Strasbourg, 22 December 2014                                                        CDDG(2014)25

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

(CDDG)

ABRIDGED REPORT OF THE 2^nd MEETING

4-5 December 2014

1.            Opening of the meeting and adoption of the agenda

The meeting was opened by the Chairman who welcomed the participants and gave the floor to Ms Snežana Samardžić-Marković, Director-General of Democracy.

The Director-General expressed appreciation for the participation also in this second meeting of senior political figures from member States willing to share the reform initiatives and experiences in their respective countries (Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom). Their presence confirmed the relevance of the CDDG as a forum for discussing major initiatives on public administration reform, citizen participation and democratic governance at local level and developing new co-operations.

The list of participants is set out in Appendix I.

The agenda for the meeting (Appendix II) was adopted.

2.            Promoting Democratic Governance through Shared Experience

•      Public administration and modernisation reforms

•      Territorial reforms in member States

•      Citizens participation in public life at all levels

Ms Renata ZATLER (State Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Slovenia) gave a presentation of the guiding principles and objectives of a major public administration reform presently under preparation in her country. The aims are streamlining public administration, increasing efficiency and transparency, strengthening the trust of the public and cutting red tape. Key elements of the Strategy include the involvement and consultation of target groups comprising business, citizens and civil servants.

In response to a number of comments and questions (Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and United Kingdom) Ms Zatler elaborated on the impact of the prospective reform on the size and functions of state administration at regional level, quantitative reductions in public administration, the impact of EU legislation including on local authorities and the mechanisms for involving local authorities, civil society and NGOs in the process, (including consultation procedures and feed-back to citizens). She stressed the importance of consultation with the civil servants concerned.

Mr Juan Ignacio ROMERO SÁNCHEZ (Director General, Coordination with Autonomous Communities and Local Entities Competences, Ministry of Finance and Public Administration, Spain) made a comprehensive presentation of the most recent reforms of public administration, public finance and relationship between the State and regional and local authorities. These aim to ensure budgetary stability and financial sustainability in terms of public finances, the structure of administration and also the manner in which civil servants perceived their task.  The measures include early warning mechanisms at national, regional and local level on the side of public finance and indebtedness and allow for corrective action. 

Particular importance is given to reducing or suppressing overlapping of competences, rationalization of the provision of public services, improving the business environment and enhancing transparency and good governance.

Questions by members (Austria, Finland, Netherlands, United Kingdom) addressed such issues as the transfer of powers and related finance from the state to the regions and from the regions to local authorities, the consequences of non-compliance with EU legislation by sub-national governments and the need to anticipate possible impact of EU legislation at sub-national level already at the stage of EU decision making.

Lord AHMAD OF WIMBLEDON (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom) gave a presentation focussing on models encouraging Citizens’ participation in public life at all levels and the role of “localism” in the United Kingdom, i.e. the devolution of powers at a level that was as close as possible to the citizens and civil society concerned.

Recently agreed measures included major devolution of powers and local governance reforms for Greater Manchester that aimed to reform local government to match their new devolved powers. Other recently adopted legislation and measures sought to increase community involvement and improve decision making at the local level providing communities with greater control as well as increasing transparency and accountability.

He further reflected on the robust debate and high level of participation in the framework of the Scottish referendum, its outcome and subsequent discussions on the devolution of powers. Finally, he also underlined the need for engagement and participation by people from all cultural and religious backgrounds in the community.

Questions focused on the management of large conurbations, greater community involvement in decision making at local level and policies aiming at valuing diversity in local communities.

A concise summary of the presentations is given in Appendix III.

Members discussed possible follow up to the presentations under item “State of implementation of the CDDG work programme” (point 6) of the agenda.

3.           Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

3.1     Activities implemented under the Azerbaijani Chairmanship (May – November 2014)

The CDDG took note of the information given in document CDDG(2014)12rev and the oral presentation of the delegation of Azerbaijan on the achievements of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship. Appreciation was expressed for the interesting experience of the ASAN national agency as a body enabling direct and facilitated access by citizens to a number of public services across the country.

3.2     Priorities of the Belgian Chairmanship (November 2014 – May 2015)

          - Statement by Ambassador Dirk van Eeckhout

Ambassador van Eeckhout presented the priorities of the Belgian Chairmanship (document CDDG(201413) and underlined the importance of protecting the democratic principles underpinning the Council of Europe’s activities.

4.           Developing tools on good democratic governance and supporting reforms

4.1      Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level

The CDDG examined the elements for its report to the Committee of Ministers also in the light of the statement adopted by the Bureau of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress on 1 December 2014 (document CPL/BUR(27)8final) and introduced by the Secretary General of the Congress.

The CDDG considers that its report to the Committee of Ministers should mention (a) the unquestioned support for the Twelve principles and their significance for democracy, (b) the active steps taken by a significant number of States, (c) the spectrum of measures by which the promotion can be assured -soft measures such as promotion, medium type measures (i.e. tools and procedures – the current ones to be simplified) and hard measures (i.e.. a Committee of Ministers recommendation or an additional protocol as proposed by the Congress). It should also recall that while member States, the Congress and Parliamentary Assembly would agree on soft and medium type measures, it would be for the GR-DEM to consider whether any hard measures such as a Committee of Ministers recommendation or a protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-government should be investigated.

Delegations also pointed out the need for support by other partners such as the AER, CEMR and AEBR.

The Committee requested the Secretariat to draw up such a document to be first approved by its Bureau and then by all members through electronic consultation, by 31 January at the latest.

