​During the annual plenary meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), which took place in Alghero, Sardinia, on 24 October, local and regional leaders from the three shores of Mediterranean paid tribute to innocent civilian victims in the Middle East and debated about cooperation on important themes such as civil protection and disaster risk prevention, territorial cooperation and sustainable transport.

Regional and local politicians from across the Mediterranean have urged national governments to establish a Euro-Mediterranean approach to disaster risk reduction, to ensure that authorities are better prepared for earthquakes, water scarcity, floods and wildfires.

The topic of territorial cooperation was discussed in a high-level round table including Nanette Maupertuis, President of the Assembly of Corsica and Francois Alfonsi, member of the European Parliament.

Ms Maupertuis, who is CoR rapporteur on the opinion " Boosting lasting and effective cross border cooperation with our neighbours" highlighted that, while the current context is truly challenging, territorial cooperation programmes are essential to achieve cohesion and sustainable development at local level.

"We reiterate the fact that cooperation and dialogue have never been so important. By joining forces, we will contribute to greater cohesion, stability and prosperity for all in the Mediterranean".
The meeting served also as occasion to grant the ARLEM Award: Young local entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean to transport businesses that have proved successful in promoting the transition away from fossil fuels, particularly on the development of an application that enables owners of electric vehicles to find charging stations and to earn money by sharing their own charging station.