Euro-Arab Cities Forum concludes
Call to pursue dialogue for a more peaceful world; To be convened every three years

February 11 ^th,, 2008
Dubai
The two-day Euro-Arab Cities Forum, which was held under the theme "New dialogue for development,” during 10 -11 February 2008 at Madinat Jumeirah concluded with the participants reiterating their determination to pursue the dialogue as the basis for a more peaceful world with a strong local self – government.

The Forum, held under the patronage of the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, was attended by a number of mayors and representatives of European and Arab cities, associations of local authorities, international institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The Forum, which reaffirmed its commitment to promote and develop Euro-Arab municipal cooperation and dialogue, held different sessions on a number of vital issues such as Local governance, Public transport and city planning, Innovation and exchange of best practices, Environment and water, Financial instruments to support partnership projects, Culture, heritage and tourism.

Obeid Salem Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Administrative and General Services Affairs and Head of the Implementation Committee, said the Forum was aimed at the developing communities and adopting best practices and expertise, as well as providing assistance and support for upgrading standards of good local governance, life and services to the citizens.

The Forum, which was a platform for improving partnership relations among European and Arab cities, decided that it in an Arab and European city alternatively.

The Dubai Declaration released at the end of the event said the Forum recognizes the necessity of exerting further efforts for conserving the environment and realizing balance between the economic social and environmental dimension, taking into account other issues indispensable for sustainable development of our cities.

It also pointed out the necessity of finding integrated solutions for public transportation and of exchanging experiences and projects in the field of the urban planning.

The Forum decided to work closely together to identify the means and structures to deepen the partnership in the pursuit of these objectives. The delegates expressed their willingness to promote and develop activities in their territories such as exchanges, studies and conferences to achieve a common vision, which is a necessary condition for a stable and peaceful world and a greater socio-economic balance, within which the millennium goals can be achieved, with mutual respect for our cultural, political and religious diversity.

To this end, it was decided to set up a Steering Committee, which is tasked with implementing the Forum recommendations and preparing the next Forum, to be held in a European city in 2011.

The Committee shall be composed of the Congress of the Council of Europe, COPPEM, CEMR, the Arab Towns Organization, the last organizer city and the new hosting city.

The committee will undertake the follow up of the execution of Dubai Declaration recommendations; coordinate between the Arab and European cities for facilitating the exchange of expertise and practices; organize the next Euro-Arab Cities Forum and the meetings between the Euro-Arab cities and encourage partnership among cities, hold workshops and training courses, in addition to taking part in the international and regional forums of cities.

The Forum alse expressed its thanks and appreciation to the City of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates for hosting it, and for their continuous support for such meetings aimed at developing the communities all over the world. It also expressed thanks to the organizations and institutions which contributed in arranging the event such as the Arab Towns Organization (ATO), Euro Mediterranean Partnership of Local and Regional Authorities (COPPEM), Arab Institute for Urban Development (AUDI), Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.