International Conference “Towards Sustainable Training Systems and Effective Capacity Development in Local Government”

Strasbourg, 25 and 26 September 2008

Speech by Emin Yeritsyan, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe

Mr Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

As we gather here today to discuss the links between Sustainable Training Systems and Effective Local Government, let us keep in mind that a sustainable efficient local government can only be carried out through the synergy between these two constituent parts.

Yet today we sometimes face the problem of balance between theoretical training and real life and practical experience; a problem which amounts to a simple notion – what should be done to provide training which local authorities really need ?

This is exactly the subject matter of this Conference, which I consider to be a very timely event, and I wish to thank the organisers for taking this initiative. During these two days, we will be discussing ways of developing training systems and effective capacity-development in local government, existing practice; case studies; the role of the Networks and International organisations in the field of training for local and regional authorities.

We all know that local authorities have more and more responsibilities nowadays and the training institutes have to follow these changes and update their services in accordance with them. Such important questions as the career development of local government politicians and managers; public service ethics, training policies tailored to new duties of local and regional staff, and – which is of particular importance – the commitment of public servants in local government to, and cooperation in, local policy-making as a focus for exercising their functions.

In a few minutes, the experts will make a more detailed presentation on the main questions involved, to fuel our discussions. However, I would like to point out that the Council of Europe and its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, which I represent today as Vice-President, have been following the issue for quite some time. In 1995, the Congress adopted a recommendation following the 2nd European Conference of Local and Regional Authority Staff, which was held in Budapest in September 1994.

In this recommendation, the Congress stressed the need to establish an efficient public service at local and regional levels, in line with the devolution of competences to local and regional authorities, and to make sure that local and regional authority staff depend exclusively on their respective elected representatives.

The recommendation, which is still up-to-date ten years later, dealt extensively with such issues as the legal status and employment of local and regional authorities’ staff, their training and staff policy requirements. It was particularly pointed out that the European Network of Training Organisations for Local and Regional Authorities, ENTO, which the Congress helped to create and has been actively supporting since, has a major role to play in educating and training local and regional staff to carry out their duties efficiently.

I am glad to welcome the representatives of ENTO network on this Conference and hope that, during these two days, they will share their experience and inform us about their work on ENTO Study on Training for local and regional authorities in European countries.

In 1999, the Congress adopted a recommendation on political integrity of local and regional elected representatives, which included the European code of conduct for local and regional elected representatives and their specific obligations during the taking, holding and relinquishing of office. In our view, training is also essential for ensuring that this code of conduct is strictly observed by elected authorities.

At its 14th Plenary Session in 2007 the Congress supported the draft Strategy on Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level (Resolution(2007)239) thus making clear that the Strategy responds to real demand from local authorities across the continent. The European ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government, meeting in Valencia on 15-16 October 2007 endorsed this Strategy.

The Congress is now working on its report “Training for local and regional authorities in Council of Europe member countries”, the rapporteurs are Valery Prignachi, Chairman of the Congress’ Committee on Social Cohesion and Congress Vice-President Gunter Krug. We are planning to discuss this report at our Plenary Session in March 2009.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While wishing all of us fruitful and constructive deliberations at this Conference, I would like to conclude by underlining once again that the Congress is fully with you in your effort to ensure the development of sustainable training systems and efficient functioning of local staff in exercising their duties; and an effort seeking, in fact, to create an optimal and balanced system of training for local and regional authorities which would involve equally both elected representatives and administrative managers, sharing their respective responsibilities.

Let us make it our joint effort for the sake of our fellow citizens, who expect from us to be guardians of effective and efficient local and regional democracy.

I wish this Conference every success.

Thank you.