Since its inception in 2004 UCLG has experienced significant developments, both in terms of a growth in membership and in its commitment to provide appropriate tools to the different types of members that our organization represents.
Since 2007, our member regions have advocated for a more central space within our agenda.
Consequently, UCLG created the Forum of the Regions during its Congress in Rabat (2013) as a Section for regional authorities, and the World Council decided to give the Forum a new political impetus during its meeting in Paris (2015), and according to our Organization’s statutes:
Article 24 b) The World Organisation shall have a Section dedicated to regional governments, known as Forum of Regions, whose membership shall be open to regional authorities, as defined in the Rules of Procedure. The Forum of Regions shall promote the specific policies of, and deal with matters of concern to, its members and promote the membership of regional governments in the World Organisation.
The UCLG Forum of Regions provides a venue for regional governments, the international community, experts and stakeholders to convene and discuss the latest trends and priorities of the regional world. As an integral part of the constituency of local and regional governments, the UCLG Forum of Regions promotes the unique importance of a territorial view and approaches to the global agendas, considering territories as the interconnection of cities of all sizes, metropolitan areas, urban, rural and natural environments.
Our goal is for regions, jointly with UCLG, to strengthen dialogue with international organizations and cooperation with local governments, to enable us to move forward together in our recognition as key actors in the definition and implementation of policies.
First UCLG World Forum of Regions
The World Forum of Regions took place during our UCLG World Council 2021 in Barcelona from November 16-18, promoting debates and exchanges on the fundamental role of regions in promoting a territorial vision of global agendas, and how urban, territorial and global phenomena overlap.
During these days, the Forum addressed the impact of a common international voice of regions across different thematic agendas. Recommendations and joint key messages were made to improve collaboration, international presence and to include in the outcome declaration of the Forum. The World Organization of UCLG, its sections and sister networks have joined forces in recent years to strengthen the commitment and recognition of regional governments in the global context.
A high level dialogue addressed the unique role of regional governments to improve ties and collaborative governance towards a future of solidarity with communities, for present and future generations.
The final declaration of the UCLG World Forum of Regions was adopted and launched, which you can read here.
