AER and the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM)

The success of the Union for the Mediterranean depends largely on the involvement of the regions, since this would allow for the better association of the institutions of the territory and of the populations involved, as well as for a structured and multilateral approach.

Therefore, regional and local authorities have pushed for the establishment of a Euro- Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), made up of a number of members of the Committee of the Regions, representatives of European and international associations engaged in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, and an equal number of representatives of regional and local authorities from the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, as a permanent platform for dialogue, exchange and cooperation, and call for its recognition as a consultative body within the future governance of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean.

The total number of ARLEM members is 80 (40 from EU and 40 from Mediterranean partners countries). In the EU, the members of ARLEM will be designated by the CoR as well as by Associations of regional and local governments. The 40 seats that are designated for regional governments from the Mediterranean Partner Countries will be nominated by the respective national governments. Every country that is part of the Union for the Mediterranean can appoint 3 regions to ARLEM. Egypt and Turkey can appoint 4 regions each, since their populations are substantially bigger than those of the other partner states.