Objectives

Its objectives are as follows:

• To reinforce local autonomy on the basis of the European charter of local autonomy adopted by the Council of Europe, in 1985.

• To encourage contacts and co-operation between the parties and their organisations of elected members, notably by exchange of publications, organisation of seminars and conferences, on themes appropriate to local authorities.

• To construct a network of elected local and regional socialists in order to develop the exchange of ideas and to defend their interests.

• To encourage co-operation between the socialist parliamentary groups in the European Parliament, in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), as well as in the Committee on Local Authorities of the Socialist International (SI).

Organisation

The USLRRE is directed by a Bureau. This is composed of two members representing each party or organisation of elected members. The Bureau of the USLRRE was re-elected in October 2009, and meets twice a year on average.

The President of the USLRRE is Claudy LEBRETON(France), President of the Conseil Général of the Departement Côtes d’Armor, President of the FNESR, President of the Assembly of French
Departements

The Secretary General is Marc TARABELLA, MEP, Mayor of Anthisnes (Belgium).

The Treasurer is Kurt GASSNER, Member of the Austrian Parliament, Chairman of the Committee on Local Authorities of the SPÖ (Austria).
Tom JUNGEN, Mayor of Roeser, is Deputy Treasurer (Luxembourg).

The five Vice Presidents are:
Roland SCHÄFER (Germany), Mayor of Bergkamen, Member of the Bureau of the Bundes-SGK, First Vice President of the Association of German Towns and Municipalities;
Paz FERNANDEZ FELGUEROSO (Spain), Mayor of Gijon, alternate Member of the Committee of the Regions;
Mónika LAMPERTH (Hungary), Member of Parliament, Vice President of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP);
Lukas NACZAS (Poland),Councillor (Gniezno), Vice President of the SLD Council in the Gniezno poviat;
Fabio PELLEGRINI (Italy), Vice President of the CEMR Italian Section, Councillor (Rapolano Terme), Vice-President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the CLRAE, President of the PES group in the CLRAE

Deputy Secretary General is Peter HAMON, Secretary for European and International Affairs of the Bundes-SGK, Head of the Secretariat of the USLRRE .

Martine BURON, former Mayor of Chateaubriant,
Herbert SCHMALSTIEG, former Mayor of Hanover,
Bernard POIGNANT, Mayor of Quimper (France), and
Jean-Claude VAN CAUWENBERGHE, former Minister-President of the Governement of Walonie (Belgium) are Honorary Presidents.

Sir Steve BULLOCK, Mayor of Lewisham (United Kingdom),
Norbert BURGER, former Mayor of Cologne (Germany), and are Honorary members of the Bureau.