On 4 and 5 February 2019, the “Cities and regions for development cooperation, local and regional partnerships for sustainable urban development” forum took place in Brussels at the European Committee of the Regions. The forum aimed to tackle the issue of sub-national cooperation to promote the development of the EU’s partner countries.

ECR Members Joe Cooney (County Councillor for Pendle Central, Colne, UK), Maurice Golden (Member of Scottish Parliament for West Scotland), David Simmonds (Deputy Leader of London Borough of Hillingdon, UK) and Luca Zaia (President of the Veneto Region) had the opportunity to exchange views with representatives from the European Commission, international organisations, think tanks and the private sector to identify solutions to the problems beleaguering the EU’s neighbourhood.

During the forum, Cllr David Simmonds, ECR Coordinator for the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX), noted that subnational cooperation between the EU and third countries should aspire to establish mutually advantageous and sustainable relations. Mr Simmonds went on to say that “we need to bear in mind that instability abroad has a knock-on effect for Europe. Improving third countries’ economic and living conditions would help tackle the root causes of migration by supporting refugees in their countries of origin”.

The ECR Group points out that tackling the root causes of irregular migration is a key means of boosting resilience, which is why we must remember that the most effective aid for vulnerable, endangered communities is delivered right where the danger is occurring.

During the two-day forum, Luca Zaia met with the Mayors of Libyan cities Tripoli and Bengasi to address future economic relations between businesses in Veneto and Libya. Tripoli and Bengasi are active members of the Nicosia Initiative promoted by the European Committee of the Regions, a project which aims to boost the region’s capacity and so strengthen local authorities in Libya. Without a unified national government, Libyan municipalities play a key role in providing people with basic services despite the prevailing instability, economic crisis and fragility affecting various states.