development objectives 
and proposes a more strategic engagement for their empowerment.2 

This Communication integrates the results of the Structured Dialogue on the involvement of 
Civil  Society  Organisations  and  Local  Authorities  in  EU  development  cooperation,3  the  EU 
renewed  approach  to  poverty  reduction  and  sustainable  development  defined  by  the 
Communication  Increasing  the  Impact  of  the  Development  Policy:  an  Agenda  for  Change4 

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3 
4 

In  this  Communication,  the  term  «Local  Authorities»  will  refer  to  public  institutions  with  legal 
personality, component of the State structure, below the level of central government and accountable to 
citizens.  Local  Authorities  are  usually  composed  of  a  deliberative  or  policy-making  body  (council  or 
assembly) and an executive body (the Mayor or other executive officer), directly or indirectly elected or 
selected at local level. The term encompasses different tiers of government, e.g. villages, municipalities, 
districts, counties, provinces, regions, etc. Within this wide context, the focus of this Communication is 
however  put  on  the  municipal  level,  which  is  generally  the  lowest  government  tier  of  the  public 
institutional system and the closest to citizens. 
In continuity and complementarity with the Commission Communication Local Authorities: actors of 
development COM(2008) 626 final (8.10.2008). 
URL: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0626:FIN:EN:PDF, 
with  the  annexed  European  Charter  on  development  cooperation  in  support  of  Local  Governance 
URL: 
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/aidco/index.php/European_charter_on_development_coopera
tion_in_support_of_local_governance_paper_P65. 
URL: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/who/partners/civil-society/structured-dialogue_en.htm. 
COM(2011) 637 final (13.10.2011). 

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and  related  Communications  and  Council  Conclusions,5  as  well  as  the  results  of  the 
stakeholder  consultation  carried  out  on  the  basis  of  the  Issue  Paper  Local  Authorities  in 
Development.  Furthermore,  the  Communication  takes  into  account  the  international  aid  and 
development effectiveness agenda, as lastly shaped by the Busan Outcome Document.6 

The importance of Local Authorities in development 

The participation of citizens in decision-making processes that affect their lives and access to 
accountability mechanisms  is  fundamental to the promotion of  sustainable development and 
poverty reduction. This is particularly relevant at the local level, where citizens live and work, 
where  basic  services  are  provided  and  where  enterprises  are  established.  Citizens  have, 
therefore,  common  interests  at  stake,  to  set  objectives  and  work  together  in  identifying 
solutions particularly aiming at improved access to services, a more balanced distribution of 
available resources, greater social cohesion and enhanced accountability and transparency of 
public authorities, including to accountability mechanisms. 

Being closer to citizens than other public institutions, Local Authorities hold responsibility in 
mobilising local societies’ opinions while acting as catalysts for change. This is particularly 
true in terms of more efficient public administration, more inclusive development processes, 
in cooperation with Civil Society Organisations7 (CSOs), and solutions to urgent challenges 
faced  by  local  communities.  Such  challenges  include  social  exclusion,  migration,  food 
security, limited infrastructures, rapid urbanisation, depletion of resources, public safety and 
violence,  environmental  and  social  impact  of  extractive  activities,  climate  adaptation  and 
mitigation, rule of law and access to justice. 

Good  governance8  at  local  level  is  necessary  to  achieve  sustainable  development  and 
equitable  outcomes.  It  creates  the  conditions  for  inclusive,  responsive  and  effective 
development processes.  

The  quality  of  local  governance  is  primarily  linked  to  the  political  willingness  of  central 
governments  to  create  a  conducive  environment  at  local  level,  through  legal  and  regulatory 
instruments,9  allowing  Local  Authorities  to  benefit  from  a  sufficient  level  of  autonomy  in 
exercising power and acquire specific capabilities. Hence, the quality of local governance is 
also related to the way Local Authorities manage and implement public policies and services 
on the basis of local policy-making processes and interactions with other public institutions, 
citizens and private sector and through the allocation of available resources. 

