To conclude this 3-day Forum and on behalf of #LocalGov networks:

Joseph Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City 🇧🇿 & Chairperson of @clgf.bsky.social handed over a Declaration to @ec.europa.eu DG INTPA Director General Koen Doens

Read the full Declaration platforma-dev.eu/wp-content/u...

©EU/Lefour

Joseph Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City 🇧🇿 & Chairperson of @clgf.bsky.social stressed that the #GlobalGateway 5 pilars have a local dimension.

He higlighted "the vital role of #LocalGov associations in fostering dialogue with EU Delegations & sharing good practices"

© EU/E.Windal

"When #LocalGov are trusted, #EU investments translate into economic development and long-lasting impact"

Jeroen Diepemaat, Mayor of Losser 🇳🇱, representative of @vngemeenten.bsky.social International & our spokesperson

📸 © EU/Emile Windal

"Decentralised cooperation can be efficient only if decentralisation is effective, and for that, #LocalGov need to have resources"

Dieudonné Bantsimba, Mayor of Brazzaville 🇨🇬, Vice-Pdt of
#AIMF

Yesterday at #CoR @ec.europa.eu DG INTPA Forum closing session

📸 © EU / Emile Windal

" #LocalGov need to be recognised as main partners in #GlobalGateway, to be involved in planification, improvement and monitoring," @jaumeduch.bsky.social, CoR Rapporteur on GG, Minister of #EU & Foreign Action of Catalonia

He stressed the need "to connect our external action with our territories"

"The multistakeholder approach is essential to localise #GlobalGateway," says DG INTPA Director General Koen Doens in closing ceremony of the Forum

He announces a new initiative with Generalitat de Catalunya, @vngemeenten.bsky.social, #SalarInternational & us to upscale decentralised cooperation

CoR-INTPA Cities & Regions Forum:

"@ccre-cemr.bsky.social is the actor to bring #localgov around the table when needed" says Secretary General Fabrizio Rossi

"By involving #localgov from the inception phase of #GlobalGateway, we are making of this value-based proposition the best that we can"

Secretary for EU & Multilateral Affairs of Generalitat de Catalunya Agustí F de Losada "Decentralised cooperation existed before #GlobalGateway, will exist after, with new strategies"

"#LocalGov need to understand how to engage in a structured fashion. EU Delegations have an important role to play"

Dieudonné Bantsimba, Mayor of Brazzaville, Vice-Pdt of @aimfasso.bsky.social: "We must drive the #EU to work directly with #localgov"

Rahmatouca Sow, UCLG Africa: "in decentralised coop narrative & #GlobalGateway, the city diplomacy is not sufficiently articulated, but it is a global reality"

"Territorial diplomacy is not institutional folklore," says Renaud Muselier President of Region Sud PACA. "The #EU should treat territories as actors, not only executors."

This morning, Benoit Pilet (Cité Unies France) argued for the EU "to recognise decentralised cooperation in its plurality."

Today at the Forum:

"Local governments are responsible for 65% of the implementation of #SDGs but only 5% of ODA goes to #localgov," DG of dvpt cooperation at Gener. de Catalunya Andrea Costafreda

"Cities want to bring value to #GlobalGateway partnerships," our director @boristonhauser.bsky.social

‼️Just released! A note on how local and regional governements can contribute to #GlobalGateway

This document is published at the occasion of the Forum "Cities and Regions for International Partnerships" on Localising Global Gateway by #CoR and @ec.europa.eu INTPA

platforma-dev.eu/global-gatew...