European Cities and regions are committed to the achievement of the SDGs not only in Europe but across the globe. Their international cooperation with other cities and regions promotes the fundamental values of co-responsibility, ownership, effectiveness and humanity and contributes to the understanding of how local and global challenges to sustainable development are intimately interlinked. It promotes citizens’ commitment with poverty reduction and tackling inequalities both at home and abroad. 

Civil society Organisations play a central role in promoting citizens’ critical understanding and active engagement for global sustainable development. They promote local changes for a stronger global citizenship by reflecting society’s concerns and building on its own diversity. The dialogue among the different players of development education and awareness raising is crucial to create effective opportunities for citizens to be informed and engage for global sustainable development.  

The European Days of Local Solidarity (15 to 30 November 2019) promotes the commitment of local and regional councils to inform and involve citizens in decentralised cooperation and to raise their awareness about global sustainable development issues. Last year, most of the 120 cities and regions that took part in the EDLS did so in partnership with local civil society organisations and education centers.