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COM(2011)  638  final  (13.10.2011),  COM(2011)  865  final  (7.12.2011),  COM(2012)  446  final 
(20.8.2012),  COM(2012)  492  final  (12.09.2012)  and  Council  Conclusions  (15.10.2012),  COM(2012) 
586 final (3.10.2012), JOIN(2012) 27 final (3.10.2012), COM(2013) 92 (27.2.2013). 
URL:  
www.aideffectiveness.org/busanhlf4/images/stories/hlf4/OUTCOME_DOCUMENT_-_FINAL_EN.pdf 
“The EU considers CSOs to include all non-State, not-for-profit structures (include community-based 
organisations,  non-governmental  organisations,  faith-based  organisations,  foundations,  research 
institutions, trade unions, women's organisations, cooperatives, professional and business associations, 
and the media) through which people organise to pursue shared objectives and ideals”. COM(2012) 492 
final. 
URL: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0492:FIN:EN:PDF. 
Governance is related to rules, processes, and behaviours by which interests are articulated, resources 
are  managed,  power  is  exercised  in  society  by  the  institutions  in  charge  of  public  affairs  and 
participation of all relevant actors is allowed for. COM(2003) 615 final (20.10.2003). 
E.g.  institutional  arrangements,  separation  of  powers,  electoral  and  party  systems,  appropriate 
decentralisation policies, intergovernmental fiscal systems, respect of the rule of law. 

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In  natural  resource--rich  countries,  Local  Authorities  could  give  their  advice  on  the  ways 
extractive  industries  operate  and  on  how  revenues  from  the  extractive  sector  are  shared 
between local communities, central government and private operators. 

In  fragile,  crisis  and  risk-prone  situations,  Local  Authorities  have  a  key  role  to  play  to 
safeguard vulnerable populations and communities, by steering the set-up of local resilience 
strategies and by enabling the delivery of basic social services. In disaster-prone areas, they 
can  be  crucial  in  prevention,  mitigation  and  preparedness,  in  addition  to  managing  early 
responses  and  delivering  basic  services  to  populations.  Moreover,  they  often  play  an 
important  part  in  early  warning  and  thus  contribute  to  de-escalating  the  first  stages  of 
violence, through local and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.  

The realisation of Local Authorities' comparative advantage can nevertheless be undermined 
by negative political factors, particularly related to a lack of effective leadership, high levels 
of  corruption  and  maladministration,  clientelism,  and  illegal  economy,  as  well  as  by 
institutional  weaknesses,  such  as  dysfunctional  institutional  arrangements,  limited  financial 
resources,  low  levels  of  administrative  capacity,  inadequate  planning  procedures  and  public 
finance management. 

Thus,  depending  on  the  country  context,  linking  the  public  sector  at  local  level  to 
development processes may imply efforts to increase the capacities of Local Authorities and 
to strengthen local governance structures. It is fundamental to simultaneously empower local 
public  authorities  and  citizens,  to  ensure  both  that  the  latter  have  the  ability  to  demand 
transparency and accountability10 and that Local Authorities have the means and incentives to 
respond  to  citizen  demands  for  effective,  transparent  and  accountable  governance,  an 
equitable allocation of resources and access to services. 

2. 

UNLOCKING  THE  DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITIES 

POTENTIAL  OF  LOCAL 

Support to the public sector in partner countries towards more effective and efficient design 
and implementation of national development policies and plans should take into account the 
important  role  of  the  local  public  sector.  Assistance  to  Local  Authorities  should  aim  at 
enhancing their capacities and means to execute their institutional mandate as defined by law 
and consequently to exercise their power of initiative as full-fledged policy-makers.  

Adhering  to  the  principle  of  subsidiarity,11  the  EU  aims  at  promoting  the  role  of  Local 
Authorities  as  policy  and  decision-makers,  in  favour  of  transparent  and  accountable  policy-
making and service delivery at the local level. This is likely to empower them, and to boost 
local  development  via  increased  democratic  participation,  justice,  human  rights,  active 
citizenship,  participation  of  women  and  youth  in  the  public  sphere,  and  multi-level 
accountability. 

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11 

Local  CSOs  may  play  an  important  role  in  keeping  local  politicians  and  officials  accountable  for  the 
responsive and efficient delivery of public services at local level. Furthermore, the interaction between 
LAs and CSOs contributes to the creation of a local polity where political and developmental processes 
take place. 
According to the principle of subsidiarity, public responsibilities, regulatory functions and spending are 
transferred  to  the  lowest  institutional  or  social  level,  closest  to  citizens,  that  is  able  and  entrusted  to 
complete them. 

