You can also do great things from municipalities. He firmly believes that Ruben Alfaro, President of the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces since 2015, Alfaro also Mayor of Eldathinks it is local organizations can and should approach Europe and that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda is a priority need.
A little over a year ago, you announced the establishment of the Pont a Europa office to guide municipalities in their involvement in European projects… How has this initiative progressed since then?
In 2019, corresponding to the new legislature, We wanted to give another support to the European projects department and Pont office to Europe. It is responsible for informing, educating and guiding the municipalities and associations of the Community in the participation of both the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021/2027 and the Next Generation Funds in European projects. All of this was made possible thanks to close cooperation with the Generalitat Valenciana Presidency, with a cooperation agreement signed in 2020.
And the results have been magnificent. The Pont a Europa office was a request from the municipality. The city councils told us that they wanted to participate in the projects, but they did not know how.They needed a helping hand to ease their way. We tried to respond to a request from public officials and municipal technicians so that all municipalities of the Community can take part in European projects, whatever their size.
Why is it important for small municipalities to approach Europe and apply for European funds?
At this point we have to Distinguish between funds and projects. At the moment, the emphasis is on economic resources, but I don’t think that’s the most important thing. European funds can be an extra source of incomebut the most important thing about being able to participate in projects, access to the information produced in these projects.
The aim of a European project is to propose an innovative solution to a common problem and to reflect this solution to other countries. The positive aspect of participating in this type of project is the breadth of vision they offer.. For small municipalities, this means discovering that they are not alone. and that its problems, normally associated with demographic difficulties, are shared with most European countries.
We encourage all municipalities to continue to participate in projects.and those who are not, to stand out.
When we talk about the SDGs, we always think of community and even government policies. However, big things can also be achieved on a small scale. How can municipalities contribute to the achievement of these goals?
I believe that municipalities are the key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.. City councils, as the closest administration to citizens, are responsible for promoting projects, disseminating a culture of sustainability and creating the positive effects of municipal initiatives that require a more equitable and balanced development at the global level. Everything starts locallyOur contribution provides growth that looks to the present and the future, in line with the real environmental needs we need to care for.
especially, SDG 11 states that “inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements” are expected to be achieved by 2030. In fact, local organizations are the first to implement innovative initiatives to promote projects aimed at meeting the SDGs. And in coordinating actions between different governments to join efforts and share the knowledge and capabilities of our towns and cities.
In this sense, the 2030 Agenda Local Assets Network was created, how does it work?
this Local Organizations Network, In September 2019, I was FEMP’s XII President.
We had the Network’s first meeting in October 2020 and since then, its growth has grown exponentially and is now total 417 local units subordinated between city assemblies and county councilsand reaching more than 26 million municipalities in our region. This fact demonstrates the growing commitment of local governments to the SDGs.
Tell us what the Spanish Urban Agenda is, its main lines of action, how you are working on it…
this Spanish Urban Agenda this roadmap to define sustainable and resilient urban development. Through ten lines of action, municipalities can organize decision-making with a strategic vision and a common goal of designing sustainable cities from a social, economic, environmental and regional perspective.
Actually, my city Elda has been selected as one of the 121 Spanish cities that have benefited from Next Generation funds for the preparation of the Spanish Urban Agenda’s local action plan. That’s why I signed the protocol for the preparation of this action plan with Raquel Sánchez, Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, last week and we are working on its draft.
As a pilot municipality, this choice is the result of our planning and work to design a city for everyone from the municipal corporation through the implementation of the Elda Renace Plan and the Elda 2030 Strategic Plan.. We make Elda a pioneer in sustainable urban development Thanks to this action plan of Urban Agenda, it will set an example for other municipalities that want to implement this city model.
Around 40% of the Valencia Community municipalities currently have less than 1,000 inhabitants. What projects do you envision from FVMP to reverse and combat population decline?
Inside FVMP years ago on the journey of demographic challenge, Internal Municipalities Forum. Then, as early as 2020, we created the Valencia Office against Depopulation in collaboration with AVANT Agenda.
Among the programs we run are the «Traveller», we bring essential professional services to your home. «review» we advise new families who decide to start life projects in rural areas; “Digital Citizenship” where we train people from the smallest municipalities of the Community on new technologies; or management “Route 99”An ambitious project to promote domestic tourism.
By law on comprehensive measures against population decline, it is in the draft stage after finishing the citizen engagement process a few days ago. The draft will be sent to FVMP shortly so that we can contribute our knowledge and experience on the subject.
Valencia Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP)
more about projects FVMP.