Russian Municipal Forum - Novosibirsk, Russia

10 November 2006

Speech by Ian Micallef, President of the Congress Chamber of Local Authorities,

Mr Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First and foremost, I would like to thank the organisers of this Forum, the Association of the Siberian and Far Eastern Cities, for inviting me to address you as the President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The Congress and Russian municipalities have a long-standing relationship of cooperation in advancing local self-government in your country, much as we have a long history of cooperation with the Russian government in developing federalism and democracy at local and regional level.

And I am particularly pleased to be here, in Novosibirsk. Every Russian knows the famous words of your country’s great scholar Mikhail Lomonosov who said: “The richness of Russia will grow through Siberia”. These words still ring true today, two and a half centuries later. The importance of Siberia for the development of the entire Russian Federation becomes self-evident if you look at the sheer numbers of natural reserves, water and forest resources, oil and gas production.

But for me, Siberia represents much more than just the richness of its nature and the vastness of its territory. Siberia has always been the symbol of Russian people’s drive for discovery and exploration, the symbol of daring and perseverance – ever since Yermak dared to cross the Ural mountains eastward in his quest for new lands. Being daring and showing perseverance are also character features of Siberians – I know that the word “Sibiryak” has a particular connotation in Russian, evoking images of health and strength, endurance and stubbornness, but also of generosity and hospitality.

However, this is not the only reason for which I am delighted to be here. The Russian East, both Siberia and the Far East, are important players in reinforcing territorial democracy in Russia by empowering regions and municipalities and making sure that more competences are transferred to the level closest to the citizen. This is an imperative of our time, a time of change.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A Chinese proverb says: “May you NOT be living in a time of change”. Its premise is that in a time of change, the traditional systems are shaken up, and things become blurred, unclear and confusing. However, a period of change also represents an opportunity to improve things, establish new systems, to move forward – in other words, an opportunity for innovation.

Ladies and gentlemen, we ARE living in a time of change. Europe has been undergoing tremendous transformation since the end of the Communist regimes, which brought about vast opportunities for the future. For the first time in history, almost the entire continent – with the sole and regrettable exception of Belarus – is united on the basis of the shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Forty-six European democracies are represented today in the Council of Europe, including all member states of the European Union.

Dividing lines are disappearing, and so are national borders, and joint international structures are being created, sometimes with supranational powers. However, on the other hand, last year’s referenda on the EU Constitutional Treaty showed that the process of European integration is a bumpy road. It showed the need for more dialogue between government and citizens, the need to restore public trust and confidence in politicians and the governmental machinery. The European Commission began to talk about “Plan D” for “dialogue”.

At the same time, the former President of the EU Committee of the Regions, Mr Peter Straub, said that the Plan D also stands for “decentralisation”. Last year’s events also clearly demonstrated the necessity of accelerating the devolution of power towards the territorial level, towards regions and municipalities – in other words, towards citizens. We are already witnessing today the shift in the national/local balance as territories take on a growing importance in the political, economic and social spheres, including economic development and inter-territorial competition.

This is why I think that this conference is very timely. Today, we need to talk about delivering good governance – the only way of restoring public confidence in democratic institutions. But, at the same time, we need to talk about regional and local governance, which is part and parcel of the system of government of our democratic societies – not least because the results of governance at local and regional level are most tangible and felt the most by our citizens.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe represents more than 200,000 territorial communities of our continent.  The Congress is equipped with – and is developing more – legal and practical tools to promote good governance at territorial level, including through inter-territorial cooperation. In fact, one of our basic juridical instruments – the European Charter of Local Self-Government – paved the way for giving territorial communities a role at the European level. The Charter established the principle of subsidiarity, according to which governance must be delivered at the level closest to the citizen. This principle was recognised in the EU Constitutional Treaty.

The main mission of the Congress is to be the political judge of territorial democracy in Europe by promoting decentralisation, monitoring the state and development of territorial democracy and assisting territorial authorities in implementing Congress resolutions and recommendations. This is why the Congress is currently promoting the creation of a Centre for inter-regional and transborder cooperation in St Petersburg. This Centre will work to strengthen regional – but also local – democracy and achieve greater cohesion among European regions, including in the sphere of economy. The Centre will also allow to establish links and build bridges between the regions of EU and non-EU countries, and in particular with the regions in Russia. I certainly hope that Siberia and Far East will take an active part in this initiative.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s conference is about local democracy – democracy which was born in the Agora square in Athens and which, in turn, gave birth to democracy as a whole. It is clear that local democracy is the pillar of a democratic society, and if local democracy dies, there will be no democracy at all.

This is why we cannot stop at what we have already achieved. We are living in a knowledge-based, globalising society which requires a new strategy for promoting good governance and delivery of public services not only at the national but also the regional and local level.

Of course, the transfer of powers and competences towards territorial communities must be accompanied by the transfer of the necessary resources, and the Congress has been actively working to ensure the commitment of Council of Europe member states to this issue.

Another important field of activity of the Congress is the creation of Euro-regions of a new generation, bringing together national, local and regional authorities from both EU and non-EU member states. These Euro-regions, built around semi-closed European seas, will have a special statute and will serve to achieve greater political, economic, social and cultural cohesion in these areas, boost local economy and contribute to the process of European integration. The first such region, the Adriatic Euro-region gathering six countries bordering on the Adriatic Sea, was launched in February this year. We are now working on the creation of the Black Sea Euro-region – the initiative which has just been supported at the conference held in Samsun, Turkey.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to conclude the way I have begun and to correct the old Chinese adage by saying with optimism: “May you BE living in a time of change!”

But while introducing changes, we must be clear about our unchanging political goals of building a society of democracy. More than 2,500 years ago, during the Athenian Golden Age, Pericles, looking at the Acropolis, said: “They will say of us that we have created the most beautiful and happiest of the cities.” A happy and prosperous society which will last for thousands of years, for ever, is our main goal, and democracy is the only way of achieving it.

We have many challenges ahead of us, and this conference has many important issues on its agenda. I wish all of you – all of us – every success in our endeavour. Let us build the happiest of the cities.

Thank you.