“The DNA of the Bank mirrors the core responsibilities of local and regional authorities in Europe. The areas where the Bank is most active – education, healthcare, housing, social infrastructure, and environmental protection – are precisely the sectors where local and regional authorities play a decisive role,” stated Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori addressing the Joint Meeting of the Governing Board and the Administrative Council of the Council of Europe Development Bank, in Warsaw on 16 March 2026.

Over the past twenty years, local government expenditure in EU member states has doubled. Today, across OECD countries, subnational governments account for approximately 55% of total public investment. In other words, if we want to deliver meaningful social investment in Europe, we cannot do so without cities and regions.

Secretary General Mori also referred to the Congress work to promote good democratic governance through the Eloge label and to the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government which serves as safeguards to ensure that local authorities can plan and finance development projects independently, within the framework of national law. Congress Committee reports can also act as early warning signals, helping the Bank anticipate new investment priorities at the subnational level, he said, citing recent Congress texts on the housing crisis, ageing communities, responses to natural disasters and the reception of women and children refugees.

“Local and regional authorities are not just beneficiaries of social investment — they are its primary architects. This is why the partnership between the Congress and the Council of Europe Development Bank is so important, enabling cities and regions to invest in the well-being of their citizens. Social cohesion in Europe is built locally — but it succeeds when institutions like ours work together,” concluded the Congress Secretary General.