With estimations of less than 5% agreed text after the last negotiation round that ended on 4 May the two coming weeks will be crucial for the agreements in Rio. Experienced negotiators estimate that if results are to be achieved important progress needs to be made on agreeing with the text on the table. The Co-Chairs text contains important messages related to local and regional governments and their role in the international agenda. With over 80 pages and somewhat 400 paragraphs, the two coming weeks should produce a text half the length of the existing one with some 70% of the text in agreement.
The current text under negotiations contains positive advancements for local and regional governments. It acknowledges their role both in the thematic chapters and in the general ones. It mentions sub-national governance as key to sustainability acknowledges the importance of universal service provision and maintains 4 important paragraphs on Cities. UCLG invites members to share with their respective national government the need to keep in the text the paragraphs specified above. Please feel free to use the attached model letter.