AICCRE organises the first EDLS 2019 mobilisation events in Rome

Dozens of participants, coming especially from the world of local authorities, associations, schools, NGOs and from some fair trade shops in Rome took part to AICCRE‘s workshop on the European Days of Local Solidarity (EDLS), at the headquarters of the Italian association of towns and regions on 28 May.

Opening the meeting, Carla Rey, Secretary General of the AICCRE, explained the principles that inspired the birth of the «European Days of Local Solidarity», and emphasized above all the importance of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the role of the local authorities in their pursuit.

Ms Rey insisted that local administrators and civil society will be the architects of the European project as in the post-war period, only if they take the opportunity to make own their vision of the UN 2030 Agenda, that calls them in the role of planners of sustainable development strategies and of coordinators of partnerships made up of active citizens, academia, private sector and associations.

Thanks to the support of audiovisual media, the meeting continued with the presentation of the previous editions of the European Days of Local Solidarity in Italy, promoted by the AICCRE. The three first editions were held in Rome (2016), Venice (2017) and Palermo (2018).  The common thread that united and animated the three initiatives was active participation, through the involvement of some subjects of solidarity economies, universities, networks of local producers, members of NGOs and institutions to national and European level.

The goal of the three editions, widely achieved, was to open a debate between those who recognise themselves in the actions of AICCRE and the PLATFORMA network and the project to develop good practices generated from the ground aimed at equal opportunities and cooperation, reducing regional disparities and the gap between towns from the south and the north of the world.

The discussion within the workshop was broad and full of ideas. It brought out not only a real interest in the topics covered and the will to put them into practice, but also the request for further study to which AICCRE will respond.

The initiative of May 28th was part of the IIIrd edition of the Festival of sustainable development («Let’s put our hands to our future») which is taking place from May 21st to June 6th, organised by the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS).

At the end of the meeting all participants of the Workshop signed the «Charter of the European Days of Local Solidarity». AICCRE was inspired to launch the Italian campaign for its subscription. Finally, the Association has appealed to the Italian municipalities to adhere with concrete initiatives to the 2019 edition of the EDLS, which will take place from 15 to 30 November all over Europe.

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This month, other partners are also organising mobilisation events: AFCCRE with the Réseaux régionaux multi-acteurs (RRMA) or LALRG in Riga during its European sustainability week. PLATFORMA will also organise an awareness raising event on 25 September, the Global Day to #Act4SDGs, at DG DEVCO infopoint in Brussels. Stay tuned!