The need of concrete measures to ensure food security amidst climate change challenges as well as incentives to supports Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Mediterranean through digitalisation were the key topics discussed by EPP-CoR members during the twelfth plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM).
A new Green Deal for the Mediterranean: the Agenda 2030 for a Greener Med
Agnès Rampal, Member of the Regional Assembly, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Deputy Mayor of Métropole Nice-Côte d’Azur presented her draft report on 'Agriculture and food security in the context of climate change in the Mediterranean'. Rampal emphasised the close link between food security and peace as well as stability, the need to ensure fair income for farmers to preserve Mediterranean biodiversity and to ensure access to a healthy Mediterranean diet. The report makes a series of recommendations to support preservation of soil biodiversity and water resources.
Addressing the plenary session Rampal stated "While uncertainties and tension in the Mediterranean area are exacerbated by the climate change, local and regional authorities can act to reduce the food vulnerability of local communities and ensure that the various forms of Mediterranean farming are able to cope with the upheaval caused by climate change. With this report, I call for genuine Mediterranean food sovereignty thanks to strengthened cooperation between Local and Regional Authorities of all Mediterranean countries to initiate competitive agri-food systems, offering decent income to the local communities and which will make it possible to preserve the health of populations thanks to an upgraded Mediterranean diet."
Further information of the report can be found here: LINK.
The power of transformation: Digitalisation as a key factor to boost business around the Mediterranean
Members also discussed digitalisation of small and medium sized businesses in the Mediterranean region. Gaetano Armao, Vice-President of the Region of Sicily said that the current circumstance offers an opportunity to speed up the shift in digitalization serving as a driver for innovation and growth of companies. Armao also spoke about the role of Local and Regional Authorities in this regard. He said that the Cooperation Programmes Italia-Malta and Italia-Tunisia promote the development between Italy, Tunisia and Malta through the creation and strengthening of Mediterranean small and medium enterprises encouraging labour mobility.
In his remarks Armao said "Local and Regional Authorities in the Mediterranean area need to encourage SMEs to embrace digitalisation and foster innovation, in particular for young and innovative entrepreneurs. This is our duty and we need to work hard together in this direction."
Nomination of new Bureau members
During the 25th meeting of the ARLEM Bureau, Rodi Kratsa, Governor of the Ionian Islands Region was appointed member of the Bureau of ARLEM.