​​​​​​On 23 January, Barcelona hosted the 11th plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM).

During the opening panel, EA member and Catalan Minister of Foreign Action, Institutional Relations and Transparency, Mr Alfred Bosch i Pascual welcomed the delegates and presented Catalonia's ambition to serve as a hub for dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean. Mr Bosch noted that it is more important than ever that all actors in the Mediterranean make the effort to understand each other better and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in order to work together on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He also singled out respect for human rights and democracy as key components of such cooperation.

The EA group was also represented by Dr Uno Silberg, member of Kose Municipality Council (Estonia) and Mr Emil Drăghici, mayor of Vulcana-Băi (Romania). ​