During the 16th Plenary Session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), members of the EPP-CoR Group called for greater regional engagement and stronger local ownership in the implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean. They expressed their commitment to promoting a shared vision of stability, sustainability, and prosperity across the region. Speakers underlined the crucial role of regional and local authorities in translating EU policies into tangible results, particularly in addressing challenges such as climate change, migration, economic growth, and education.
Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, said: “Grateful to address ARLEM today - an important forum for promoting interregional cooperation. Local and regional authorities are at the heart of the Pact for the Mediterranean. As a former mayor, I know how deeply they understand the needs and challenges of their citizens and territories - and how crucial they are in delivering real solutions on the ground. Together, we are shaping our region’s future - building a Common Mediterranean Space of opportunities, sustainable growth, and equal partnership.”
Nikola Dobroslavić, President of the Dubrovnik-Neretva Region, who previously served as rapporteur on the development of a macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean, recalled that his opinion had explored whether the Mediterranean, like other European macro-regions, needed a specific EU strategy to better address its challenges. He confirmed the ongoing need for joint action within the European Union. "The new Pact for the Mediterranean follows the same path, and we strongly welcome it. In the Committee’s opinion, particular attention was given to climate change and pollution — both of which are alarming. Warming in the Mediterranean is occurring 20% faster than the global average. Water demand is expected to double or even triple by 2050. And a 2°C global temperature rise could reduce precipitation in the region by 10 to 15%. It is hence clear that no country or region can face such challenges alone — this must be a joint, collective effort."
Jesús Gamallo Aller, Director General for External Relations and Relations with the European Union, Regional Government of Galicia, welcomed the Pact and its measures in key areas such as education, the economy, climate, energy, and migration. He stressed that effective implementation required the involvement of the European Confederation of Border Regions. "I come from Galicia: a region of Spain, bordering Portugal, and I believe that the work and experience of the European Confederation of Border Regions can be very useful in advancing the Mediterranean process and in implementing this Pact. This would have a direct impact both on the daily lives of people and on regional economies."
Adrián Zittelli Ferrari, Director General for European Union Affairs in the Government of Murcia, described the Pact for the Mediterranean as a key instrument to strengthen regional cooperation, promote peace and shared prosperity, and jointly address the climatic, social, and economic challenges affecting Mediterranean communities. He called for a stronger territorial pillar and for regional and local authorities to be fully involved in the Pact’s governance and implementation, expressing concern over the absence of a specific budget line to support its initiatives. "The Pact for the Mediterranean represents a unique opportunity to transform our regions into engines of cohesion, innovation, and peace. It embodies a collective commitment to make the Mediterranean a dynamic, cohesive, and strategic region for the future of Europe and its partners. The Region of Murcia can contribute actively to this initiative by bringing its experience and capabilities in several key areas: sustainable water management, climate adaptation, blue economy and sustainable tourism, and agriculture, among others."
Roberto Pella, Mayor of Valdengo, called for the creation of a study curriculum focusing on local and regional democracy within the framework of the Pact for the Mediterranean and the proposed establishment of a Mediterranean University. Such an institution, he argued, would foster a political culture rooted in truth, dialogue, and the transmission of the strategic value of peace to younger generations. "Unfortunately, we have too often regarded peace as something obvious or taken for granted — yet, as recent events show, it is not. This is something we must work on. Because where there is knowledge, there is respect; where there is respect, there is peace; and where there is peace, there is cooperation."
Background
The Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) was established in 2010 by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) together with territorial associations active across the Mediterranean. It provides a political platform for local and regional representatives from the three shores of the Mediterranean Sea to engage in dialogue, represent their authorities vis-à-vis the European Union (EU) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and foster interregional cooperation.
ARLEM brings together 80 members and 2 observers from EU Member States and Mediterranean partner countries including Egypt, Türkiye, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Palestine, Monaco, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, with Libya participating as an observer.
Its mission is to strengthen the territorial dimension of the Union for the Mediterranean, promote local democracy, multi-level governance, and North-South and South-South dialogue among local and regional authorities. ARLEM also works to encourage the exchange of best practices and technical expertise, and to advance regional integration and cohesion.