Addressing the 5th European University of the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE), in Antibes Juan-les-Pins, France, on 18 October 2019, Xavier Cadoret, Vice-President of the Congress, stressed the importance of decentralisation, which helps to strengthen the situation of territories and consequently, that of local populations. "The ambitious reforms aimed at decentralizing power, launched by some southern Mediterranean countries in recent years, are paving the way for a new era in the region," he said, speaking at the round table on "French Territories and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: socio-political issues, common identities and economic opportunities".
The Vice-President recalled that the Congress had been engaged, since 2016, in cooperation activities with the countries of the southern Mediterranean, within the framework of the Council of Europe's policy towards neighbouring regions. The Congress' South-Med Partnership, adopted in 2017, aims to share the Congress' expertise in decentralisation in the light of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. This includes political dialogue, legislative assistance, capacity-building for local and regional elected officials and national associations, and the development of participatory democracy.
"I am convinced that South-Med cooperation is an asset in overcoming common challenges and that local and regional authorities can lead the way in this area," concluded Xavier Cadoret.
See also:
