#SOTEULocal

The State of
Regions and Cities

Photograph, Product, Coat, Sleeve, Hat, Smile, Travel

The State of
Regions and Cities

#SOTEULocal

The Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities in the EU provides examples of how more than one million locally elected leaders tackle Europe's current challenges. Find out what needs to improve so that the 90 000 towns and villages, 900 cities and 280 regions in Europe can have an even greater impact in achieving Europe's main objectives, making it stronger, fairer and more sustainable.

The Report is a key insight not only for leaders and policymakers, but also for citizens who will cast their vote in June 2024 during the European elections.

Managing crises, bringing solutions, building the future.

2023

EU Annual Report

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EU Annual Report

2023

Managing crises, bringing solutions, building the future.

The Report is a key insight not only for leaders and policymakers, but also for citizens who will cast their vote in June 2024 during the European elections.

Chapter 1

Regions and cities managing crises

Ukraine | Energy crisis | Climate disasters | Food safety | Social inequalities and demographic change

Cloud, Sky, Daytime, Flag, White, Light, Blue, Azure

Continue and strengthen support to Ukraine by partnering with EU regions and cities for reconstruction and reform process

Solar power, Flash photography, Sky, Cloud, Tree, Standing, Sunlight, Gesture

Ensure a multi-level governance approach to the energy transition, with increased EU funds for local and regional projects

Invest significantly in climate adaptation and mitigation, leaving no territory behind

Natural foods, Leaf vegetable, Whole food, Public space, Orange, Wood, Ingredient, Pumpkin, Calabaza

Support local agriculture to make European food systems more resilient and sustainable

83%

EU cities and regions believe that they can contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction

Material property, Sleeve, Textile, Comfort, Gesture, Finger

About

40 million

EU citizens were unable to keep their homes adequately warm in 2022

People in nature, Natural landscape, Terrestrial plant, Sky, Cloud, Happy, Water, Grass

45%

of EU cities and regions affirm that their city or region has set a climate neutrality target before 2050, demonstrating their ambition to exceed the EU's broader target

Europe needs investment for climate adaptation at an estimated rate of

€40 billion

per year

Hand, Tableware, Gesture, Serveware, Dishware, Drink

Today, over

32 million

Europeans cannot afford a proper meal every other day

Chapter 2

Regions and cities as actors for sustainable development and cohesion

Cloud, Sky, Daytime, Happy, Smile, Gesture, Fun, Travel

Ensure more support to implement the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals at local and regional level, leaving no place and no people behind

People in nature, Sun hat, Sky, Standing, Cap, Happy, Sunlight, Gesture, Plant

Unlock investments for the green and digital transitions, supporting people and reducing inequalities, while also fostering the industrial competitiveness of European regions

Bicycles--Equipment and supplies, Sports equipment, Bicycle clothing, Cloud, Sky, Wheel, Asphalt

Reform cohesion policy with a mission and place-based approach

Natural environment, Land lot, Sky, Ecoregion, Plant, Nature, Green, Tree, Vegetation

Develop a long-term approach to rural areas

105

out of the 169 SDGs targets will not be achieved by 2030 without the EU's regions and cities

Luggage and bags, Photograph, Product, Customer, Bag, Shopping

The EU's GDP is

higher thanks to the Single Market, which relies on cohesion policy

By 2033, it is estimated that

30 million

people will have left Europe's rural areas

Chapter 3

Regions and cities shaping the future of Europe

European democracy | Future enlargement and neighbourhood partnerships

Creative arts, Triangle, Gesture, Finger, Wood

Take more and better advantage of citizens' trust in regional and local representative to reinforce European democracy

Promote the multilevel dimension of European democracy and governance and systematically include the local and regional authorities in the legislative process of the EU

Involve local and regional authorities, with their experience and network, to prepare for the next wave of enlargement

91%

of regional and local leaders say it is important to increase the influence of regions and cities in EU policymaking

Overhead power line, Wire fencing, Sky, Electricity, Fence, Mesh

Around

70%

of EU policies are implemented by local and regional authorities

1.2 million

people are elected as local and regional representatives in the EU

Read the full report