This book examines the twinning of cities within Europe and the innovative and supportive role that the Council of European Municipalities and Regions has played in the process of European integration, focusing on the idea of a federal state centred on municipalities, the basis of Western democracy.

Fabio Zucca holds the Jean Monnet Chair in the History of European Integration at the University of Insubria, Varese. He is director of both the Historical Archive and the Interdepartmental Centre of Research and Documentation on Twentieth-Century History at the University of Pavia. He combines his research on the history of European integration with locally based activities in support of the establishment of the United States of Europe. He is currently Mayor of Belgioioso and a member of the national council of AICCRE, the Italian branch of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions. He holds the title of Ufficiale dell’Ordine al merito della Repubblica Italiana in recognition of his academic and administrative achievements.

Leseprobe

Contents: Town Twinnings – Local Authorities – Council of Europe – European Parliament – History of European Integration – History of infra- and supranational Federalism – History of XX-Century Europe.