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Stakeholder  partnerships  and  dialogue  mechanisms,  made  up  of  representatives  of  Local 
Authorities, other actors operating locally and citizens, should be encouraged at local level, as 
a  way  to  engage  in  dialogue  with  relevant  central  authorities  to  ensure  their  needs  and 
concerns are known and taken into account.  

It is in this framework that a territorial approach to development should be promoted. Tailored 
to territorial characteristics and needs, the territorial approach to development is characterised 
as  a  dynamic  bottom-up  and  long-term  process  based  on  a  multi-actor  and  multi-sector 
approach,  in  which  different  local  institutions  and  actors  work  together  to  define  priorities, 
and plan and  implement development  strategies. Through the guidance  of Local Authorities 
and  the  mobilisation  of  additional  private  and  community  capacities  and  resources,  the 
territorial approach to development could trigger a change in the quality of citizens’ life and 
wellbeing,  ensuring  a  balance  between  socio-economic  growth,  equity  and  environmental 
quality and increasing the resilience of the most vulnerable. Furthermore, this approach could 
reinforce  local  political  processes,  transparency  and  boost  democratic  ownership  of 
development, via a continuous monitoring of progress towards sustainability.  

3. 

SHAPING  EU  SUPPORT  FOR  IMPROVED  GOVERNANCE  AND  MORE 
EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES AT LOCAL LEVEL 

The  EU  should  work  in  favour  of  democratically  legitimate,  accountable  and  representative 
Local Authorities and local leaders in partner countries with a particular focus on municipal 
authorities  in  rural  and  urban  areas.  The  EU  should  also  explore  the  opportunities  for 
coordination with regional authorities.  

In  situations  of  fragility,  EU  cooperation  with  Local  Authorities  is  particularly  relevant  in 
parallel  to  wider  state-building  processes,  which  are  essential  to  the  path  out  from  fragility 
towards stability. As stated in the Agenda for Change, this is particularly relevant in countries 
where  gross  human  rights  violations  take  place.  In  these  cases  the  EU  may  suspend 
cooperation  with  central  governments  and  continue  channelling  assistance  through  Local 
Authorities and CSOs. 

that  Local  Authorities  can  be  empowered 

Likewise,  the  EU  should  support  the  efforts  of  governments  to  create  a  conducive 
the  definition  and 
environment,  so 
implementation  of  local  policies  and  plans  and  fully  participate  in  sustainable  development 
processes. Together with central governments, the EU should invest in capacity development 
activities  to  ensure  that  Local  Authorities,  particularly  in  remote  areas  with  limited 
capabilities and resources, are able to lead the development of their territories in cooperation 
with other local actors.  

in 

From an operational point of view, the new EU approach would promote enhanced political, 
administrative  and  fiscal  autonomy  of  Local  Authorities  through  decentralisation  reforms, 
capacity and institutional development. 

3.1. 

Decentralisation processes 

Decentralisation constitutes a particular aspect of public sector reform. It involves the transfer 
of  a  range  of  political  authority  and  powers  including  revenue-raising,  responsibilities  in 
service delivery and financial, human and administrative resources from higher levels in the 
political system to public authorities at lower level.  

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Decentralisation  is  inherently  a  political  question  that  affects  the  overall  organisation  of  a 
state. It aims at better efficiency, equality and social cohesion and can only be decided by a 
sovereign  country.  Hence,  support  to  decentralisation  from  development  partners  should  be 
envisaged only where there is a political will to initiate and support decentralisation or where 
decentralisation reforms have already been put in place. At the same time, EU should adapt its 
sector operations to already decentralised environments, where this is the case. 

EU support to decentralisation processes will be based primarily on the understanding of the 
political  economy  of  the  reforms  in  relation  to  territorial  assets.  Moreover,  EU  support  to 
decentralisation  should  focus  on  the  establishment  of  a  conducive  legal  and  policy 
environment  for  decentralisation  and  on  institutional  and  capacity  development,  in  order 
Local Authorities to enjoy a certain degree of autonomy to fulfil their functions as mandated 
by law.  

