The CIEDES Foundation organised on 15th September 2014 last dissemination activity of the project, the second dissemination seminar for the cities of the Maghreb.

The seminar was focused on the promotion of urban strategic planning as a sustainable development tool for the South of the Mediterranean and on the implementation of strategic projects through the networking for possible project funding. The aim was to enlarge the USUDS network of Mediterranean cities interested in developing or consolidating their urban strategic plans, and to strengthen the implementation of these plans through EU financing opportunities.

Approximately, 50 representatives from Tetouan, Chefchaouen (Morocco), Faro (Portugal), Málaga, Barcelona (Spain) and Sousse, Sfax and Kairouan (Tunisia) and from private companies, participated in the seminar.

Joan Parpal, MedCities General Secretary and  Déborah Salafranca, from the KTC Málaga, opened the event presenting the results of the USUDS project. After their interventions, two round tables took place in order to discuss about new funding opportunities for the implementation of strategic projects and the possibilities of cooperation between the North and the South basin of the Mediterranean under the 2014-2020 programming period of the EU.  

During the first discussion Marian Uriarte, from the General Directorate of Community Funds of the Ministry of Finance, and Francisco J. Calderón, professor of Málaga University, presented future financing lines of AECID and the Neighbourhood EU Policy. The second round table focused on the cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin, with the interventions of the international consultant Albert Sorrosal,  who talked about the ENI CBC MID Atlantic  Program, and Yors Nedhi, from the Joint Management Authority  who explained the program ENI CBC MED 2014-2020.

Furthermore, a participative workshop was held in order to identify common problems that could be dealt with through partnerships and cooperation among the Mediterranean cities. In concrete, the workshops were related to the following subjects:

1. Econbomic and Social Development: intelligent growth through cooperation and suppport to SMEs
2. Green and sustainable development and efficiency of natural resources
3. Efficient territorial management, mobility and urban planning
4. Cooperation between local and regional authorities, good governance and support of civil society

As a result of the networking workshop, the participants identified common problems that their cities are facing and proposed interventions through possible cooperation projects. These proposals were noted down and will be shared among the participants in order to foster further exchange on these issues and promote possible future cooperation.