What we do
Constitutional and institutional affairs
The Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) coordinates the CoR legislative work on the future of Europe, democracy, multilevel governance and decentralisation, citizenship and citizens' participation and countering disinformation.
The CIVEX Commission focuses on active subsidiarity and better regulation and – as other CoR commissions – cooperates with the Better Regulation and Active Subsidiarity Steering Group (BRASS-G), leading the work on subsidiarity monitoring and coordinating the Subsidiarity Expert Group.
Area of freedom, security and justice
CIVEX is active in policies such as migration and asylum, integration of third country nationals, security and anti-radicalisation, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
The "Cities and Regions for Integration of Migrants" network provides a political platform for local and regional authorities (LRAs) to showcase positive examples of integration of migrants and refugees, share information and promote diversity to build inclusive cities and ensure social cohesion.
The CoR also grants the annual Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award to those whose efforts have stood out in the promotion of freedom, solidarity and equality, despite the risks.
EU Enlargement
To foster political dialogue with LRAs in enlargement countries, CIVEX manages the joint consultative committees (JCCs) with Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia and the working groups (WGs) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine. Every year, meetings are organised in Brussels and in the partner country to facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices.
The CoR, together with partner associations of LRAs from the EU and Ukraine, launched the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, to coordinate their joint efforts towards supporting the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
EU neighbourhood policy and international partnerships
The Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) and the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) provide a political forum for dialogue and exchange with LRAs from neighbouring countries in the East and the Mediterranean respectively.
In the field of international partnerships, the CoR promotes decentralised cooperation initiatives, through regular policy dialogue on SDG localisation with the United Nations, and through the biannual Forum "Cities and Regions for International Partnerships" co-organised with the European Commission. The CoR also launched the Nicosia Initiative to foster EU-Libyan decentralised cooperation and improve people's lives and the provision of public local services in a fragile context.
The CIVEX Commission also supports the CoR-UK contact group to ensure that political dialogue continues with representatives of UK local government and devolved administrations after the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
CIVEX supports the close cooperation with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, with both institutions dedicated to the promotion and strengthening of local and regional democracy.