The  expected  results  should  be  the  allocation  of  sufficient  financial  resources  to  Local 
Authorities  according  to  national  legal  frameworks,  improved  public  financial  management 
and  mobilisation  of  revenues  at  the  local  level.  In  parallel,  EU  assistance  should  aim  at 
enhancing the capacities of central authorities, deconcentrated public services as well as local 
political and administrative staff, together with the establishment of mechanisms of political 
accountability, transparency and mechanisms for monitoring municipal policies. 

Example of EU support to decentralisation process: the case of Cambodia 

The  EU  co-funded  Programme  “Strengthening  Democratic  and  Decentralised  Local  Government"  was  implemented  in 
partnership with UNDP from 2006 until December 2011, in support to the Cambodian Government's "Deconcentration and 
Decentralisation  Strategy".  At  commune  level,  the  Programme  has  built  horizontal  cooperation  amongst  communes,  while 
improving  citizens'  perceptions  of  Local  Authorities  and  citizens’  well-being.  At  provincial  level,  the  Programme  has 
encouraged the establishment of 24 legally independent Associations of Local Authorities. At national level, the action has 
aimed  at  improving  intergovernmental  financial  transfers.  Local  Authorities  have  started  using  financial  resources  in  an 
autonomous way. 

In  this  context,  the  EU  should  consider  fiscal  decentralisation  as  a  strategic  entry  point  to 
progressively build an accountability culture, as it defines the generation and distribution of 
resources  that  are  used  to  fulfil  citizens'  demands.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to 
mechanisms  that  allow  combining  of  external  and  domestic  resources  into  fiscal  transfer 
facilities,  to  support  local  tax  revenue  and  development  planning,  budgeting  and  spending 
processes of Local Authorities.  

3.2. 

Capacity development of Local Authorities  

In  order  to  enhance  Local  Authorities’  ability  to  contribute  to  good  governance  and 
consequently  to  achieve  development  goals  at  local  level,  local  elected  officials  and 
administrative staff have to overcome capacity constraints, such as managing and mobilising 
public  sector  resources,  leadership  skills,  public  financial  management,  revenue  raising  and 
expenditure, transparency, participation and interaction with other actors. 

Capacity  for  local  good  governance  is  affected  by  factors  that  operate  at  three  levels: 
individual, institutional and organisational. At the individual level, local capacity is affected 
by  the  skills,  training  and  attitude  of  local  politicians  and  administrative  staff.  At  the 
institutional  level,  capacity  depends  on  structures,  operating  procedures,  which  frame  and 
govern the activities of the personnel. At the organisational level, capacity is affected by the 
policy  and  legal  environment,  and  by  the  rules  and  practices  that  govern  the  relations  with 
other actors. 

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Support to capacity development of Local Authorities will be defined on the basis of a long-
term  and  demand-driven  approach,  with  emphasis  on  leadership  building,  inclusive  service 
delivery and sound financial management. This approach will entail the promotion of country-
led  Local  Authorities  capacity  development  within  the  sectors  in  which  they  operate, 
particularly  through  the  involvement  of  national  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  and 
schools  of  administration,  horizontal  cooperation  among  Local  Authorities  consisting  for 
example in big municipalities offering technical assistance to smaller ones, and the inclusion 
of more adequate central-local authorities linkages.  

3.3. 

Sustainable Urbanisation 

Because  of  the  rapid  growth  in  urban  population,  urban  governance  has  become  another 
important aspect of good local governance. Local Authorities in urban areas have a decisive 
role to address the challenges related to urbanisation, such as the needs of citizens living in 
unauthorised settlements without adequate services and facilities, impoverished quality of life, 
criminality and social dysfunction.  

By the year 2025, approximately two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, 
with  95  per  cent  of  the  urban  population  growth  taking  place  in  partner  countries  and 
concentrated  in  the  lowest  income  groups.  Urbanisation  has  different  causes  including  the 
migration  of  people  from  small  towns  and  rural  areas  to  major  metropolitan  areas  and  the 
rural-to-urban migration to the intermediate towns, as well as the natural increase of existing 
populations in metropolitan cities.  

In its cooperation with partner countries, the EU will seek to promote sustainable strategies to 
promote  non-discrimination  and  break  down  the  barriers  that  exclude  various  groups  from 
access to resources and opportunities offered by urban development, with the view to promote 
social inclusion, territorial cohesion and environmental protection.  

