The Republic of Srpska Representation in Brussels Participates in 11th ARLEM Commission Meeting on Sustainable Territorial Development

11th ARLEM Commission Meeting

Brussels, 4 June 2025 — The Republic of Srpska Representation in Brussels participated in the 11th meeting of the Commission for Sustainable Territorial Development of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), held at the headquarters of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).

The meeting brought together local and regional leaders from the European Union and the southern and eastern Mediterranean to discuss the EU’s emerging New Pact for the Mediterranean and to underscore the essential role of territorial authorities in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

The Representation joined fellow policymakers in emphasizing the importance of embedding local and regional perspectives in shaping the strategic direction of the Pact. With the Mediterranean region facing mounting challenges – from climate change and civil protection to migration and democratic governance – the discussion highlighted a shared commitment to ensure that cities and regions are recognized not merely as implementers, but as co-leaders of this renewed regional partnership.

The meeting was co-chaired by Joško Klisović, member of the Zagreb City Assembly, and Mina Bouhdoud, Mayor of Lagfifat (Morocco), and featured high-level interventions, including a video address by Nasser Kamel, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, who underlined the Pact’s potential to "consolidate partnerships and scale up local innovation for regional impact".

Particularly moving was the participation of Bassam Aramin from Palestine and Rami Elhanan from Israel – members of the Parents Circle Families Forum – who received special recognition earlier this year as part of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award. In an emotional address, they called on the assembly to "be against injustice, to be pro-peace", a message that resonated deeply with all present.

The meeting also served as a platform for the co-rapporteurs of the upcoming ARLEM report, Territorial Perspectives for the New Euro-Mediterranean Strategic Agenda, Arianna Censi, Deputy Mayor of Milan, and Rama Mohammed El Ezzi, Deputy City Manager of Amman, to consult with stakeholders. The report, set for adoption at ARLEM’s plenary session in Palermo in November, calls for the systematic inclusion of territorial authorities in shaping regional strategies across critical sectors such as the blue economy, digitalisation, and energy.

The Republic of Srpska representatives welcomed the inclusive and forward-looking spirit of the discussions and reaffirmed its support for initiatives that bring the voices of regions and cities to the forefront of international cooperation. As the EU and its Mediterranean partners move toward finalising the Pact later this year, the Representation stands ready to contribute to efforts that foster resilience, stability, and sustainable development across the broader Euro-Mediterranean space.