The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has entered a new era with the election of President Kata Tüttő and Vice President Juanma Moreno, marking the beginning of a critical five-year term for local and regional governance in Europe. ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy – extends its warmest congratulations to the newly elected leadership, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening cooperation on key priorities such as EU enlargement, deliberative democracy, and citizen participation.
A Strong Partnership with the European Committee of the Regions
ALDA has long maintained a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an Action Plan with CoR, reflecting a shared vision for strengthening local democracy and supporting regions across Europe and beyond. This collaboration focuses on:
- EU Enlargement and Neighborhood Countries: Supporting democratic reforms in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia).
- Deliberative Democracy & Citizen Participation: Ensuring that citizens have a direct role in decision-making processes and fostering inclusive governance.
- Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs): Strengthening grassroots governance by supporting the network of Local Democracy Agencies, which act as key facilitators of participatory democracy in their regions.
During the elections and first meetings of the newly formed leadership, ALDA’s Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida, engaged with key stakeholders, ensuring that ALDA’s priorities align with the broader European agenda on local democracy and governance.
Both the President and Vice President have assured ALDA of their commitment to strong leadership, ensuring local and regional authorities and their communities have a voice at the European level. We are excited to collaborate with them, continuing our work through the CIVEX Commission.
Antonella Valmorbida.
The elections also saw the reappointment of Thibaut Guignard as a full member of the European Committee of the Regions (2025-2029). As a dedicated advocate for rural development and European cooperation, Guignard’s continued presence within CoR ensures a strong voice for small municipalities and rural territories in shaping EU policies.
His first success in the new mandate came with the unanimous adoption of his initiative opinion on rural development during CoR’s first plenary session. This opinion highlights the success of the LEADER approach over the past 30 years in promoting local development.
“I will continue advocating for rural territories, municipalities, and small cities in EU policies, as well as addressing neighborhood challenges, particularly in our cooperation with Ukraine,”.
Thibaut Guignard, reaffirming his dedication to ensuring that local and regional voices remain at the heart of European decision-making.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Local Democracy in Europe
With a renewed leadership and a shared commitment to democratic resilience, the European Committee of the Regions and ALDA are poised to deepen their collaboration, reinforcing the role of local governance in fostering democracy, resilience, and citizen engagement.
As ALDA continues its mission of empowering local communities, the organisation looks forward to actively working with the new CoR leadership and its CIVEX Commission to ensure that the voices of local authorities and citizens are heard, valued, and integrated into European policies.
Stay tuned for further updates as ALDA continues to engage in high-level European discussions and initiatives to strengthen participatory democracy and regional development across Europe and beyond!
® Picture: European Committee of the Regions