Focus on the EU’s new Black Sea Strategy and the state of decentralisation reforms in Eastern Partnership countries
PLATFORMA spokesperson Inga Vismantienė (Lithuania) reaffirmed that empowering local governments is key to building resilient, democratic, and inclusive societies at a session on dentralisation at the Committee of the Regions 14th Annual Meeting of CORLEAP (the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership) in Yerevan (Armenia).
The event centred on two major themes shaping the region’s future: the EU’s new Black Sea Strategy and the state of decentralisation reforms in Eastern Partnership countries.
Decentralisation: a foundation for democracy and development
In her keynote address, Inga Vismantienė presented the Lithuanian model of local self-government as an example of how decentralisation can strengthen democracy, efficiency and citizen trust. Representing both Akmenė Municipality and PLATFORMA, she shared Lithuania’s thirty-year experience in building a strong local governance system based on European democratic principles and subsidiarity.
“Decentralisation is not only a technical reform — it is the cornerstone of democracy,” she stressed. “It empowers local governments to respond to citizens’ needs, design solutions rooted in local realities, and build trust between people and institutions.”
The Deputy Mayor outlined Lithuania’s key milestones: the ratification of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1994, the Law on Local Self-Government in 1995, and since 2015, direct mayoral elections that have strengthened local accountability. She explained that Lithuania’s 60 municipalities now manage education, social services, infrastructure and environmental policies, supported by growing fiscal autonomy.
She also highlighted that Ukraine’s resilience during the war demonstrated the real value of empowered municipalities: “Decentralised governance enabled local leaders to act swiftly, protect their communities, and lead recovery efforts. Local governments are not only recipients of aid — they are partners shaping the future.”
Vismantienė emphasised that effective decentralisation requires skilled public employees, capable mayors, and strong local associations, supported by continuous investment in capacity-building and peer learning.
As PLATFORMA spokesperson, Ms Vismantienė reiterated the network’s ongoing work with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) to promote decentralised cooperation and local governance reforms in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Since 2015, PLATFORMA has supported advocacy, policy dialogue and city-to-city cooperation projects on youth, gender equality, energy, climate and governance.
“We must keep advocating that local and regional governments — and their associations — are given the resources, competences and institutional voice they need to shape both European and national policies,” she concluded.
The EU’s new Black Sea Strategy: connecting regions and building resilience
The morning session focused on the EU’s New Black Sea Strategy, presented within the changing geopolitical landscape following Russia’s war against Ukraine. Speakers underlined the region’s growing importance as a bridge between Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.The new strategy rests on three pillars:
- Security, Stability and Resilience – enhancing maritime security, countering hybrid threats, and protecting infrastructure.
- Sustainable Growth and Connectivity – developing transport, energy and digital links.
- Environmental and Climate Resilience – addressing war-related environmental damage and supporting coastal communities.
The EU also plans to establish a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub and launch a new Connectivity Agenda aligned with European transport and energy networks.