The European Union and the role of local governments in the future post-2015 development agenda

Abstract

The period for which the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were defined has coincided with a substantial increase in EU support to decentralization reforms initiated in the mid-90s. This intensification aims at two major goals of the international cooperation: to contribute to the improvement of local democratic governance, by increasing accountability and citizen participation, and to provide the population with a more effective and efficient access to basic services. In this context, upon evaluating MDGs progress, several authors argue that the contribution of local governments has been crucial. This papers looks at the evolution of the European Union aid policies in relation to decentralization and the implications that this support may have had on achieving the MDGs. In this process, the cooperation undertaken by local governments and civil society organizations has played an important role in shaping a multi-level support system and has contributed to the gradual incorporation of the urban dimension and the territorial approach in the European aid policies.