Challenges of the 21 st Century

This is the third time that representatives of local and regional governments, public administration, governments, parliaments, non-governmental organisations and businesses from all of Europe will meet for the European Congress of Local Governments. Over the course of two days, nearly 2,000 guests will participate in over 80 events, looking for answers to the challenges of the 21st century. Local and regional governments are becoming more and more important with each passing year – they are being entrusted with an increasing number of tasks, and are becoming more and more responsible for citizens and their quality of life, spatial planning, local economies and culture.

 In all Europe, local and regional governments play a huge role in education, healthcare and environmental protection. Their cooperation is also becoming increasingly important. Regional authorities are more and more willing to take up joint initiatives and challenges, as this allows them to make more effective use of their resources, both those coming from their own budgets and from a wide array of European Union programmes. The 3rd European Congress of Local Governments is the place to go for anyone looking for the most effective solutions and cooperation models. The joint actions of the authorities representing cities, regions, public administration bodies and businesses are the key to building a more competitive Europe and overcoming social difficulties. The ambition behind the European Congress of Local Governments is to make the voices of local and regional governments heard and taken into consideration in the process of shaping European policies. I am confident that this year’s 3rd European Congress of Local Governments will be indicative of the great strength and potential of local and regional governments, and a sign of the important role they are playing in building a strong and united Europe.