Call for extension of the Covenant of Mayors to Western Balkans

by Claire Iochum on 22 June 2010 / 292 visites

An extension of the Covenant of Mayors to the Western Balkans was called for in a common declaration adopted during the meeting of the presidents and directors of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) in Sofia on 15 June.

The call was issued jointly by NALAS as well as by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Energy Cities and the European Foundation for the Sustainable Development of the Regions ([FEDRE), with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The Covenant of Mayors is an initiative from which candidate and potential candidate countries (IPA 1) should be able to benefit. Dozens of local authorities from these countries have already committed to reducing their CO2 emissions, but more needs to be done. Indeed, related technical assistance and appropriate financial mechanisms are essential for this part of Europe to meet expectations from municipalities and regions eager to go beyond the energy and climate objectives of the EU.

1. IPA concerns countries with candidate status (currently Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey) and potential candidate status (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia including Kosovo according to UNSCR 1244).

Link to the press release

Link to the Declaration

Picture : montage of the CEMR