The Association of Municipalities is calling for an EU Commissioner for Municipalities in the next cabinet

After the EU elections are defeated, not only the European Parliament, but also the European Commission, or the European government, will be reconstituted. Both are not unimportant for nation states, because EU legislation now directly affects communities in many areas and has a direct impact on the people who live there. The Austrian Association of Municipalities therefore calls for more attention to community interests in a future Europe.

Without strong communities there can be no united Europe
Community association chairman Johannes Pressl calls for his own community commissioner. “During a presidium meeting of the Austrian Association of Municipalities in Brussels, we decided on a corresponding European manifesto. Without strong and confident communities at the grassroots level, there is no united, strong Europe. “We therefore call for a local commissioner for European municipalities and cities in the next government period,” Pressl said in an interview with the “Krone”.

There must be a reduction in bureaucracy and more regional policy
“We are not concerned with the complex EU financing and regional programs currently implemented by the Directorate-General for Regional Policy and Urban Development, but rather with reducing bureaucracy at local level and reviewing legal matters from the perspective of rural areas and simplifying the awarding of contracts to local companies. Moreover, critical supply infrastructure for people – such as sewerage, drinking water or fiber optic – should not be subject to EU competition law in its current form. EU environmental law also needs more common sense when applied in rural communities,” says Pressl.

“In the future, local democracy must once again become more important throughout Europe. Theorists – including at EU level – always talk about more grassroots democracy and citizen involvement, but communities have always been the basis of European democracy. Even outside the elections, mayors are ready every day to answer questions from their local population,” he explainsPersl. And he is certain: “Not only the municipalities benefit from a local commissioner, but also Europe. If around 85,000 municipalities feel more recognized by Europe, then 85,000 municipalities, 85,000 mayors and perhaps even 85,000 European municipal councilors will bring the message and values ​​of Europe to the people in their communities.”

Pressl is looking for supporters in other countries
In the demand paper, which was adopted during the visit of the EU presidency country Belgium on May 16, the association of municipalities summarized the most important positions and wishes for the European institutions. In a next step, the association of municipalities will pass on the suggestions to the national representatives and will also contact sister associations in other EU member states about the issue of a ‘municipal commissioner’. He already has Germany on his side.

Germany as an ally of Austria
Pressl attended the meeting of the main committee of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities in Berlin on May 28. And his German colleagues have assured him of full support for the demand for a municipal commissioner. “The approximately 85,000 municipalities and cities in Europe are the local providers of democracy and anchors of social cohesion. Anyone who takes municipalities seriously strengthens Europe and that is why municipalities and cities, with all their challenges, must be given the status they have in the reality of people’s lives in the future EU Commission. We need a commissioner who represents the local level on the commission and understands our challenges.”