Conservative local government and devolved administration from the UK met with their counterparts from other European countries to discuss their future cooperation after the UK leaves the EU.

The European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Committee of the Regions held its external group meeting in London today. The local and regional politicians met at the Local Government Association (LGA) premises to discuss areas where structured cooperation will be needed at the local and regional level. Group members met private sector and had meetings at 10 Downing Street.

"The UK and EU will continue to be key strategic partners even after the UK leaves the EU. We face many common global challenges ranging from digitalization to climate change and addressing these requires not only national but also local action. We need to continue working together at the local and regional level in a structured way to share best practices and continue promoting greater localism and free market values", said ECR CoR Group President Rob Jonkman (Alderman in Opsterland, the Netherlands).

Cllr David Simmonds (leader of the LGA Conservative Group) underlined that "local authorities exercise powers in the EU in a way that they do not in the UK. In the EU, local and regional authorities are formally consulted when laws are being prepared.  We (UK) need to ensure that UK local government maintains its positive influence for efficient and effective government in areas currently with the EU. We also need to devolve some of the powers coming back to local government so that local challenges can be addressed through local solutions."

In a panel co-organised with the Think-Tank Localis, President of the Polish region of Podkarpackie Wladyslaw Ortyl and Mayor of the Italian city of Morazzone Matteo Bianchi presented examples of localism from their respective countries. In its second panel, bringing together London Assembly Member Keith Prince and private sector representatives, members of the group looked at the case study of digitalization and how cities like London are using technologies to deliver public services.

Among the issues under discussion was how the future cooperation could be structured in the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's political assembly bringing together 350 local and regional politicians from EU member states. The UK currently has 24 Members in the CoR represented in four out of five political groupings.

"Given that the UK will continue to pay into the EU budget until 2020, it would be good if we could continue to take have our seats in the European Committee of the Regions. We need to avoid taxation without representation," said Vice-President of the ECR CoR Group Cllr Joe Cooney (Member of the Pendle Council, leader of UK delegation in the ECR).

The UK will cease to be a Member of the EU after 29 March 2019. The EU has structured relations with a number of third countries. It remains to be seen what form of cooperation UK and EU will have post-2019.