On 8 & 9 July 2024, the ALDA delegation attended the 23rd meeting of the CIVEX Commission in Vilnius, Lithuania. The delegation included prominent members such as Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General, Adrien Licha, Coordinator of the Secretariat, Giulia Sostero, Middle East and Africa Coordinator, and Mohammed Mustafa, Migration Flagship Coordinator. The event also saw participation from several ALDA members and partners, notably the Mayor of Gdansk (Poland), Aleksandra Dulkiewicz.
During the event Mrs. Valmorbida delivered a powerful intervention addressing the challenges of EU enlargement in view of the next institutional mandate, emphasising the local and regional perspective.
Valmorbida presented ALDA’s recommendations on the subject, after more than 30 years in the field. These recommendations focus on the concept of decentralisation.
« Decentralisation and the functioning of local governance are crucial to sustain EU accession. It allows a functional distribution of powers and resources and gives local and regional authorities the opportunity to engage with their community, to be accountable to it and to tackle problems and build solutions. If we want citizens’ trust and commitment, democracy and accountable institutions, we must support decentralisation. » – said Mrs. Valmorbida.
“Decentralisation must be given substance and means of implementation, fixed in legislation, otherwise the sense of unnecessary processes will soon spread among citizens, undermining their trust in institutions and soon in democracy itself.” – continued Mrs. Valmorbida.
Additionally, ALDA Secretary General also highlighted the Association’s commitment to supporting this process through its new Strategy 2024-2028:
“With our new Strategy 2024-2028, ALDA and its partners are poised to confront the challenges of EU enlargement, working hand in hand with local and regional authorities and civil society”.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to advance the action plan and activities outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ALDA and the European Committee of the Regions. This MoU was signed on May 13, 2024, during the ALDA Festival and General Assembly 2024 in Barcelona (Spain).
The 23rd CIVEX Commission meeting in Vilnius reaffirmed ALDA’s commitment to fostering local democracy and supporting EU enlargement through strategic partnerships and comprehensive action plans. The discussions and outcomes of this meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of ALDA’s initiatives and collaborations.