Torino and the Presidency of Euromed
Torino is historically a city with a close relationship with the Mediterranean and has always actively cooperated with cities in the area. In 1999 it took part in the EUROCITIES Euromed Working Group and in 2004 it presented, flanked by the vice presidents Jdeidè for Mashrek and Mahdia for Maghreb, its candidature to succeed the City of Bordeaux in the presidency of Euromed. On June 26th in Mahdia (Tunisia) during the meeting of the Euromed Working Group, at which the Mayor Chiamparino was present, Torino was elected to the biennial presidency 2005-2006.
The election has given Torino a leading role in the process of involving local institutions in the Euromediterranean decision-making processes. Euromed comes within the framework of the Euromediterranean Partnership signed during the Euromediterranean Conference on November 28th 1995 in Barcelona (and for this reason called the Barcelona Process). The Euromediterranean Partnership is a political agreement signed by the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU and of the 12 countries in the Mediterranean area (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestinian Authorities, Libya, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
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The principal objectives of the European Partnership are:
- to make the Mediterranean basin an area of dialogue, exchange and cooperation that will guarantee peace, stability and prosperity;
- encourage political dialogue;
- develop economic and social cooperation;
- valorise the social, cultural and human dimension;
- institute an area of free exchange by 2010.
The Euromediteranean cooperation has the ultimate objective of strengthening an area of political and economic stability in the Mediterranean region, a fundamental condition for promoting the process of peace in the Middle East.
The EUROCITIES Euromed Working Group acts through decentralized cooperation projects, to strengthen the relationships between the cities of the UE and the Mediterranean countries. Euromed promotes contacts and exchanges of experiences between the cities, the diffusion of the best management systems for the urban situation, support for local development, emphasising the training of specialized human resources and respect for local realities.
In this framework, during 2005 the City of Turin has encouraged the creation of "Paralleli – North-Western Euro-Mediterranean Institut". It is the expression of a territorial system where Piedmont represents the hub of a wider area, from Milan to Genes and southwards including Nice, Marseille and Barcelona. The "Paralleli" institute aims at proposing its active role in developing the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
During the last meeting of the EUROCITIES Euromed Working Group held in Torino from the 8th to the 10th November 2006, the City of of Marseille succeeded the City of Torino as Chair of the Euromed Working Group whereas the City of Fès (Morocco) has been appointed as new Vice Chair for the Maghreb and the City of Jdéidé (Lebanon) has been confirmed as Vice Chair for the Middle East.
On the occasion of the end of its term, the City of Torino prepared a report of the activities carried out over the last two years.
Meetings
- 8-9-10/11/06 - Torino: meeting of the EUROCITIES Euromed Working Group, 56 representatives from 29 Euro-Mediterranean cities participated in the meeting
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- 1-2/06/06 - Fès: 34 representatives from 22 Euro-Mediterraenean cities and associations participated in the meeting.
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- 25/11/05 - Barcelona: the meeting was organized on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration. 90 representatives from 39 European and South Mediterranean cities participated. The politicians participated also in the Euromediterranean Cities Conference Barcelona +10 of the 26th. This conference was organized in co-operation with EUROCITIES and the Mayor of Torino participated in the opening session giving an introduction speech.
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- 19/04/05 - Brussels: 30 representatives from 17 European and South Mediterranean cities participated and discussed the EUROCITIES Statement on "Revising the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership".
(Programme available) - 30/11-1/12/04 - Rome: representatives of 38 cities (15 from Europe and 23 from Southern Mediterranean region) participated in the meeting.
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Informations and activities
- Meeting at the BEI
On September 2006 a delegation from Torino and Eurocities was received in Luxembourg by the Vice President of the European Investment Bank Mr. Philippe de Fontaine Vive and by the Director of Euro-Mediterranean Fund of Investment and Partnership to discuss the possible collaborations with the Euromed Group of Eurocities.
- Training Week
During the chairmanship Torino also promoted training weeks for southern cities and from 2nd to 8th July 2006 the City organised a training week for a Lebanese delegation. The training week focused on topics such as economic development, urban regeneration and strategic planning.
- Euromed Synopsis
On the Web Site of the European Commision, External Relations, it is possible to look up in a weekly newsletter dedicated to the Mediterranean Partnership that includes news on events, meetings and the MEDA programme. Available languages: English, French,Arabic.
- MED PACT- European staff costs eligibility
The call for proposal of the MED PACT EU programme (issued on February 2006) stated that the costs of the personnel of European municipalities affected to the actions were not eligible. This provoked many complaints of the cities interested in the presentation of project proposals within MED PACT. The Mayor of Torino sent a letter to the Commission and two delegates of the City of Torino underlined the question also during the meeting on MED PACT of last 21st April 2006 in Brussels. The Commission then wrote to the Chair of the EUROMED Working Group, Mayor of Torino, accepting the request, the call for proposal has been amended and a corrigendum has been published including the cost of the staff of the European cities within the eligible costs. This amendment is a remarkable outcome of the Euromed Working Group activities and it encourages cities to co-operate with Mediterranean countries.
- MED PACT - Call for proposal
The call for proposal of the MED PACT EU programme has been issued in February 2006. Within its framework European and South Mediterranean cities could present project proposal of cooperation by the 2nd June 2006. Among the cities members of the Euromed Working Group which presented projects as leaders there are Brussels, Marseille, Nice, Torino and Venice.
- Building Partners For Partnership
Torino promoted important political initiatives such as the Building Partners For Partnership workshop held in Torino in November 2004 and organised in collaboration with C.E.S.P.I, the Italian board of the European Commission in Milan, the Italian board of the Ebert Foundation and Piedmont Centre of Initiative for Europe.
- European Parliament event
The Euromed Working Group of EUROCITIES arranged an event at the European Parliament during which the EUROCITIES Statement of on the revision of the Barcelona Process was presented and discussed. 30 representatives from 17 European and South Mediterranean cities participated in the meeting. Many EP members and EU Commission representatives participated in the meeting.
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