Special  attention  should  be  paid  to  land  access  as  a  pre-requisite  to  sustainable  urban 
development. Urbanisation has a profound effect on land values, so it is important to ensure 
that  municipal  finance  can  benefit  from  the  increased  values  of  land  in  order  to  be  able  to 
finance services and facilities. 

In particular, the EU should encourage the definition of city policies for slum upgrading, to 
gradually  improve,  formalise  and  incorporate  slums  into  the  city  itself  by  extending  land, 
services  and  citizenship  to  slum  dwellers.  Furthermore,  the  EU  should  seek  to  improve  the 
administrative ability of Local Authorities to register land rights and interests, to the effective 
and  efficient  management  of  urban  land  (cadastres,  urban  property  registers).  Improving 
urban  land  will  open  property  markets.  Property  and  transactions  will  become  more 
transparent and fiscally taxable, increasing fiscal capacities of Local Authorities, which is a 
prerequisite for developing urban infrastructure and improving overall quality of life. 

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3.4. 

Associations of Local Authorities 

Associations  of  Local  Authorities12  can  be  instrumental  in  achieving  good  governance  and 
development outcomes at local level. Their main functions include (i) advocacy of members' 
interests in national policy dialogues with central governments and other national stakeholders 
as  well  as  in  international  fora;  (ii)  lobby  for  decentralisation  policies  leading  to  more 
autonomous and empowered Local Authorities; (iii) coordination and platform for discussion 
among  members;  (iv)  experience  and  knowledge  sharing  with  the  view  to  enhance  Local 
Authorities’ capacities; (v) quality supervision of Local Authorities performance in matters of 
local  policy-making  processes  and  service  delivery;  (vi)  promotion  and  coordination  of 
participative local development plans. 

In  many  partner  countries,  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  are  still  weak.  In  some  other 
countries national Associations of Local Authorities do not exist. 

In  the  last  two  decades,  international  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  have  started 
advocating  for  their  participation  in  the  formulation  of  development  policies  and  in  the 
delivery  of  international  aid  at  local  level.  International  Associations  of  Local  Authorities 
have also reaffirmed the importance of local governance and decentralisation reforms in the 
creation of a conducive environment to play an effective role in local development. 

Supporting Associations of Local Authorities in the ACP Countries 

Since  2010,  in  the  framework  of  the  Cotonou  Agreement,  the  EU-funded  Regional  Programme  “Supporting  and 
strengthening  Local  Government  Associations  at  ACP  national  and  regional  levels”  (ARIAL)  has  aimed  to  enable 
Associations of Local Authorities to take part in the definition and implementation of development policies, through capacity 
and  institutional  development  activities.  During  its  three-year  implementation  period,  ARIAL  has  worked  towards  the 
strengthening  of  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  at  national,  sub-continental  and  continental  level.  Key  outcomes  have 
been:  (i)  the  support  of  five  national  associations,  namely  in  Gabon,  Chad,  Swaziland,  Kiribati  and  Vanuatu,  through  the 
Emerging Local Government Association Facility; (ii) the production of a series of capacity development toolkits, tailored on 
the demand of Associations of Local Authorities, in order to identify funding opportunities, to survey Local Authorities on 
their needs, to manage projects, to draft communication, advocacy and lobby plans. 

The  EU  should  seek  to  involve  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  in  the  programming  of 
national  and  local  priorities  as  well  as  in  the  implementation  of  related  EU-funded 
programmes,  particularly  those  related  to  decentralisation.  Furthermore,  the  EU  should 
facilitate  the  establishment  of  partnerships  between  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  in 
partner countries and the EU. 

4. 

A WAY FORWARD: MORE EFFICIENT AND FLEXIBLE MODALITIES OF 
SUPPORT  

The EU should adapt its support to the growing role, potential, and needs of Local Authorities 
and Associations of Local Authorities in partner countries.  

The  use  of  innovative  funding  modalities  facilitating  flexible,  transparent  and  cost-effective 
access  to  resources  at  local  level  should  be  explored.  In  the  context  of  support  to 

12 

The term «Associations of Local Authorities» is to be understood as umbrella organisations based on 
membership  and  representativeness  at  sub-national,  national,  sub-continental,  continental  and 
international level. They may be organised as an autonomous entity in accordance with the legislation 
in  force  in  the  country  of  registration.  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  may  be  composed  of  a 
representative body elected by its LA members and a permanent secretariat. 

