The International Networks of Local and Regional Government issued a joint declaration calling for a stronger and more structured involvement of local governments in the implementation of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy.

This Declaration was handed over by Joseph Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City (Belize) and Chairperson of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), to Koen Doens, Director-General at the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), on behalf of the signatories, during the Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions, marking the end of the 3-day “Cities and Regions for International Partnerships” 2025 Forum. 

Local and regional governments are recognised by the EU as distinct actors with a key developmental roll. LRGs play a central role in shaping inclusive economic growth, delivering public services, and connecting communities to global opportunities. The EU’s Global Gateway projects risk missing their full development potential if they do not actively engage local government, and ensure that investments respond to local needs in addition to national priorities.

A joint call for a more inclusive Global Gateway

The declaration is signed by the leaders of four major global networks of local and regional governments:

• Lucy Slack, Secretary General, Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)
• Frédéric Vallier, General Delegate, International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF)
• Fabrizio Rossi, Secretary General, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) – PLATFORMA
• Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

Together, they call on EU institutions, partner countries, and development actors to recognise towns, cities and regions as co-creators of the enabling environment needed for sustainable, inclusive and democratic investment.

The Parliament session brought key messages from a set of global mayors representing the cities of Brazzaville (Congo), Cuenca (Ecuador), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Belize City (Belize). In his speech CLGF’s Chairperson Mayor Bernard Wagner stressed that “It is critical that local governments are around the table in the context of investments being made through Global Gateway. After all, we are responsible for all development in our territories, and should be recognised as partners in planning and delivery”.

Priority sectors

In their declaration, associations of local and regional governments highlight that LRGs hold wide-ranging mandates across Global Gateway priority sectors, including digitalisation, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research. By grounding investments in local realities, they ensure projects respond to the needs and priorities of communities, reinforce policy coherence, and foster inclusive economic ecosystems involving SMEs, investors, CSOs, academic institutions and citizens.

The declaration also underscores the decisive role of local governments in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where they are often the only functioning public institutions capable of coordinating local stakeholders and delivering basic services.

Access the full declaration here : Local and Regional Governments: Key Partners for the Global Gateway_10.12.2025