UEF FC on in support of the programme “Building Europe with Local Councillors”

Adopted by the Federal Committee of UEF, Online 11 December 2022.

The Federal Committee of the Union of European Federalists (UEF),

Having regard to the pilot project “Building Europe with Local Entities” (BELE) tabled in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament as a budgetary amendment on 18th of August of 2020;
Having regard to the European Network of Regional and Local EU Councillors launched by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) in 2020;
Having regard to the CoR resolutions on the Conference on the Future of Europe of 12 February 2020 and of 7 May 2021, as well as on the contribution of local and regional authorities to the Conference on the Future of Europe of 27 January 2022;
Having regard to the resolution adopted by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 29-30 June of 2022;
Having regard to the CoR Marseille Manifesto of local and regional leaders: "Europe starts in its regions, cities and villages" of 4 March 2022;
Having regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 9 June 2022 on the call for a Convention for the revision of the Treaties;
Having regard to the launching by the Commission of the programme “Building Europe with Local Councillors” (BELC) on 22nd of June, 2022;

The Federal Committee of the UEF,

Considering that across the European Union there are more than one million elected representatives at the local level;
Noting that the local representatives in the small, medium and big municipalities of the Union deal with European laws, funding programmes and policies on a daily basis;
Considering that involving in a permanent and systematic way potentially all local entities in the European Union with their policies, can provide a substantial and measurable impact in terms of educating the public about the integration process, so often unknown or misunderstood; stresses that the involvement of the local councillors is fundamental in order to bring Europe closer to the grassroots;
Considering that building our union from the bottom up it is a key principle for a democratic deepening of the EU and for the progressive building of the European federation;
Stressing that anchoring EU policies at the local level can make a difference to citizen's lives;
Recognising that the Union institutional framework and the exercise of subsidiarity, although well executed, do not make visible the positive impact of European policies at the local level; points out the complementary need to implement the principle of “active subsidiarity”;
Noting that proposal number 38 and 39 in the Report on the final outcome of the Conference advocates for strengthening the link between citizens and elected representatives by developing the EU decision making-process and involving in a better way local representatives;
Welcoming the launching by the European Commission on 22nd of June of the Programme “Building Europe with Local Councillors”.

Therefore, the Federal Committee of the UEF,

Highlights that the programme “Building Europe with Local Councillors” (BELC) facilitates the identification in the local governments of a local Councillor responsible for disseminating programs and projects financed by the European Union in that municipality;
Highlights that the BELC programme supports communicating to the citizens at the local level the general political initiatives and measures carried out by the Union through periodical declarations to local media, debates, and seminars;
Highlights that the BELC programme can facilitate the transnational exchange of best practices, particularly in order to directly link citizens at the local level with the outcome and the follow-up of the Conference on the Future of Europe;
Encourages to the UEF National Sections to liase with the local and regional representatives in order to promote the implementation of this programme as a new tool to strengthen the European public sphere;
Supports the BELC programme and calls on municipalities throughout the EU to join the programme.