South-Med Partnership
In May 2011, the Council of Europe adopted a policy towards neighbouring regions, in particular the Southern Mediterranean, which aims to facilitate a democratic political transition, promote good governance and strengthen and broaden regional action in the fight against cross-border threats. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is responsible for the implementation of the local and regional democracy element, the purpose of which is to support the ongoing territorial reforms. On 10 February 2017, the Congress Bureau adopted a co-operation programme entitled “South-Med Partnership”, to meet the objectives of the neighbourhood policy. Although the activities only concern Morocco and Tunisia, the Partnership aims to extend to other neighbouring countries.
Co-operation with Morocco
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities’ co-operation programme with Morocco is part of the South-Med Partnership and aims to assist Morocco in its decentralisation reforms by providing a platform for the exchange of experience and expertise between Congress members and their Moroccan counterparts, for example through plurilateral meetings and exchange of good practice.
Co-operation with Tunisia
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities’ co-operation programme with Tunisia is part of the South-Med Partnership and aims to help renforce local governance in Tunisia by providing a platform for the exchange of experience and expertise between Congress members and their Tunisian counterparts, for example through plurilateral meetings and exchange of good practice.
Partner for Local Democracy
The Partner for Local Democracy status of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities enables elected representatives of local authorities of countries in the Council of Europe’s neighbourhood to participate, within the Congress, in strengthening local and regional democracy.
Institutional co-operation
The Congress has conducted its co-operation activities with the North-African authorities in the framework of the Council of Europe new policy towards its immediate neighbourhood. It holds observer status at ARLEM (Euro-Mediterranean Assembly of Local and Regional Elected Representatives) and it is also an institutional stakeholder of the North-South Centre, where it represents the local level.
- Information Report CG (2022) 42-19 on municipal and regional elections in the Kingdom of Morocco (8 September 2021)
- Report CG37(2019)06final Request for Partner for Local Democracy status submitted by the Republic of Tunisia
- Report CG/BUR27(2019)28 Request for Partner for Local Democracy status submitted by the Republic of Tunisia
- Report CG36(2019)07 Partner for Local Democracy status obtained by the Kingdom of Morocco
- Report CG35(2018)10 Information report on the municipal elections in Tunisia (6 May 2018)
- Programme of the Congress South-Med Partnership (2017)
- Resolution 437 (2018) The consultation of local authorities by higher levels of government (Arabic version)
- Resolution 376 (2014) Partner for Local Democracy status
- Resolution 343 (2012) Policy of the Council of Europe towards neighbouring regions: the role of the Congress
- Resolution 342 (2012) The changes underway in the Arab countries – opportunities fofr local and regional democra
- Recommendation 325 (2012) The changes underway in the Arab countries – opportunities for local and regional democracy
- Leaflet - Congress
- Leaflet - European Charter of Local Self-Governement
- Booklet - European code of conduct for the political integrity of local and regional elected representatives (1999)
- Booklet - Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life
- Booklet - Reference framework for regional democracy
- Toolkit "Organising intercultural and interreligious activities"
- The Congress FACTSHEET on women's rights and gender equality
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