‘The European Association of Prefects works with the southern shore of the Mediterranean’

Security is an increasingly transnational challenge. How does cooperation between local government representatives contribute to this? 

‘Mechanisms for cooperation between police forces and the judiciary already exist. The contribution of the State’s regional representatives lies primarily in combating forms of local misgovernance and the infiltration of organised crime into local authorities. The legal frameworks, however, differ. In Italia, prefects have specific administrative powers at their disposal, such as the appointment of special commissioners, whilst in other European countries the preference is to resort to the ordinary courts. This comparison is also extremely useful, as it enables us to understand different approaches and to grasp the cultural factors underpinning the various institutional responses.”

The European Days in Tirana, held last May, addressed the issue of community resilience. What insights emerged from the discussions? 

‘Each delegation presented specific cases, outlining what has been done or what is planned in response to particular emergencies. It became clear that certain concerns are shared by all countries, starting with the ongoing war on the European continent. At the same time, Mediterranean regions continue to feel the impact of issues relating to migration flows particularly acutely, whilst in Northern Europe there is growing focus on civil defence and preparatory exercises for potential sudden attacks. It is precisely this direct exchange of different experiences that enables us to strengthen coordination and build a shared foundation of operational knowledge.”

The international conference ‘Préfets en Méditerranée, préfets méditerranéens?’ took place in Nice…

‘The initiative, promoted by the French Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with the University of Nice, stems from the realisation that the Mediterranean region faces common challenges, starting with migration flows. AERTE collaborates with a broader Euro-Mediterranean network. In Nice, discussions between academics and senior officials highlighted how important it is to understand the different ways in which these figures operate within their respective national contexts. In some countries, for example, state representatives remain in the same area for long periods and end up identifying deeply with the local community; in others, such as Italy, greater mobility prevails. Understanding these differences also means strengthening cooperation. Furthermore, in mid-October, a meeting dedicated to the Mediterranean region will be held in the Vendée with the aim of drawing up a series of initiatives designed to provide further support in the face of geopolitical crises.”

AERTE brings together a wide variety of administrative models. Is this diversity a challenge or an asset? 

‘It is certainly an asset. Cross-border cooperation serves, first and foremost, to improve the quality of services offered to citizens in border areas. There are some very significant examples. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, water resource management is coordinated on a shared basis. In the Strasbourg area, which spans France, Germany and Switzerland, there is a transport coordination system covering around 120,000 vehicles a day. In these cases, ongoing dialogue between local government representatives helps to overcome historical mistrust and hostility. Ultimately, our aim is to make life easier for citizens and, through cooperation, to build increasingly integrated regions.’