{"id":154555,"date":"2024-11-13T03:00:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T02:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=154555"},"modified":"2024-11-12T09:32:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T08:32:31","slug":"mediterranean-cities-and-regions-emphasise-need-for-dialogue-and-cooperation-on-water-and-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/mediterranean-cities-and-regions-emphasise-need-for-dialogue-and-cooperation-on-water-and-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Mediterranean cities and regions emphasise need for dialogue and cooperation on water and energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local and regional leaders from Mediterranean cities convened in Amman on 4-5 November for the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), where they underscored their commitment to cooperation and dialogue on critical regional challenges including cultural dialogue, water scarcity and the energy transition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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ARLEM’s plenary session in Amman, capital of Jordan, was co-chaired by the president of the European Committee of the Regions,\u00a0Vasco Alves Cordeiro,<\/strong>\u00a0and by the mayor of Greater Ramtha Municipality in Jordan,\u00a0Ahmad Al Khazali<\/strong>, who described the meeting as a sign of Jordan’s “unwavering commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and peace”. The session began with a minute of silence to honour the civilian victims of the conflicts in the region.<\/p>\n

The meeting brought together mayors, governors, and national and international politicians and officials and signalled a new start for this joint Assembly at a critical moment in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. Speakers included\u00a0Nasser Kamel<\/strong>, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM),\u00a0Patrick Simonnet<\/strong>, the EU’s special envoy for the Mediterranean, and \u2013 by video message \u2013\u00a0Roberta Metsola<\/strong>, the European Parliament’s President.<\/p>\n

To contribute to the New Pact for the Mediterranean announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, ARLEM will in 2025 deliver a report a report on the new Euro-Mediterranean strategic agenda. The recent natural disaster in Spain has further highlighted the urgency of tackling climate change and advancing cooperation on civil protection, to which ARLEM will contribute by its roadmap. ARLEM members expressed their solidarity with the cities and regions affected.<\/p>\n

UfM Secretary-General Kamel and\u00a0HRH Princess Rym Ali<\/strong>, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, discussed challenges and opportunities of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation with ARLEM members. Their organisations are the initiators of one of the major recent efforts to foster inter-cultural exchange between Mediterranean cities, the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue. ARLEM serves on the initiative’s advisory committee.<\/p>\n

The inaugural Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue \u2013 Tirana and Alexandria \u2013 have pledged to forge bilateral collaborations in 2025.\u00a0Erion Veliaj<\/strong>, mayor of Tirana, told ARLEM that the Albanian capital will \u2013 through its MediTIRANEan Bridges programme \u2013 also use its year as a Mediterranean capital to champion sustainable cultural tourism and the digitalisation of cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

ARLEM’s championing of inclusive cities was reflected in the presentation of the\u00a0sixth ARLEM Award: Young local entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean.<\/strong>\u00a0 The award encourages young entrepreneurs to take the future in their own hands and the development of a business-friendly environment, by recognising the role of local authorities in its enabling role. This year’s award went to A\u00efda Kandil of MyTindy and the Casablanca Chamber of Crafts. Ms Kandil’s business has developed an online platform enabling artisans, particularly women in rural areas, to find a market for their hand-made products.<\/p>\n

ARLEM members adopted two reports linked to two other priorities \u2013 climate-related action and energy security \u2013 in which they set out recommendations on how regions and cities can strengthen water resilience and support a sustainable energy transition for the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n

ARLEM recommendations:<\/strong><\/p>\n