ALDA’s Governing Board convened for a very important in-person meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, marking a strategic milestone in the organisation’s continued commitment to fostering local democracy, civic engagement, and European integration, particularly in the Western Balkans.
Hosted at Hotel Mona Plaza on 27–28 March, the event brought together members, partners, and institutional representatives to review progress, set priorities, and deepen collaboration on key thematic issues. The meeting opened with a high-level panel titled “BOOSTing Integration: Civil Society as a Driver of EU Accession,” reinforcing ALDA’s role in empowering local stakeholders across the region.
Before the official opening, ALDA’s delegation was welcomed by Pierre Cochard, Ambassador of France to Serbia, who highlighted France’s support for democratic governance and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. The Ambassador’s participation underlined the importance of strong institutional partnerships in promoting European values at the local level.
A key point of discussion was the confirmation of chairs and co-chairs for the Thematic Hubs, which will guide the organisation’s action throughout 2025. Each hub—ranging from local governance to migration, gender, environment, digital transformation, and youth—will now move forward with coordinated leadership and a sharpened focus. The next step will be an onboarding process for the newly appointed chairs and co-chairs, ensuring shared understanding, coherence, and momentum across all hubs.
The choice of Belgrade as the venue was significant, reflecting ALDA’s long-standing engagement in the Western Balkans and its commitment to supporting democratic processes in the region. In the face of geopolitical instability, including challenges to democratic governance in countries like Georgia, members reflected on how ALDA can continue to adapt and respond with resilience, including through the advocacy work around the Local Democratic Resilience – a strategic paper that outlines key principles and recommendations to strengthen local democracy in times of crisis, and serves as a cornerstone for ALDA’s positioning in complex political environments.
The meeting also addressed updates on the budget, risk management, and the preparation of the General Assembly 2025, while welcoming new members from the Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region and the Dijon Metropolitan Municipality, reinforcing ALDA’s ever-growing network of engaged stakeholders across Europe and beyond.
As ALDA looks ahead, this Governing Board meeting reaffirms its mission to act as a catalyst for democratic innovation—rooted in the local, responsive to global challenges, and driven by collaboration.