« The creation of the City of Marseille’s International Council, which appears to be an original initiative, stems from the openness of our city, which, for 26 centuries now, has been a crossroads for trade and exchanges, as well as a place where people, cultures and civilisations have met. It also reflects our firm belief and our faith in the vital cooperation between Europe, and more specifically Southern Europe, and countries from the Mediterranean Region, which were outside the concerns of European bodies before the Barcelona Conference established the principle. (...)
Marseille has the assets needed to pass on a global policy seeking to restore the balance of Europe towards the South, while at the same time fostering sustainable development based on solidarity between the countries around both shores of the Mediterranean ».