The EU's mechanism for ensuring laws don't ignore local realities

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While Brussels often feels distant from daily life, a specific body ensures that 75% of EU legislation—which is implemented at the local level—actually works for cities and regions. It serves as a formal bridge between high-level policy and the people living in the towns and provinces where those laws take effect.

Established in 1994 via the Maastricht Treaty, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) was created to solve a specific democratic deficit. Because the vast majority of EU laws are executed by local and regional authorities, the CoR provides these sub-national bodies—such as municipalities, counties, and provinces—with a direct voice in the legislative process. Guided by subsidiarity, the framework ensures that actions occur nearest to the public, stopping the EU from encroaching upon duties more appropriate for regional management.

The CoR functions as an advisory body representing approximately 1 million local and regional politicians across all 27 Member States. Its membership is proportional to a country's population, ranging from an average of 88,087 citizens per seat in Malta to 3.45 million per seat in Germany. Members are locally elected officials, including mayors and regional presidents, who serve renewable five-year terms. They can organize into six political groups or remain non-aligned, ensuring a diverse range of political affiliations are represented in the plenary sessions.

The committee's power is both consultative and proactive. Legislation regarding climate change, transport, education, and health requires the European Commission, Council of the EU, and European Parliament to seek input from the CoR. If these institutions fail to consult, the CoR has the semi-privileged right to bring a case before the Court of Justice. Additionally, the CoR can initiate its own opinions to put specific issues on the EU agenda, adopting opinions on 50 to 80 legislative projects across up to six plenary sessions annually.

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