​On 20 and 21 February, Egypt hosted the 9th annual meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), body composed of representatives of local and regional authorities from all sides of the Mediterranean basin which complements the work of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Among other topics, members discussed the role of local and regional authorities in manging migration as well as women's empowerment in the Mediterranean region. It was also agreed that the priority topics for next year's meeting will be youth entrepreneurship and transparency in governance. The host, Governor of Giza Mr Mohamed Kamal El Daly also showed delegates a renewable-energy project in the city of Cairo financed by EU funds.

The meeting saw participation by over 40 representatives of local and regional authorities from the EU, Western Balkans, North Africa and East Mediterranean and the EA group was represented by Mr Stanisław Szwabski from the Gdynia City Council (Poland) and mr Uno Silberg, from the Kose Rural Municipality Council (Estonia).