Associations and representations of cities and regions in the EU Member States : a mapping exercise

This study aims to present an updated overview of the roles and functions of associations and representations of cities and regions in each of the European Union's Member States. A list of existing active Local and Regional Authority (LRA) associations is provided for each Member State. This list is then followed by a description of their role in the decision making process and their powers and responsibilities in connection with the Europe 2020 strategy. More specifically, particular consideration is given to the role of LRAs and their associations in developing National Reform Programmes. The study also aims to track the implications, if any, of the Treaty of Lisbon in terms of how LRAs contribute to policy formation at European level.