12.01.2026 in Allgemein
PES Local mourns Roland Schäfer - a true European
PES Local mourns Roland Schäfer. Our Honorary President and friend Roland Schäfer has passed away unexpectedly on 1st of January 2026 at the age of 76. Roland was President of PES Local | Socialist Local Representatives in Europe from 2015 to 2018. Before that he was Vice President of our network from 2009 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2021.
Roland was Chief Executive of the City of Bergkamen from 1989 to 1998 and then first directly elected Mayor of Bergkamen from 1998 to 2020. Furthermore he also held the positions of President and of First Vice President of the Association of German Towns and Municipalities for more than 20 years.
Roland Schäfer was a true European. May his spirit live on.
Christophe Rouillon
President of PES Local
09.01.2026 in Allgemein
PES Local adopts Resolution on EU Cohesion Policy | Christophe ROUILLON re-elected as President
On December 2nd , 2025, the Bureau of PES Local discussed the proposals of the European Commission for the future of EU cohesion policy and adopted the resolution “An effective EU cohesion policy for the citizens – only with the municipalities and regions of Europe!”. In this Resolution PES Local strongly opposed to the centralization of EU cohesion policy, as currently proposed by the European Commission. The Bureau of PES Local also reiterated its expectations with regard to EU cohesion policy in the years 2028 – 2034:
- Cohesion policy must be adequately funded for the many challenges that lie ahead.
- In the future, all regions in the EU must remain eligible for funding.
- Cohesion policy must be less bureaucratic and more flexible and transparent.
- Local and regional partners must be more closely involved.
In the video conference on December 2nd, the Bureau of PES Local also reconstituted itself in accordance with the statutes and elected the executive Bureau. Christophe ROUILLON (F) was unanimously re-elected as President of PES Local. Christophe ROUILLON is Mayor of Coulaines, General Counsel of Sarthe and Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). Kata TÜTTÖ (HU), President of the CoR and member of the Budapest City Council, Susana AMADOR (P), President of the Loures City Council, and Tom JUNGEN (Lux), Mayor of the municipality of Roeser and member of the CoR, were re-elected as vice-presidents of PES Local. The new treasurer is Lukas RUSS (A), Director of the GVV-Upper Austria and councillor in Wallern an der Trattnach.
Resolution “An effective EU cohesion policy for citizens – only with the municipalities and regions of Europe!”
DOWNLOAD: English, French and German
New executive Bureau of PES Local
29.10.2025 in Allgemein
PES Local expresses its solidarity with Ekrem İmamoğlu
The video conference of the PES Local Bureau on June 6, 2025, focused on the topic of "The Future of EU Cohesion Policy." Kata TÜTTÖ, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), and Isabelle BOUDINEAU, the CoR rapporteur on this topic, reported on this topic. In light of the current debate in Brussels, the PES Local Bureau rejected proposals to centralize EU cohesion policy. It advocated for maintaining an effective cohesion policy that is adequately funded, less bureaucratic, more flexible, and more closely involved with local and regional partners.
Onur ERYÜCE of the CHP and Berdan ÖZTÜRK, co-spokesperson of the DEM in the Turkish National Assembly, reported on the situation of local politics in Turkey following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other mayors from the CHP and the DEM. In a resolution, the Bureau of PES Local calls for the immediate release of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the other arrested mayors and local politicians, adherence to the principles of democracy and the rule of law, and respect for local self-government in Turkey.
PES Local Resolution «Solidarity with Ekrem İmamoğlu and local representatives of PES sister parties in Turkey» - DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN
16.05.2024 in Allgemein
PES Local adopts Manifesto for the European elections 2024
On 15 May 2024 the Bureau of PES Local adopted its Manifesto for the European elections 2024. The Manifesto with the title « Protection through the transition – For strong municipalities in a strong Europe » includes the common positions in key areas of local government and the political priorities upon which socialist local representatives in Europe will especially focus in the coming years.
PES Local Manifesto «Protection through the transition – For strong municipalities in a strong Europe» - DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN
16.11.2023 in Allgemein
PES Local Bureau and Workshop in Lisbon on 20 October 2023
On 20 October 2023 the Bureau of PES Local met upon the invitation of Partido Socialista (PS) in Lisbon. In the afternoon a workshop of PES Local and Partido Socialista took place on «Affordable, Social Inclusive and Climate Neutral Housing». Delegations of the organisations of social democratic and socialist local and regional representatives from eight European countries took part in the workshop. Speakers of the meeting and the workshop included:
Ana ABRUNHOSA | Minister for Territorial Cohesion (Portugal),
Marina GONÇALVES | Minister for Housing (Portugal),
João TORRES | Deputy Secretary General of PS, Member of the Portuguese Parliament (Portugal),
Luísa SALGUEIRO | Mayor of Matosinhos, President of the National Association of Portuguese Municípalities (ANMP),
Timo SCHISANOWSKI | Member of the German Parliament,
Christophe ROUILLON | President of PES Local, Mayor of Coulaines, Conseiller général of Sarthe, Vice President of the Association of French Mayors in charge of European affairs, President of the PES group in the Committee of the Regions (France),
Susana AMADOR | Vice-President of PES Local, Member of the Portuguese Parliament, National Secretary of the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) for Municipalities and Local Authorities, Member of the PS National Policy Board, President of the Municipal Assembly of Loures (Portugal),
Kata TÜTTÖ | Deputy Mayor of Budapest, Vice-Chair of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MsZP), Vice-President of the PES-Group of the Committee of the Regions, Vice President of PES Local,
Michaela KAUER | Head of Brussels Office of the City of Vienna (Austria),
Christophe FERRARI | President of Grenoble Alpes Métropole, Mayor of Le Pont-de-Claix,
Isilda GOMES, Mayor of Portimão, Chairwoman of the Portuguese delegation in the Committee of the Regions, President of the Commission for Natural Resources of the Committee of the Regions, President of the Associação Nacional de Autarcas do Partido Socialista (Portugal).
