Last week, local liberal leaders gathered in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina to turn European ideals into action during the final meeting of the Local Politicians Network of the Western Balkans (LOCWEB).
The project, run by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in partnership with the Renew Europe Group in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), has produced meaningful discussions on housing, digital governance and liberal public administration. They also aim to counter EU enlargement fatigue and empower local liberal voices.
LOCWEB also allows local leaders to build bridges across borders and beyond the EU’s formal structures. When discussing housing, many participants emphasised the need for more EU support for local governments to deliver affordable housing for youth currently excluded from the market.
Karina Mikelsone, Mayor of Adazi, Latvia and First Vice-President of Renew Europe CoR said:
“Local leaders are the ones who can rebuild trust and show citizens that Europe is not a distant idea, but a reality that improves daily life.”
Throughout the event, participants collaborated on policy proposals, met local leaders from ALDE member party Naša stranka and visited the District of Brčko Assembly. This District was chosen for the LOCWEB meeting as a symbol of coexistence and pragmatic governance, as it is a self-governing territory bridging Bosnia and Herzegovina’s regions.
Renew Europe CoR has been part of this project since 2023, after calling for more cooperation with local and regional authorities from non-EU countries. The project aims to bring the EU closer to its neighbours, while putting liberal solutions in place.
