Speaking at the UN 4th Forum of Mayors, in Geneva on 30 September 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori welcomed the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Pact for the Future and the important role of local and regional authorities in delivering a renewed multilateral system. He also welcomed the Forum’s Outcome Statement and its call for including the local and regional governments directly in the work of the UN. "Sixty-seven years ago, my own institution, the Council of Europe, took the very first steps to institutionalise the dialogue with local and regional authorities by creating a conference of local and regional authorities which was invited to take part in the political dialogue of the institution", said Mr Mori. It was crucial for the construction of Europe then and remains just as crucial for global transformation today.
The Secretary General underlined the essential role of this event as a platform for the exchange of best practices, knowledge, and experience of cities from all over the world and expressed full support of the Congress to its actions.
