After some consultations carried out last week on the participation of UCLG in Rio de Janeiro next June, the UCLG Presidency has decided to cancel the Executive Bureau initially scheduled on the 17th and to reduce UCLG activities in Rio. UCLG Members have expressed great concern about the conditions and find such expenditure difficult to justify in this times of economic hardship.
Although the City of Rio has expressed their commitment to work with UCLG in improving conditions of hotels and offering full support for the organization of our meetings, the Presidency does not find it reasonable to maintain the uncertainty for members any longer.
This carefully considered decision is above all based on political convictions. At a time when our citizens around the world are suffering the consequences of the economic crisis it seems unjustifiable for local and regional leaders to massively attend the Summit under the announced costs.
We would further like to call the United Nations and the Members States to rethink the way international negotiations are carried out and to ensure accountable, transparent and cost effective processes for the kind of future World Governance we need. While requesting the acknowledgement of the role that local and regional authorities deserve as a sphere of governments in the international decision-making processes, we reiterate the commitment of UCLG and its membership to continue contributing to the international policy agenda.
For more information on UCLG Rio+20 activities, please visit the dedicated website