Information and Representation of Interests
The focus of our work is the active representation of interests of towns and municipalities in Brussels. We represent the political positions and demands of municipalities towards EU institutions, politics, associations and the public. We inform about all processes taking place within the EU that are important and relevant to municipalities.
The range of topics is wide. Especially worth mentioning are the topics:
- Internal market ("Services of general interest"),
- regional development,
- environment policy and
- social affairs.
More than 10 000 lobbyists work in Brussels. We, however, represent the democratically legitimised level in Germany which is closest to the citizens. Europe's dialogue with us has to comprehensively take this special characteristic into account.
Dr. Klaus Nutzenberger, Head of the European Office of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB)
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) is the only central local government association with an own European committee. Local politicians from all over Germany meet in this committee in order to define our association's positions on European policy. Two members of the European Parliament have been created co-opted members of our association's Praesidium. These are important contributions to the mutual understanding of European and local policy.
The DStGB is a member of the "European Association of Towns and Municipalities", the European local government umbrella organisation "Council of European Municipalities and Regions" (CEMR) which has been the biggest European local government organisation since 1951. The DStGB is also represented in the European central association of public enterprises, CEEP, as well as in the world local government association UCLG. We speak up for international town twinning.
Professor Dr. Christian Steger,
Europe Representative of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB)
...and Europe