RESOL-V-012 

106th plenary session, 2 and 3 April 2014 

RESOLUTION 
of the 
Committee of the Regions 


ON THE CHARTER 
FOR MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE IN EUROPE 


COR-2014-01728-00-00-RES-TRA 


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EN 


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THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, 


- 
having regard to its Mission Statement1 which promotes multilevel governance within the 
European Union and beyond; 

- 
having regard to its White Paper on Multilevel Governance2, which proposes that a Charter on 
multilevel governance be drawn up in order to include a common and shared understanding of 
European governance among the core values of the European Union; 

- 
having regard to the recognition by the Heads of State and Government of the European Union in 
the Berlin Declaration3 of the scope of multilevel governance in the process of European 
integration; 

- 
whereas multilevel governance is enshrined as a guiding principle in the implementation of 
cohesion policy in connection with the new common provisions on the structural funds4; 

- 
taking the European Charter of Local Self-Government5 as its foundation, and having regard to 
the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities for this process with a view in 
particular to transposing this Charter into the legal system of the Council of Europe; 

- 
whereas the present Charter, although not legally binding, will commit its signatories to explain 
and promote the principle of multilevel governance; 

- 
considering that the Charter could contribute to fiscal consolidation and that therefore the 
activities and measures resulting from it should not lead to new red tape or costs; 

- 
having regard to the need to mobilise all levels of governance to increase democratic 
accountability in Europe and ensure the effectiveness, coherence and complementarity of their 
action; 

1 

CdR 56/2009 fin. 
2 

CoR White Paper on Multilevel Governance (CdR 89/2009 fin) and CoR Opinion on Building a European Culture of Multilevel 
Governance (CdR 273/2011 fin). 
3 

Declaration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome, Berlin, 25 March 2007. 
4 

Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down 
common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European 
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on 
the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and 

Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006. 
5 

http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/122.htm 

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1. 
approves the draft Charter for Multilevel Governance in Europe; 
2. 
recommends that all the local and regional authorities of the European Union, as well as 
representatives of the other levels of governance (national, European, international) adhere to 
the principles of the present Charter as soon as the signature campaign is launched; 
3. 
urges the Member States and their national administrations to be guided by it in implementing 
the principles and mechanisms it recommends, in order to pay more heed to the legitimacy 
and responsibility of local and regional authorities; 
4. 
calls upon the institutions of the European Union to apply the principles of the Charter 
systematically when drawing up, implementing and evaluating European strategies and 
policies, and renews its recommendation to the European Commission to take the necessary 
steps to ensure more transparency and participatory procedures in accordance with the key 
values and principles of this new Charter6; 
5. 
invites the associations of local and regional authorities, together with their networks and 
political figures wishing to support this process, to declare their support; 
6. 
calls on all parties concerned to strive to ensure that the implementation of the principles and 
mechanisms proposed does not make decision-making processes more cumbersome or add to 
the administrative and financial burdens of the local and regional authorities concerned; 
7. 
undertakes to contribute to identifying best practices in decision-making processes in Europe, 
to encourage networking between the signatory local and regional authorities, and to actively 
inspire and promote practical multilevel cooperation projects; 
8. 
instructs its President to forward the present resolution to the Member States, to the Presidents 
of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council, and to the 
President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. 
Brussels, 3 April 2014. 

The President 
of the Committee of the Regions 


Ramón Valcárcel Siso 

Appendix: Charter for Multilevel Governance in Europe 

CoR Opinion on Building a European Culture of Multilevel Governance (CdR 273/2011 fin). 

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Charter for Multilevel Governance in Europe 


PREAMBLE 

Given that many competences and responsibilities are shared between the various levels of 
governance in the European Union, we recognise the need TO WORK TOGETHER IN 
PARTNERSHIP to achieve greater economic, social and territorial cohesion in Europe. No single 
level can deal with the challenges we face alone. We can solve citizens' problems on the ground by 
COOPERATING better and running JOINT PROJECTS to tackle the common challenges ahead of 
us. 

We stand for a multilevel-governance Europe "based on coordinated action by the European 
Union, the Member States and regional and local authorities according to the principles of 
subsidiarity, proportionality and partnership, taking the form of operational and institutional 
cooperation in the drawing up and implementation of the European Union’s policies". In this 
endeavour, we fully respect the equal legitimacy and accountability of each level within their 
respective competences and the principle of loyal cooperation. 

Aware of our INTERDEPENDENCE and ever seeking greater EFFICIENCY, we believe that great 
opportunities exist to further strengthen innovative and efficient political and administrative 
cooperation between our authorities based on their respective competences and responsibilities. The 
objective of this Charter, drawn up by the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, is to 
connect regions and cities across Europe, whilst promoting MULTI-ACTORSHIP with societal 
actors such as the social partners, universities, NGOs and representative civil society groupings. 

In line with the SUBSIDIARITY principle which places decisions at the most effective level and as 
close as possible to the citizens, we attach great importance to co-creating policy solutions that reflect 
the needs of citizens. 

It is precisely through our commitment to the fundamental VALUES, PRINCIPLES and 
PROCESSES underpinning multilevel governance that we believe new modes of DIALOGUE and 
partnership will emerge across public authorities in the European Union and beyond. Multilevel 
governance strengthens openness, participation, COORDINATION and JOINT COMMITMENT 
to delivering targeted solutions. It allows us to harness Europe's diversity as a driver for capitalising 
on the assets of our local areas. Making full use of digital solutions, we are committed to increasing 
TRANSPARENCY and offering quality public services easily accessible to the citizens we represent. 

MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE helps us to learn from each other, experiment with innovative 
policy solutions, SHARE BEST PRACTICES and further develop PARTICIPATORY 
DEMOCRACY, bringing the European Union closer to the citizens. We believe that embracing 
multilevel governance contributes to deeper EU integration by further strengthening the ties between 
our territories, and overcoming the administrative hurdles in regulation and policy implementation 
and the geographical frontiers that separate us. 

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TITLE 1: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES 

We commit ourselves to respecting the fundamental processes that shape multilevel governance 
practices in Europe by: 

1.1. developing a TRANSPARENT, OPEN and INCLUSIVE policy-making process; 
1.2. promoting PARTICIPATION and PARTNERSHIP involving relevant public and private 
stakeholders throughout the policy-making process, including through appropriate digital 
tools, whilst respecting the rights of all institutional partners; 
1.3. fostering 
POLICY EFFICIENCY, POLICY COHERENCE and promoting BUDGET 
SYNERGIES between all levels of governance; 
1.4. respecting SUBSIDIARITY and PROPORTIONALITY in policy making; 
1.5. ensuring 
maximum FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTION at all levels of 
governance. 
TITLE 2: IMPLEMENTATION AND DELIVERY 

We commit ourselves to making multilevel governance a reality in day-to-day policy-making 
and delivery, including through innovative and digital solutions. To this end, we should: 

2.1. PROMOTE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION in the policy cycle; 
2.2. COOPERATE closely with other public authorities by thinking beyond traditional 
administrative borders, procedures and hurdles; 
2.3. FOSTER A EUROPEAN MIND-SET within our political bodies and administrations; 
2.4. STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING and invest in policy learning 
amongst all levels of governance; 
2.5. CREATE NETWORKS between our political bodies and administrations from the local to 
the European levels and vice-versa, whilst strengthening transnational cooperation. 
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