Eurocities and the Rise of the Sub research project of the Swiss National Science Foundation have published the report, ‘City administrations and EU affairs,’ which explores how cities organise their engagement with the EU. The goal of the report is to provide city administrations with the insights and strategies they need to boost their influence in EU affairs.
The report presents cities’ shared experiences of working on EU affairs, including their common challenges, governance structures and most effective methods of EU engagement.
Drawing on expert interviews, survey results and a city workshop, the report compiles evidence and data from 25 cities across Europe, the report aims to be the starting point for capacity building activities and training for cities on the topic.
Read the full report.
Why has the report been created?
European city administrations are increasingly recognised as critical partners of the EU institutions in tackling major global issues and achieving key EU objectives, such as the European Green Deal and Europe’s digital transformation. A growing number of urban-focused initiatives, driven by the European Commission, have led to significant opportunities for cities to have their say on EU affairs and to work jointly to achieve common objectives.
Cities equally understand that they need to improve their own structure and organisation to contribute to EU policies and benefit from EU opportunities that will allow them to respond to local challenges, including tackling social inequalities and implementing green infrastructure. As a result, many cities are building their institutions in relation to EU affairs, creating and expanding their European teams and opening offices in Brussels.
However, despite cities’ increased investment in EU politics, there has been very little research carried out into the factors that ensure cities are able to reach their goals at EU level. This report aims to provide cities with greater clarity, so they have the understanding and knowledge they need they need to boost their own EU engagement further.
Main findings
- The report finds that cities have many different reason for engaging in European affairs, showing that individual cities usually have their own motivations. Some cities want to gain visibility, some want to lobby the EU or access European funds, and other want a better reputation.
- They join European networks, like Eurocities, so they can benefit from their expertise and knowledge of EU affairs and policies.
- The report highlights cities’ growing awareness of the need to structure and develop their capacity to engage with the EU. All of the cities surveyed have some sort of EU institutionalisation, meaning a person or a unit that follows EU affairs.
- However, different cities have different degrees of EU institutionalisation. 37% of the cities surveyed have a dedicated EU team, and 25% have an EU unit within an international relations department.
- Interestingly, 33% of surveyed cities have a delegation in Brussels, where they can develop direct political relations with EU institutions and convey information on new EU legislation and opportunities.
- There is an emergence of established EU units in cities, meaning there are bureaucrats that last longer than political terms and mandates. There is also an emergence of EU teams in relation to EU projects, which provides funds and reasons to work on EU affairs, and legitimacy.
Other findings and city examples
- Of the cities surveyed, 70% feel they have a lack of staff in the wider administration to deal with EU affairs, which is often not perceived as a priority. Most cities say they have enough capacity to run their urban affairs, but few cities have enough capacity for EU affairs.
- The main tension is that EU affairs are cross-sectoral in nature, but EU teams said there are not enough EU experts in cities and they have to deal with the challenges of silos in city administrations.
- To engage in EU affairs, cities need to reach out to several departments at once, because EU policies often cover several issues, such as climate and mobility. EU teams often find it difficult to relate to other departments and to reach out to colleagues.
- To solve this issue, some cities have developed a strategic document that helps all the departments to be on the same page, and to give legitimacy to the work of their EU teams. Barcelona, for example, has a strategy for international and EU affairs which gives its EU team a mandate for action. Milan brings together all its staff engaged in Eurocities and EU projects once a year to share their activities and ideas.
- Politics also has a significant influence and if a mayor or local government is pro EU, it can really be a factor, especially for the Eastern and Southern European cities that we surveyed. 21% of cities, such as the City of Barcelona, have an EU team within their Mayor’s office. In those cities where there are less developed institutions and capacity, a big political speaker that brings the city into EU affairs can be a deciding factor.
How can these findings help cities?
- The Eurocities report provides an example of how other cities organise their EU affairs. This is a topic on which very few studies or academic research has been undertaken, so cities don’t know too much about it. So this report can provide concrete examples for them, giving them an understanding of how they can organise effectively and understand effective ways of working.
- The report offers a framework that can help cities better structure a discussion and strategic thinking about EU affairs.
- The report contains a Self-Assessment Tool, which every city can use to self-evaluate their work and understand themselves and how they need to develop and improve their engagement.
- As well as these practical steps to help cities, the report brings forward concrete actions to improve EU engagement, such as encouraging internal and cross-department discussions in cities about the position of their EU teams. It also invites EU teams and their most connected departments to co-design a protocol with procedures and responsibilities on EU affairs across city departments.
