Background

On the eve of the World Forum for Democracy 2013, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions are co-organising a conference to analyse the current situation in local and regional democracy and autonomy in Europe.

This year we commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the adoption by the CEMR of the European Charter of Municipal Liberties (1953) and the 25^th anniversary of the entry into force of the European Charter of Local Self-Government of the Council of Europe (1988). Both charters were adopted in order to enshrine local autonomy and safeguard the liberties of local authorities while preserving the principle of subsidiarity and maintaining the indispensable first level of democracy.

Today – especially in the context of the financial, economic and social crisis – the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities is threatened. Central governments, in attempts to consolidate public budgets, impose budgetary discipline and cut funding across the whole public sector. Whilst the economic crisis is not at the origin of all subnational government reforms across Europe, some national governments are recentralising competencies or, decentralising tasks to the local and regional level without adequate accompanying financial means in the pursuit of public sector efficiency.

Objectives

In this context, the conference aims to:

· Review the progress achieved in the last 60 years in local autonomy and democracy, notably through the implementation of the Charters;

· Evaluate recent administrative and territorial reforms in Europe from the perspective of the European Charter of Local Self-Government;

· Deliver a joint message of concern on behalf of local governments on recentralisation trends;

· Outline future prospects for strengthening and advancing local autonomy and democracy in Europe.

The joint seminar will seek to answer several questions:

1. What is the situation of decentralisation in Europe? Does local democracy remain relevant today as the foundation of the European democratic system?

2. What is the meaning of local democracy in a Europe hit by the crisis? Is the devolution of power being reversed through current recentralisation trends? How to defend and advance local democracy against this background?

3. Reconciling global and local: can we decentralise while globalising?

4. How to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the regional and local contribution to national and European policy-making? How to strengthen partnership and political dialogue between national governments and local authorities, beyond service delivery?