“We at the Congress are convinced that it is essential to build resilience and inclusiveness in a sustainable way. In order to achieve this goal, local authorities must be equipped with the relevant competences, adequate finances to fulfil their tasks and the necessary autonomy in decision-making”, stated Congress Vice-President Xavier Cadoret (France, SOC/G/PD), at the 13th Plenary Session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), on 7-8 November in Izmir, Türkiye.
“Only by strengthening local autonomy through decentralisation of power and equitable distribution of resources between different levels of governance can we increase resilience and inclusiveness at local level”, stressed Mr Cadoret during a roundtable discussion on ‘Inclusive and resilient cities in the Mediterranean’.
Addressing the topic of climate action in the region, the Vice-President highlighted the Congress report on ‘A fundamental right to the environment: a matter for local and regional authorities’, adopted at its 43rd session in October, and the Congress’ proposed revision of the Urban Charter II.
He pointed out that "the challenges faced today by the Council of Europe member States are interconnected with the challenges of the Southern Mediterranean and their complexity requires a global approach”. Vice-President Cadoret underlined that the Congress is committed to making communities more resilient and sustainable on both shores of the Mediterranean, as evidenced by peer exchanges and experience sharing between European territorial authorities and their counterparts from Morocco and Tunisia who have the status of Partner for Local Democracy with the Congress.
- Speech by Xavier Cadoret (in French only)
