Albania will host for the first time the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), a forum aimed at strengthening cooperation between local and regional authorities of European Union countries and Southern Mediterranean partners. Over three days, more than 80 representatives of local and regional authorities will discuss common challenges, with a focus on climate change, young people and sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Speaking to A2 CNN, the mayor of Roskovec and member of the ARLEM board, Majlinda Bufi, praised the importance of holding this event in Albania, considering it an opportunity for Albanian municipalities to create new partnerships and benefit from the experiences of European countries. “Among all the countries that are part of this platform, we have the opportunity to create partnerships with one another. There are many initiatives and projects that ARLEM undertakes, and it is certainly a kind of facilitation for us to enable access to all these projects as much as possible”, said the mayor of Roskovec.
She stressed that hosting the assembly in Albania comes at an important moment for the European integration process, creating additional opportunities for local government to fulfil the obligations and recommendations of the European Union. “For Albania and Tirana, holding the general assembly of ARLEM this year is a very good opportunity, also given the process and the moment we are in, as we want to fulfil all the tasks and recommendations that the European Union has left us, all the obligations that we have”, she emphasised.
According to her, this event can serve Albanian municipalities to expand international cooperation, to have more information on financing opportunities and to increase the professional capacities of local administrations. “This is an opportunity for local government, for municipalities in the territory, to have new opportunities and one more window for information. A good number of Albania’s mayors will be present to see these opportunities, to listen and to create, why not, new spaces for each of the mayors. Ultimately, the task of a mayor is not only to solve the direct problems in the territory with the residents themselves, but also to create new opportunities and partnerships to provide as much access and as many opportunities as possible, not only financial but also in other areas, because it is not only the problem of implementing a financial project in the territory; the experience is building capacities for the employees and for the mayor himself”, Bufi said.
Referring to the Pact for the Mediterranean, Bufi underlined the importance of three main pillars linked to climate, people and territory, themes expected to be part of the forum’s discussions. Part of the activities on the third day will also take place in Roskovec, where representatives of municipalities from Mediterranean and European Union countries, including France, Spain and Italy, are expected to arrive. “There will be two days in Tirana and a third day, during which some of the participants will come to Roskovec. I am pleased that our city will host such an important forum”, Bufi said.