“In the context of geopolitical instability and climate emergency, Euro-Mediterranean integration at the local level is fundamental for building a fairer and more sustainable future together,” said Congress Vice-President Xavier Cadoret (France, SOC/G/PD) at the 11th Plenary Session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM). This session, which was held on 23 January 2020 in Barcelona, Spain, marked the 10th anniversary of the Assembly.

The local level plays a crucial role in the concrete implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 – the so-called “localisation of SDGs”. It is important that local authorities have the skills and the means to achieve these goals, underlined Mr. Cadoret. “As the Mediterranean region is warming up 20% faster than the global average, strengthening co-operation between European local elected representatives and their Southern Mediterranean counterparts is an absolute priority,” explained the Vice-President. “The common objectives should include, in particular, the provision of green public services, in line with the concept of smart cities, the development of sustainable tourism and the creation of partnerships between local authorities to exchange good practices,” he added.

In this regard, Mr. Cadoret recalled that a platform for co-operation with Southern Mediterranean countries already exists within the Congress thanks to the status of Partner for Local Democracy, which is part of its South-Med Partnership. This status, currently enjoyed by Morocco and Tunisia, allows delegations from non-member States of the Council of Europe to participate in the work of the Congress by providing their point of view and submitting proposals on topics of common interest to debate with Congress members.