Following a packed presentation of the achievements of the 2019-2021 presidency, despite the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Paul Gatt  handed the presidency to Stéphane Pintre  for a three-year period from 2022 to 2024. In his handover, Paul underlined the vital role that UDiTE has provided its members over the last 30 years. A special commemorative report was prepared by French colleagues from SNDGCT to mark the occasion (see below). Paul underlined the vital role that members are providing their authorities and their communities at the present time across Europe in which  local authorities and municipalities find themselves in the front line in the battle against the pandemic with the health services.  Stéphane Pintre, who is the President of the French Association, SNDGCT (Union des Directeurs Généraux des Collectivités Territoritoriales) the Director General of Services of the City of Antibes and of the Agglomération Sophia-Antipolis.Stephane will take over from 1st January 2022 a crucial time for the European Union and France in 2022.  The first six months of 2022 will see the French Presidency of the European Union taking over from Slovenia on New Year's Day. A number of key territorial developments will take place early next year with the conclusion of the Conference on the Future of Europe and a high level Summit of Regions and Cities scheduled to take place in April 2022. With new financing programmes seeing their first calls and a Presidential Election in France, strap in we are in for an exciting few months for the territorial agenda in Europe. UDiTE executive support team are already working with Stephane's team to enable a smooth handover. Well done Paul on achieving so much in such challenging circumstances! You can watch Paul's and Stephane's speeches in Metz here again.

UDiTE 30th Anniversary Review