The MedCities annual international seminar, with occasion of the association General Assembly, addressed this time the «Challenges and trends in solid waste management in Mediterranean cities».

The International Event, hosted by the Urban Community of AL Fayhaa (Tripoli, Mina, Beddawi and Kalamoun), gathered last 7th November about 150 participants included representatives from member cities as well as a good array of national stakeholders. And introductory panel addressed the international dimension of the of new solid waste management models, including the role and experience of MedCities (presentation 1 by Mr. Oriol Barba) the current Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project being implemented in Al Fayhaa with the support of Catalan partners (presentation 2 by Eng. Dima Homsi) and the role of UNDP supporting municipalities on SWM in North Lebanon (presentation 3 by Mr Alain Chatry). The session was followed by three round tables addressing challenges and trends at different levels namely, multilevel governance and coordination (presentation 4 by Eng Younes El Hajj), waste separation and treatment including the promotion of the culture of recycling (presentations 5 by Mrs. Patil Mardikian / presentation 6 by Mr. Christodoulos Ioannou / presentation 7 by Mr. Wassim Zouari) and landfills impacts and environmental solutions (presentation 8 by Mr. Wassim Zouari / presentation 10 by Eng. Mustafa Hijazi). The last session concluded with a set of recommendations for the case of the landfill of Tripoli (presentation 9 by Dr Mervat el Hoz).

On 8th November over 20 member cities gathered for the MedCities Steering Committee and General Assembly meetings.  The general assembly was chaired by the President of MedCities and Mayor of Tetouan Mr. Mohamed Idamomar, the President of Urban Al Fayhaa Community-Mayor of Tripoli Mr. Ahmad Kamareddine and the General Secretary of MedCities Mr. Xavier Tiana.  The assembly approved the admission of five new cities in the network namely As-Salt (Jordan) with a population of 88.000 pple, Durres (Albania) with a population of 113.000 pple, the Union of Municipalities of Jounieh (Lebanon) with a population of 430.000 pple, the Union of Municipalities of Batroun (Lebanon) with a population of 51.000 pple, and the Union of Municipalities of Menieh (Lebanon) with a population of 96.000 pple.  

The 2017 activities report and the 2017 and 2018 budgets were presented and approved; also, it was discussed and approved the Action Plan for 2018 by the General Assembly. Municipal representatives gladly accepted the application by the City of Barcelona and the Metropolitan Area Authority to host next year annual General Assembly where members will have the responsibility to elect a new Steering Committee.

Attending cities: Al Fayhaa (Union of Municipalities), Tripoli (Lebanon), Barcelona, Barcelona (Union of Muncipalities), Chefchauen, Dannieh (Union of Municipalities), Djerba, Dubrovnik, El Minah, Gabes, Jbeil Byblos, Jerash, Jounieh, Koura (Union of Municipalities), Larnaka, Limassol, Mahdia, Menieh (Union of Municipalities), Menzel Bourghiba, Monastir, Msaken, Nabeul, Saida, Sfax, Sidi Bou Said, Tatouine, Tetouan, Tirana, Tunis, Zarqa, Zgharta-Ehden.