Why ARLEM
Set up in 2010 by the European Committee of the Regions, the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) gives local and regional authorities a voice within the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
Local and regional representatives from the EU and 16 partner countries (Egypt, Türkiye, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Palestine, Monaco, Montenegro and North Macedonia, and Libya as observer), come together to:
- represent local and regional authorities towards the EU institutions and the UfM;
- maintain political North–South and South–South dialogue between cities and regions
- promote local democracy, multilevel governance and decentralised cooperation;
- promote the exchange of best practices, knowledge and technical expertise;
- promote interregional cooperation and cohesion.
ARLEM and the Pact for the Mediterranean
The EU's Pact for the Mediterranean names ARLEM as a key institutional channel for regional and local contributions. In this role, ARLEM consulted local and regional authorities from across the Mediterranean to identify their views and needs. Drawing on these consultations and a dedicated study called Challenges and opportunities for local authorities in supporting Euro-Mediterranean cooperation (see the studies section at bottom of the page), ARLEM developed recommendations for implementing the Pact. These are set out in two ARLEM reports called Territorial perspectives for the new Euro-Mediterranean strategic agenda and Delivering the Pact for the Mediterranean with local and regional authorities (see the reports section at bottom of the page).
- formal involvement of local and regional authorities in the Pact's governance, design and evaluation;
- stronger territorial governance;
- dedicated funding windows for regions and cities;
- priority for water resilience, climate adaptation, civil protection and young people, which are felt first at local level.
Connecting partners for territorial Euro-Mediterranean cooperation across all shores
ARLEM has carried out a mapping of EuroMed cooperation territorial initiatives (see the documents section at bottom of the page). For further information on these projects or to be put in contact with the project partners, please contact arlem-secretariat@cor.europa.eu.
Through ARLEM, local and regional authorities stand at the heart of the Pact as true partners. ARLEM supports the delivery of the Action Plan of the Pact for the Mediterranean and delivers concrete recommendations for its implementation.
ARLEM Award
Every year, ARLEM, in collaboration with its close partners and supporters, grants the ARLEM Award to a young entrepreneur from the Mediterranean partner countries. The objective is to showcase successful examples of young entrepreneurs who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to their region in creating jobs and bringing their local communities closer together, as well as to highlight the support that their local or regional authorities provided to them.
How ARLEM works
Politically, ARLEM provides a forum for ongoing political dialogue. It contributes to the CoR's consultative works through thematic reports. It also represents the local and regional level at UfM summits.
In its work, ARLEM creates synergies with its partners, including the UfM (Declaration of Intent signed in 2013), the European LRA associations who are represented in ARLEM, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (observer status), the Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM (observer status), the European Training Foundation (Declaration of Intent signed in 2013) and the European Economic and Social Committee (observer status).
The Assembly brings together ARLEM members at its annual plenary session, in the course of which the thematic reports are adopted, and for Commission and Bureau meetings. In addition, specific workshops or conferences may be organised and specific aspects deepened through studies.
ARLEM brings together 84 members and 2 observers from the EU and its Mediterranean partner countries. Members are representatives of regions and local bodies and hold a regional or local authority mandate.
ARLEM is chaired by a co-presidency representing equally the Mediterranean partners and the EU. The co-president from the Mediterranean partners' group is confirmed by consensus by that group for a period of two and a half years.
The ARLEM Bureau defines the Assembly's strategy and range of activities.
