As the EU marks its first European Public Diplomacy Week, members of the European People's Party Group in the Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR) underscored the pivotal role of local and regional authorities in shaping Europe’s international engagement. Participating in two high-level debates, they delivered a clear message: cities and regions are essential actors in implementing global strategies and advancing the EU’s values of multilateralism, peace, security, and sustainable development.
EPP-CoR members argued that while international diplomacy has long been the realm of nation-states and global institutions, local and regional governments (LRAs) are indispensable partners in delivering the EU’s message abroad. From climate diplomacy to peer-to-peer city cooperation, their contributions are vital in translating strategic objectives into tangible change on the ground.
Debate 1: Climate Diplomacy – Implementing Action Where It Matters
In the debate on “Climate Diplomacy: Implementing Action on the Ground”, Åsa Ågren Wikström, CoR Member from Västerbotten Region, Sweden, reaffirmed the EPP’s commitment to multilevel climate governance: “We remain firmly committed to climate diplomacy because we are not only implementers, we are strategic partners in global climate policy. Local and regional governments are using limited means to deliver meaningful results – both at home and as part of the broader international climate effort. Because to achieve our global climate goals, we must act where it matters most: locally.”
Her intervention highlighted how local climate action can serve as a powerful lever for fulfilling international agreements such as the Paris Accord. She called for enhanced cooperation between all levels of government and international partners to accelerate the green transition through scalable, community-driven solutions.
Debate 2: City Diplomacy – Peer-to-Peer Cooperation for Localising EU Strategies
In the debate on “City Diplomacy and Peer-to-Peer Cooperation to Localise the EU Strategic Agenda,” Markku Markkula, Vice-President of the CoR and Chair of the Green Deal Going Local Working Group, issued a compelling call to strengthen cooperation between cities and regions across the globe: “No single city has all the answers, but together we have an innovation ecosystem without borders. By embracing the idea that ‘all global knowledge is within everyone’s reach,’ cities and regions become smarter and faster. The bottom-up approach turns the SDGs from a UN document into a practical tool for city planning.”
Markkula urged the EU and its partners to leverage digital platforms and city networks to share knowledge, replicate best practices, and access climate finance. He proposed the creation of a Global Climate-Solutions Clearing-house, hosted by UN agencies and Multilateral Development Banks, to curate urban and regional innovations and provide de-risking tools for local implementation.
His intervention aligned with the EPP-CoR’s long-standing advocacy for multi-level governance and demonstrated how subnational diplomacy can reinforce the EU’s strategic priorities.
Reclaiming Multilateralism from the Ground Up
These interventions demonstrate that LRAs are not passive recipients of EU policy—they are active contributors to Europe’s global voice. In an era where rules-based multilateralism faces growing challenges, cities and regions can offer inclusive, pragmatic and citizen-focused alternatives to top-down diplomacy. Their actions often transcend borders, opening pathways for international cooperation that national governments alone cannot achieve.
About the European Public Diplomacy Week
Organised for the first time in 2025, the European Public Diplomacy Week brings together EU institutions, Member States, cities and regions, civil society and global partners to enhance the EU’s international outreach. Its overarching goal is to strengthen the Union’s ability to promote prosperity, peace, stability, security and the rule of law worldwide by amplifying its common message through diverse levels of governance.
Through its participation, the EPP-CoR highlighted that Europe’s credibility and impact on the global stage are strengthened when cities and regions are empowered to act as ambassadors for European values.