Relations with the EU/Representation at EU level

The Swedish delegation to the CoR is composed of four representatives of the Counties/Regions and eight representatives of the Municipalities. In addition to these 12 members, there are 12 alternate members.

The SALAR has a liaison office in Brussels. Its aims are to develop the SALAR's relations with the EU institutions and to gather early information related to EU decision-making.[1] Municipalities, County councils and Regions (Västra Götaland, Central Sweden, East Sweden, Malmö, Mid-Sweden, North Sweden, Småland-Blekinge – South Sweden, Stockholm region, West Sweden and Göteborg[2]) also have their own Permanent Representations in Brussels.

The SALAR cooperates with several European territorial associations: it is a member of United Cities and Local Governments (the UCLG) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (the CLRAE)[3]. It also maintains contacts with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (the CEMR) as well as with the employers' organisation CEEP[4]. County Councils and Regions cooperate with European associations of local and regional authorities such as the Assembly of European Regions (the AER) and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (the CPMR)[5]. Three Municipalities (Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö) are members of the Eurocities network. Other medium-sized Municipalities are part of Eurotowns.[6]

[1] SALAR portal, Startpage > About SALAR > The office in Brussels.

[2] Committee of the Regions, European Commission DG Regional Policy, Regional offices contact directory, European Week of Regions and Cities. Brussels, 6-9 October 2008.

[3] SALAR portal, Startpage > About SALAR > European and worldwide cooperation.

[4] Ibid.

[5] SALAR, Startpage › Municipalities, County councils and Regions › Local government and the EU.

[6] Ibid.