EU engagement in fragile settings: What role for cities and local/regional governments and how best to support them?

Summary

This discussion paper explores how the EU can deepen its engagement with local and regional governments in fragile settings. It draws on key insights from the EU-funded ‘Partnerships for Sustainable Cities’ programme and the final global event held in Reggio Emilia (7–8 May 2025), which brought together city partnerships and institutional stakeholders.

This paper seeks to inform and stimulate dialogue among cities, internally within the European Commission, as well as with interested external partners, at a time a new overall policy response on fragility is being developed. It could also support ongoing advocacy efforts by local and regional governments towards the EU to deepen the partnership and collaboration in fragile settings, particularly under the new multiannual financial framework (2028-2034).

Over the past decade, policymakers and practitioners have increasingly recognised the critical role of the local level to foster peace, restore trust, deliver services and build resilience. Experience clearly indicates that cities and local and regional governments have several potential assets (as public entities) to be a strategic partner in fragile settings. Despite dilemmas and challenges in working with local and regional governments in a conflict-sensitive manner, the paper highlights the growing evidence of innovative practices that show the added value of scaling up such partnerships.