Mediterranean collaboration policy is adopted in Malta

Cagliari - More integration and cooperation at local and regional levels in the Euro-Mediterranean area are essential to tackling terrorism, migration flows, and the effects of climate change. This is the proposal that was submitted by the Governor of Sardinia Region, Francesco Pigliaru, in his report on the role played by cities and regions in the Mediterranean crossborder collaboration. The report was adopted on Thursday in Malta, the country holding the rotating EU presidency, during the plenary session of the Arlem Assembly, the body of the European Committee of Regions focusing on Euro-Mediterranean policies.

A first draft of the document was submitted at the COP22 World Climate Conference held in Marrakech in November last. This draft was submitted during Thursday morning's session by Enzo Bianco, Mayor of Catania and head of the Italian delegation of the Committee of Regions on behalf of Mr Pigliaru, as a member of Arlem and President of the ENVE Commission (Environment, climate change and energy) of the Committee of Regions. With Arlem's decision to adopt the document, the Pigliaru Report represents the official voice of the Union of the Mediterranean territories on the issue. The document will be sent to the governments of the 43 member countries and will be submitted to the attention of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affaris and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the European Commission for the European Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Johannes Hahn. The report focuses on the experience of Sardinia, the managing authority in the Enpi Cbc Med Programme, involving 13 countries and over 130 regions of the Mediterranean.

"This experience proves that despite the many local and regional authorities participating, there are few from the southern flank which have carried out leading projects, capable of drawing all the others along," said Mr Pigliaru. "To all grow together, it is necessary to enhance leadership and interpret the needs and the economic, social and environmental expectations of the communities. This may be achieved by enhancing management capabilities and, above all, by consolidating the authorities' power of solving local issues related to quality projects in synergy with the civil society, the private sector, and the academic and scientific research community. It seems expedient to promote effective decentralisation processes in the countries involved and enhance the governance mechanisms among the various political and administrative levels," underlined Mr Pigliaru.