Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, President of UCLG-Eurasia, President of UNACLA, took part in the Presidency meeting of the UCLG World Organization held within the framework of the annual meeting of representatives of local governments, regional sections, and partners of the network on February 19, 2024, in Barcelona (Spain). The meeting was chaired by Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya (Türkiye), President of UCLG. The participants discussed institutional issues and priority areas of UCLG’s activities for 2024.
“Not every organization can boast of such unity. The UCLG World Organization continues to support the engagement of Eurasia local and regional governments, and the Eurasia Section is creating favorable conditions so that the cities of the Eurasia region remain included in the international municipal movement,” Ilsur Metshin said.
The Mayor of Kazan also emphasized that this year UCLG and the Eurasia Section are celebrating their 20th anniversary, and during this period, an important achievement was the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the promotion of initiatives in the field of climate, responsible consumption and production. Ilsur Metshin mentioned the dynamic development of UCLG-Eurasia, which defends the interests of local governments of Eurasia in the global municipal movement.
During the meeting, the participants decided to extend the mandate of Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG.
The meeting was attended by Oumarou Dogari Moumouni, Mayor of Niamey (Niger), Vice-President of UCLG for Africa; Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener, Co-President of UCLG; Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, Member of UCLG Executive Presidency; Fatimetou Abdel Malick, President of Nouakchott Region, President of UCLG-Africa, Co-President of UCLG; Paola Pabón, Prefect of Pichincha, President of the Consortium of Autonomous Provincial Governments of Ecuador (CONGOPE), Vice-President of UCLG for the Forum of Regions; Bheke Stofile, President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Co-President of UCLG; Carlos Martínez, Mayor of Soria, UCLG Special Envoy for the New Urban Agenda; Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Chair of UCLG Forum on Intermediary Cities, UCLG Special Envoy for Food Systems.
The Presidency meeting continued with the first plenary session on the theme “The Power that Unites Us,” during which Maimunah Mohd Sharif, formerly the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, was awarded the status of an honorary member of UCLG.
The highlight of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the UCLG World Organization and ACES Europe, aimed at promoting a culture of sports at the local level and recognizing it as a fundamental element of sustainable development.
The photo: Mark Schardan, Marat Muginov
26.02.2024