South-Med Partnership

In May 2011, the Council of Europe adopted a policy towards neighbouring regions, in particular the Southern Mediterranean, which aims to facilitate a democratic political transition, promote good governance and strengthen and broaden regional action in the fight against cross-border threats. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is responsible for the implementation of the local and regional democracy element, the purpose of which is to support the ongoing territorial reforms. On 10 February 2017, the Congress Bureau adopted a co-operation programme entitled “South-Med Partnership”, to meet the objectives of the neighbourhood policy. Although the activities only concern Morocco and Tunisia, the Partnership aims to extend to other neighbouring countries.

Co-operation with Morocco

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities’ co-operation programme with Morocco is part of the South-Med Partnership and aims to assist Morocco in its decentralisation reforms by providing a platform for the exchange of experience and expertise between Congress members and their Moroccan counterparts, for example through plurilateral meetings and exchange of good practice.

Co-operation with Tunisia

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities’ co-operation programme with Tunisia is part of the South-Med Partnership and aims to help renforce local governance in Tunisia by providing a platform for the exchange of experience and expertise between Congress members and their Tunisian counterparts, for example through plurilateral meetings and exchange of good practice.

Partner for Local Democracy

The Partner for Local Democracy status of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities enables elected representatives of local authorities of countries in the Council of Europe’s neighbourhood to participate, within the Congress, in strengthening local and regional democracy.

Institutional co-operation

The Congress has conducted its co-operation activities with the North-African authorities in the framework of the Council of Europe new policy towards its immediate neighbourhood. It holds observer status at ARLEM (Euro-Mediterranean Assembly of Local and Regional Elected Representatives) and it is also an institutional stakeholder of the North-South Centre, where it represents the local level.

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Zurück Congress President expresses concern about dissolution of local councils in Tunisia

The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, has expressed grave concern about the decision of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Kais Saed, to dissolve elected local councils.

"The decision to dissolve elected councils represents a setback for local democracy in the country," said President Verbeek.

"Local councils, formed following the local elections in Tunisia in May 2018, which were observed by the Congress, represented the result of the implementation of the new Tunisian Constitution of 2014 and of the Code of Local Authorities developed in co-operation with the Congress. Through their democratic legitimacy, these councils met the expectations of citizens. The decision of the President of the Republic means a return to the situation that existed before May 2018," continued the President of the Congress.

"The existence of elected local councils has allowed the Congress to grant the status of Partner for Local Democracy to Tunisia and the participation of a delegation of Tunisian elected representatives in the work of the Congress. The dissolution of elected councils calls into question this status," added President Verbeek.

He expressed his strong hope that the new law on local elections would allow for the holding of new local elections in the country as soon as possible.

Statement