a) Political Committee
CEMR is the representative of local and regional governments in Europe and functions as a political organization. Its main decision-making body is the Political Committee, composed of representatives from local and regional governments. It typically convenes twice a year.
The Political Committee consists of 170 governance representatives, selected for a three-year term and nominated by member national associations of local governments. CEMR allocates membership rights based on the population size of each country. To ensure gender equality, all national delegations are required to have at least 40% representation from each gender.
The Political Committee defines CEMR’s core policies. These include;
- establishing the annual work program,
- approving the budget and new members,
- discussing current political matters,
- creating a platform for CEMR members,
- forming CEMR’s political leadership structure,
- and developing a center for interaction among decision-makers.
b) Executive Bureau
The Executive Bureau is responsible for implementing the tasks delegated by the Political Committee and executing the political decisions made by it. The Bureau consists of the CEMR President, Co-Presidents, up to 10 Vice Presidents, and the Secretary General, who is also a member of the Bureau.
Its duties include making administrative decisions on behalf of the Political Committee. In addition to the two annual meetings, the Bureau also carries out political representation functions.
c) Financial Management Committee
The Financial Management Committee serves as a political advisory body for decisions made by the Secretary General. It is composed of seven members, excluding the Secretary General. The committee is tasked with reviewing financial management, preparing the annual budget and accounts, and drafting recommendations requested by the Executive Bureau.
d) Secretaries General and Directors Meeting
To ensure the smooth operation of activities within CEMR, the Secretaries General or senior executives of member national associations meet twice a year. The CEMR Secretary General chairs the meeting. When appropriate, the meeting is opened by the CEMR President, and if held outside the CEMR headquarters, it is hosted by the local municipality.
These meetings focus on discussing implementation methods for decisions made by the Political Committee. Technical matters and the activities of expert groups are also reviewed during these sessions.
e) CEMR Congress
The CEMR Congress is the largest gathering of local and regional government representatives in Europe. Held every four years, it brings together hundreds of European local government officials. In addition to politicians, experts and representatives of stakeholder organizations also participate. The Congress addresses current issues, facilitates knowledge sharing, and showcases best practices. Topics are discussed in parallel sessions, and the event is seen as an opportunity for local leaders to build networks. The Congress is typically organized by the host city, while the program content is coordinated by CEMR.