Brussels – The European municipalities could be “very strongly addressed” by Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, defined the President of the Austrian Affiliation of Municipalities Johannes Pressl in a joint press convention with German native politician Hejo Höfer on Thursday in Brussels. “A deal with the municipal stage has been promised to us,” mentioned Pressl. This implies, for instance, that future EU commissioners will likely be instructed to contain this stage extra in selections.
In response to the mayor of the Decrease Austrian municipality of Ardagger, “Europe wants time to understand the brand new stage extra strongly.” Pressl is in Brussels on the event of the annual joint European Day with the German Affiliation of Cities and Municipalities. The decision adopted there, “Going into the Future Collectively – Municipalities Create Properties!” emphasizes the vital position of municipalities in addressing present challenges equivalent to migration or digitalization.
“Residents are at present very unsettled within the crises, persons are trying in direction of the municipality,” mentioned Höfer, who was a deputy member of the Committee of the Areas (CoR) till June 2024. It’s “vital that municipalities can take care of the small issues regionally so that folks can discover safety there.” As a result of “if that crumbles, it would additionally have an effect on the European stage.” He criticizes in Germany “the largest deficit of municipalities in many years: If we tackle duties, we should even have cash for them.”
Municipalities really feel overwhelmed with migration
Pressl sees municipalities being overwhelmed with migration. He requires the “consequential results in municipalities that absorb individuals to be seen and understood.” The municipalities should present Europe “what providers we offer in integration.” These went far past the “short-term consumption of individuals.” From the long run Austrian EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner (ÖVP), he expects that the “migration move will likely be higher distributed throughout Europe: Few states and municipalities present an unlimited share, and this results in issues.”
The demanded personal EU commissioner for the municipal stage doesn’t exist within the von der Leyen II Fee, which is anticipated to take workplace on December 1. Nevertheless, the Austrian and German municipal representatives stay dedicated to their demand: “We hope to get our personal commissioner over time,” Pressl mentioned optimistically. However “additionally in different European establishments and our bodies, particularly within the European Parliament, we would like accountable political contacts for the pursuits, considerations, but in addition for the potentials of cities and municipalities in Europe,” it says within the joint decision. (22.11.2024)