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decentralisation  processes  this  could  include  performance-based  grants  for  local  service 
delivery  based  on  the  results  of  annual  assessment  of  Local  Authorities  institutional 
performance. The EU should also support initiatives allowing citizens to identify, discuss and 
prioritise public spending projects (e.g. participatory budgeting). 

The  EU  uses  budget  support  operations,  particularly  Sector  Reform  Contracts,  to  support 
improved service delivery. These could to be decentralised in order to better reach the target 
population or institutions, for example in health, education, water, sanitation, agriculture, or 
the  process  of  decentralisation  itself.13  In  the  design  and  implementation  of  budget  support, 
the EU should take into account both central and sub-national government levels. During the 
implementation,  the  EU  should  support  systems  to  monitor  the  extent  to  which  funding  is 
transferred through government treasury to the most appropriate level of local administration. 
This may contribute to the improvement of intergovernmental fiscal transfers, strengthening 
of  Local  Authorities  institutional  capacity,  procedures  and  systems  in  the  areas  such  as 
planning  and  financial  management,  and  consequently  contribute  to  the  quality  of  service 
delivery.  

The  EU  should  moreover  pay  special  attention to  policy  coordination,  complementarity  and 
coherence between national and sub-national and sector policies targeted for budget support 
and  to  the  complementarity  with  decentralisation  reforms  and  devolution  of  powers,  raising 
possible concerns in policy dialogues with central authorities. 

The EU should continue to support and coordinate decentralised and cross-border cooperation 
between Local Authorities from Europe and partner countries based on long-term and equal 
institutional partnerships. Decentralised cooperation between EU Local Authorities and their 
counterparts in  third countries  can bring added value to the  implementation of development 
actions, through continuous peer-to-peer learning, transfer of know-how and enhancement of 
local actors’ participation in the public space at local level.  

Recognising that many European Local Authorities have started acting as donors, the EU calls 
on  these  actors  to  bring  together  their  expertise  to  engage  in  more  systematic  cooperation 
activities, in order to enhance the impact of this cooperation at local level, in respect of the 
principles of aid and development effectiveness. The Committee of Regions, which provides 
European  Local  Authorities  with  a  political  space  for  exchanging  experiences  and  good 
practices  as  well  as  for  establishing  inter-regional  relations,  could  play  a  key  role  in  this 
respect.  Likewise,  European  Local  Authorities  also  have  an  important  role  to  play  in 
promoting Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) among citizens. 

Upstream support to public sector reforms should be coordinated with downstream support, to 
reinforce  Local  Authorities’  roles  in  policy  dialogue  and  decision-making  at  national  level. 
The  EU  should  also  ensure  sufficient  flexibility  to  support  Local  Authorities’  and 
Associations of Local Authorities’ own initiatives. 

It  is  proposed  to  implement  the  principles  outlined  in  this  Communication  to  support  Local 
Authorities  in  partner  countries  and  their  Associations  at  country,  continental  and 
international  levels.  The  EU  should  particularly  engage  in  favour  of  the  empowerment  of 
these actors, to enable them to better respond to citizens’ demands and in redistributing more 
equitably socio-economic benefits at local level. These ambitions should be accompanied by 

13 

EuropeAid’s  Budget  Support  Guidelines  (2012).  URL:  http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/how/delivering-
aid/budget-support/documents/bs_guidelines-part_ii-programming,design_management_en.pdf. 

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the promotion of a conducive environment at national and local levels and efforts to reinforce 
the capacities of Local Authorities.  

At the international level, the EU should continue to support the role that Local Authorities 
and  Associations  of  Local  Authorities  play  in  raising  awareness  about  local  and  urban 
development issues and in shaping the international development agenda with a focus on the 
interests  of  local  communities.  In  view  of  the  definition  of  the  Post-2015  Development 
Agenda  and  the  preparation  of  Habitat  III,  the  international  community  should  better 
recognise  the  responsibilities  and  solutions  that  different  governmental  tiers  could  bring  in 
addressing global and local challenges.  

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