25.08.2023 in Allgemein
PES Local Bureau discusses on Future of EU Cohesion Policy in video conference on 9 March 2023
In the video conference of the Bureau on 9 March 2023 Marcos ROS SEMPERE, MEP, S&D Coordinator in Regional Development committee in the European Parliament, reported on the Future of EU cohesion policy. PES Local confirmed its support to the positions of the #CohesionAlliance.
Furthermore Bureau members exchanged information on the situation of refugees from Ukraine in municipalities in the EU.
02.12.2022 in Allgemein
PES Local Bureau meets in Brussels on 1 December 2022
Main topic on the agenda of the Bureau meeting of PES Local on 1 December 2022 at the PES headquarters in Brussels was the ongoing War in Ukraine and the situation of refugees in municipalities in the EU. Furthermore the Bureau of PES Local discussed on the implications of the energy price crisis, high inflation and its implications for towns and municipalities.
09.12.2021 in Allgemein
Video conference on 2 December 2021: Christophe ROUILLON re-elected as President
In its video conference on 2 December 2021 the Bureau of PES Local discussed its expecations on the Conference on the Future of Europe and adopted the resolution « For a Europe with a human face: Consolidating the foundation and cohesion of Europe with strong local authorities »
At this meeting the executive Bureau of PES Local was elected. Christophe ROUILLON (France), Mayor of Coulaines, Conseiller général of Sarthe and President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, was unanimously re-elected as PES Local’s President.
Resolution « For a Europe with a human face: Consolidating the foundation and cohesion of Europe with strong local authorities »
DOWNLOAD in English, French and German
09.12.2021 in Allgemein
PES Local Bureau meets in video conference on 6 July 2021
Main topics of the video conference of the Bureau on 6 July were the Conference on the Future of Europe and again the impact of the Covid-19-crisis on local authorities. Vice President Kata Tüttö reported on the aims, the composition and the processes of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
09.12.2021 in Allgemein
Bureau of PES Local discusses on sustainable cities on 18 November 2020
In the video conference of the Bureau on 18 November 2020 PES Deputy Secretary General Yonnec POLET presented the draft PES paper «Leading the way for Progressive and Sustainable Cities». The Bureau discussed the draft and proposed several additions and amendments. Once again the Bureau also discussed on the impact of the Covid-19-crisis on local authorities in member countries.
Furthermore the Bureau discussed on reports that since mid-2019, over 100 local authorities in Poland have adopted declarations designating themselves as so-called "LGBTIQ-free zones". The Bureau of PES Local strongly condemned statements made by local authorities targeting LGBTIQ people. In an open letter to the Polish Association of Municipalities CEMR had taken a stand against this. Numerous mayors and local politicians, including Christophe ROUILLON, had already endorsed this letter. Marc TARABELLA, as General Secretary, endorsed the open letter of CEMR on behalf of PES Local.
NEWS
- PES Local mourns Roland Schäfer - a true European. PES Local mourns Roland Schäfer. Our Honorary President and friend Roland Schäfer has passed away unexpectedly on 1st of January 2026 at the age of 76. Roland was President of ...
- PES Local adopts Resolution on EU Cohesion Policy | Christophe ROUILLON re-elected as President. ...
- PES Local expresses its solidarity with Ekrem İmamoğlu. The video conference of the PES Local Bureau on June 6, 2025, focused on the topic of "The Future of EU Cohesion Policy." Kata TÜTTÖ, President of the European Committee ...
- PES Local adopts Manifesto for the European elections 2024. On 15 May 2024 the Bureau of PES Local adopted its Manifesto for the European elections 2024. The Manifesto with the title « Protection through the transition – For strong municipalities ...
- PES Local Bureau and Workshop in Lisbon on 20 October 2023. On 20 October 2023 the Bureau of PES Local met upon the invitation of Partido Socialista (PS) in Lisbon. In the afternoon a workshop of PES Local and Partido Socialista took place on «Affordable, ...
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