History

Through their actions to promote solidarity, local democracy and peace, local and regional authorities have gained recognition of their active role in development. In May 2004, the increasing importance of these actors, who are close to civil society and in direct contact with the different issues related to development, finds expression in the creation of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

UCLG is a world organisation of local governments and their networks that voices their views and concerns to international organisations and the United Nations. It aims at the recognition of the role of local governments in the international system and the mobilisation of local actors in favour of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. It promotes peace through “city diplomacy” and innovation in local governance.

The Mediterranean occupies a special place in UCLG because of the great number of direct members in all three North, South and East regions, in addition to the numerous cooperation initiatives linking local governments, and common policies for regional development.
Following the MED URBS programme, a culture of trans-Mediterranean networks of local governments was created in the Mediterranean, reinforced by the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: MedCities, Arc Latin, COPPEM (Standing Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local and Regional Authorities), CPMR (Mediterranean Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions), etc.

The creation as of 2006 of a Mediterranean Commission within UCLG was seen as an opportunity to develop exchanges and to take into account the specific interests of Mediterranean local and regional authorities, not only with regards to Euro-Mediterranean relations, but also concerning strategic issues such as decentralisation, urban development, the environment and employment.