On 22-23 June 2025, local and regional leaders gathered in Lille, France for an external group meeting. Hosted by François Decoster, Vice-President of Hauts-de-France and President of Renew Europe CoR, this event brought together liberal and democrat CoR members from across Europe and representatives of the wider Renew Europe family to deepen cooperation, refine strategies, and reinforce the voice of regions and cities within the European Union.
Monday’s Group Meeting took place at the Hauts-de-France Regional Council in Lille, France. In his opening remarks, Renew Europe COR President François Decoster highlighted the importance of bringing EU policies closer to citizens and ensuring that local and regional voices contribute meaningfully to European decision-making. The rest of the meeting focused on three key areas to boost our group of subnational leaders’ political impact.
Boosting Impact Within the Renew Family
Invited guests MEP Dan Barna (Vice-President of the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament and of the ALDE Party) and MEP Sandro Gozi (Secretary General of the European Democratic Party) shared valuable insights on strengthening cross-level collaboration within the Renew Europe family. CoR members discussed ways to complement the work of their national parties and enhance synergies to maximise influence across European institutions.
Boosting Impact in Local Communities
In the first workshop of the day, our members shared their successful initiatives including developing the EU councillors networks across Europe, celebrating Europe Day among local crowds, organising citizens’ dialogues in different cities, and fostering new European partnerships through town twinning. All the discussions emphasized a common goal: the need to help citizens experience the European dimension of their identity, build the capacity of local and regional administration staff, effectively manage EU funds, and contribute local evidence to EU-level policy work.
Boosting Legislative Impact
In the next workshop the focus was on highlighting the importance of input from the local and regional levels to shape EU legislation. Former and current CoR rapporteurs and shadows rapporteurs took the floor to showcase how evidence from local communities can inform both the Group’s work within the European Committee of the Regions and the work of EU legislators improving the relevance and applicability of EU laws.
The two-day event also featured a set of cultural and historical study visits on Sunday, including a guided tour of the Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle, the birthplace of the French leader. Participants engaged in thought-provoking conferences exploring De Gaulle’s vision for Europe and Lille’s legacy as European Capital of Culture. These sessions set the tone for dynamic discussions about Europe’s rich diversity and the crucial role of subnational authorities in shaping its future. The external group meeting in Lille not only reinforced our Group’s political vision for the next 5 years but also strengthened our capacity to make a real difference in the lives of citizens across the European Union. Local and regional leaders remain determined to ensure that the voices of our territories are heard loud and clear in Brussels and beyond.
