The General Assembly of the Blue Municipalities Network, held in Rhodes, as part of the annual conference of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, can only be described as successful.
Seventeen mayors attended the Mayors’ Committee meeting to outline the network’s next steps and make decisions on procedural matters. The meeting also reviewed the year’s achievements across various areas of activity, including depollution activities, educational workshops, research activities, the marine litter collection stations, pilot projects, funding proposals and institutional interventions.
A significant development was the approval of the Municipality of Chalki island membership, which is now the 20th member of the network! Participating mayors agreed that the network’s accomplishments are substantial and highlighted the need for increased support from the central government. The Mayors’ Committee also decided to undertake specific initiatives to address shared issues and challenges faced by network members.
This meeting confirmed the growing interest and determination of the network’s members in strengthening and ensuring the sustainability of this endeavor. Notably, more and more municipalities are expressing interest in joining the Blue Municipalities Network, a unique initiative on both at national and European level. When mayors were asked what the Blue Municipal Network means for their municipalities, their responses shared a common theme: “The Blue Municipalities Network means sustainability and protection of our marine wealth!”
