The 2nd forum of local and regional authorities of the Mediterranean

The Forum is organized by the Mediterranean Commission of UCLG in partnership with the main networks of local and regional authorities active in the Mediterranean, with support from the City and the Diputacio of Barcelona, as well as the Generalitat of Catalonia.

The 2010 Forum will to articulate the vision of local and regional authorities and particularly their ambition to set up a strategy at Mediterranean basin scale, closer to the people. The strategy should be based on a common policy with a territorial approach to development, reinforced local governance, and local and regional authorities with adequate competences and resources matching current challenges.

Following the recognition in principle of the role of local and regional authorities, the key issue in this Forum will be to obtain the effective participation of local and regional authorities in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

It is an opportunity for political expression, debate and exchanges among local and regional authorities of the three shores of the Mediterranean. It is also the occasion for local and regional authorities to contribute to the definition and promotion of policies and actions for the development and governance of their territories.

The First Forum of Local and Regional authorities of the Mediterranean was held in Marseilles (France)in 2008. During the first Forum local and regional authorities expressed their views on challenges related to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and to the development of Mediterranean countries. Their mobilization achieved genuine advances, most importantly, the recognition of their role in policies of major interest for the Mediterranean: sustainable development, climate change, renewable energies, water management, de-pollution of the Mediterranean, etc.