ENTO Seminar “Training of Trainers for Local and Regional Authorities”

Gaziantep, Turkey 19-20-21 April 2007

Speech for the opening session  By Yavuz MILDON, President of the Chamber of Regions Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

The local and regional elected representatives are vital actors in shaping, at the fundamental grassroots level, the future of a politically strong and united Europe, close to its citizens, determined to build a space of solidarity and  stability including in Caucasian countries. This explains why the theme of the seminar “Trans-Caucasian Co-operation: Training for Local and Regional Authorities” is a very relevant and topical issue.

          Local authorities have always contributed a great deal to the development and prosperity of Europe. Their contribution towards creating the best conditions conducive to European integration is very valuable. Long term processes leading to regional development, transborder cooperation or even interethnic reconciliation can only be met satisfactorily when at the local level people’s needs and challenges are addressed. 

          As you know, one of the aims of the Transcaucasian project, sponsored by the voluntary contribution of the government of Italy, was to develop transborder cooperation through training organisations and associations of local authorities between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and South of Russia.

          In 2002 the Congress of the Council of Europe adopted the Resolution 143(2002) on “Promoting Transfrontier Co-operation: an Important Factor of Democratic Stability in Europe”, and continues to follow closely this issue.

          For its part, the European Commission adopted last July a new legal instrument called GECT to enable regions and local authorities to develop their co-operation. Another instrument is also being prepared by the Council of Europe to facilitate the establishment of cross-border and interterritorial cooperation bodies : a new draft protocol (the third one) to the Madrid Convention. The Congress follows very closely the preparation of this new legal instrument, which will have an impact on the development of cross border co-operation in all member states of the Council of Europe.

          As you know, a seminar from ENTO took place in ALANYA on 7-8 June 2005 on ‘’Transcaucasian cooperation’’ : training for local and regional elected representatives’’ which was very successful.

          Following the invitation of the Armenian delegation to the Congress, the Congress in cooperation with European Network of Training Organisations for Local and Regional Authorities (ENTO) organised a Conference on transborder co-operation in the South Caucasus in October 2005.

I really expect that ENTO could assist the Congress in developing the cooperation programmes for local authorities of Caucasian region in future. The Round Table on ENTO projects in Caucasian countries organised right after this seminar could be a valuable contribution to further cooperation.

          Since its creation in 1995, ENTO has been cooperating closely with the Council of Europe, and especially with its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. It is important to provide expert assistance and to implement training programmes for local authorities lacking managerial experience and technical skills. I rely on ENTO to promote co-operation between local and regional training centres all around Europe, linking national and regional centres with their counterparts in other countries.

          I look forward to your discussions, and I am certain that the results of this seminar will constitute an important contribution to strenghening cooperation and networking between training centres for local and regional authorities.