Council of European Municipalities and Regions

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is the largest organisation of local and regional governments in Europe. Its members are 60 national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from 41 countries that are part of the Council of Europe. Together these associations represent about 130,000 local and regional authorities. At the head of its political structure is its president, currently the councillor of Vestfold and Telemark, Norway and president of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, Gunn Marit Helgesen. It has a staff of about 30, headed by its secretary-general, Fabrizio Rossi. CEMR’s annual budget is about €2.5 million. Membership fees from its national associations make up the bulk of its funding. About 15% are paid by the European Commission through an annual grant. The organisation has also assumed the function of the European section of the new worldwide organisation United Cities and Local Governments.