In a resolution adopted the 29 October 2019, at the occasion of the 37th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Tunisian Republic was granted Partner for Local Democracy status with the Assembly. This makes it the second country – with the Kingdom of Morocco – to hold this status, which offers the Council of Europe’s neighbouring countries an ideal platform for dialogue and institutional contacts with their European counterparts.
The resolution was introduced by the Congress spokespersons on the South Mediterranean Partnership, Piero Fassino and Constance De Pelichy (France, EPP/CEC).
The Tunisian delegation will comprise four representatives and four substitutes who will be able to sit alongside Congress members and contribute to the debates during sessions – but without the right to vote – and to the work of its monitoring, current affairs and governance committees.
The Tunisian delegation to take part in the 37th session will hold bilateral exchanges of views with Anders Knape, President of the Congress, Xavier Cadoret, President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, and Karl-Heinz Lambertz, Vice-President of the Chamber of Regions, and the chairs of the political groups and the Presidents of the Congress Committees.
On 30 October 2019, Mokhtar Hammami, Minister for Local Affairs and the Environment, and Souad Ben Abderrahim, Mayor of Tunis and President of the National Federation of Tunisian Towns and Cities ((FNVT), will address Congress members during a debate on the South Mediterranean Partnership.
- Report CG37(2019)06
- Speeches by Piero Fassino, Italy (SOC) and Constance de Pelichy, France (EPP/CCE)
- Video of the debate: EN - FR - Original
- Co-operation with the Republic of Tunisia
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The decision to grant partner status follows an application made to the President of the Congress on 6 May 2019 by the Minister for Local Affairs and the Environment of Tunisia and the National Federation of Tunisian Towns and Cities (FNVT).
The Republic of Tunisia is a longstanding partner of the Council of Europe: it has held observer status with the European Pharmacopoeia since 1997 and taken part in the Pompidou Group’s Mediterranean Network (MedNET) since 2006. It has been a member of the Venice Commission since 2010 and of the North-South Centre since 2016. It has also ratified several Council of Europe treaties and has been covered by co-operation activities with the Council of Europe under the Neighbourhood Partnership since 2012.
** 37th Session of the Congress **
File 37th Session - Agenda - Videos and photos – Mediabox interviews
