SAN LAWRENZ, 13 June 2025 – The need for coordinated action at all levels of government to address Europe’s growing environmental challenges was the central theme of an international conference held in Gozo. Organised under the auspices of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of Europe and in collaboration with the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance, the event brought together policymakers, local government officials, environmental experts, members of the Council of Europe Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) and representatives from across Europe.
Building on the Reykjavík Declaration, the outcomes of the previous conference in Vilnius, and the conclusions of the 134th Ministerial Session in Luxembourg, the conference focused on the importance of both bottom-up and top-down approaches within a multilevel governance framework. It aimed to advance democratic resilience and good governance across all levels of government in Europe, with a strong emphasis on the role of active citizenship in tackling environmental issues collaboratively.
The conference was formally opened by Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Hon. Alison Zerafa Civelli, and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Mr Marc Cools who reaffirmed the timeliness of addressing this key issue.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in panel discussions and breakout sessions exploring practical strategies for aligning local, regional, and national policies in the face of environmental crises. The event showcased successful case studies of multilevel cooperation in the development and implementation of coherent environmental policies, while also promoting awareness of the Council of Europe’s efforts. In the afternoon, attendees took part in field visits across Gozo, highlighting Malta’s best practices in environmental governance and sustainability.