4.2      The Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform – Activities carried          out in 2014 and prospects for 2015

The Committee took note of the annual activity report of the Centre for 2013, the summary of its achievements in 2014 and prospects for 2015 (document CDDG(2014)15). It also noted the instruction in its Terms of Reference to contribute to the guidance materials and the toolkits for the Centre and asked the Centre and the Secretariat to let the Committee’s Bureau know at its next meeting of any participation or contribution now required.

The delegates from Armenia, Malta and Ukraine acknowledged the value and effectiveness of the Centre’s activities and toolkits in their respective countries.

5.         Preparing a reference text on democracy

The CDDG examined the draft opinion on the preparation of a reference text on democracy (document CDDG(2014)16) and approved it (Appendix IV).

The CDDG emphasised that the document which it was proposed that the Secretariat should be asked to prepare, was a compendium and not any other type of text.

6          Implementation of the CDDG activities according to its terms of reference

Thematic Exchanges of Views

In the light of the debates with the participation of senior political figures, the Committee identified the following as areas for further work:

-      Modernisation of public administration

-      Citizen participation

-      Large conurbations.

It also appointed Ms Paqui Santonja (Spain) as its rapporteur for modernisation and public administration and services.

State of implementation of the CDDG work programme 2014-2015

The CDDG took note of the information presented in document CDDG(2014)9 and in respect of a number of activities agreed as follows.

Database EDEN on cross border cooperation

The members heard a presentation by Mr Daniele Del Bianco, Director of ISIG, which was responsible for the setting up and initial management of the EDEN platform.

The Committee agreed with the setting up of the platform, invited members to contribute data and information including from their regional or local authorities, noted the interest of some States (France, Germany, the Netherlands) to connect this database with existing ones and of the Assembly of European Regions to promote it, invited also CEMR and AEBR to provide information and data.

The CDDG appointed Mr Edwin Lefebre as its rapporteur for transfrontier cooperation with the following tasks: to follow its activities in this area and report back to the Bureau and the plenary as appropriate, to raise, as the case might be, the awareness of the Committee on important developments concerning transfrontier cooperation across Europe and act as a coordinator of EDEN should the need arise.

Rapid Response Service: new modalities for 2015

The Committee reiterated its appreciation for the Service in its current format. It praised its simplicity, rapidity and informal character.

Workshops on e-democracy: proposals by Austria and Belgium

The CDDG approved the holding of the two workshops (document CDDG(2014)23 rev) organised by Belgium and Austria with Hungary as CDDG activities and requested the organising States to submit to the Bureau detailed themes and modalities prior to the dissemination of invitations to all member states. In order to promote participation in both events, the Committee agreed that some costs be reimbursed to participants, following consultation of the Bureau.

It also designated its Chair and Mr Balthasar (Austria) as CDDG rapporteurs on e-democracy with the task of reporting back to the Committee the findings of the respective workshops, drawing up elements for the attention of all member States.

Finland offered to contribute information on recent development and initiatives in the country for the workshops.

7.         Examination of the conventions under the responsibility of the CDDG

The CDDG discussed how to implement the part of its Terms of reference that concern the conventions under its responsibility (document CDDG (2014)20) and agreed that the questionnaires covering the seven conventions be issued to all member States, for a reply sought by 28 February 2015.

The Secretariat would then draw up a synthesis of replies for consideration and possible follow up by the CDDG at its next meeting.

8          Consideration by the Committee of Ministers of issues relating to the       work of the CDDG

The CDDG took note of recent decisions by the Committee of Ministers of relevance to its work. With regard to the request for comments on two Congress and one PACE recommendations (documents CDDG(2014)21 and CDDG(2014)21 Addendum) the Committee agreed with the elements prepared by Secretariat as supplemented during the discussion in regard of Congress Recommendation 362 and requested that they be formalised in draft responses to be first approved by the Bureau and then circulated by electronic means to all members for adoption before 31 January 2015.

9          Elections of the Chair, the Vice-Chair and one Member of the Bureau

The Committee elected:

·         Mr Paul-Henri Philips (Belgium) as its chair for 2015

·         Mr Paul Rowsell (United Kingdom) as its vice-chair for 2015

·         Ms Desislava Dragova (Bulgaria) as member for the year 2015.

10.      Other business

10.1    Information on other Council of Europe bodies

The Committee took note of the information in document CDDG(2014)24.

10.2    Bureau meeting reports

The CDDG took note of the reports of the Bureau’s meetings on 3 July 2014 [CDDG(2014)9] and 23 October 2014 [CDDG-Bu(2014)18] respectively.

10.3    Recent development in member States

The delegations of Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland presented recent developments concerning local government and public administration reforms or events which took place or are planned in their countries.

The Finish delegation informed the Committee that the government proposal of a New Local Government Act which strongly focusses on participation and new participation mechanisms, was transmitted to the Parliament by Finnish Government on 27th of November. Once processed by the parliament, the new law will come into force, most likely during the spring of 2015.

The CDDG recommended that presentations be sent to the Secretariat for publication on the CDDG website (www.coe.int/local).

10.4    Date of the next meeting

The first meeting of the CDDG in 2015 will be held on 16-17 April 2015.

10.5    Any other business

None.

10.6    Adoption of the abridged meeting report

The Committee adopted this abridged meeting report.

APPENDIX I

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

MEMBERS / MEMBRES

CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT

M. Paul-Henri PHILIPS, Chargé des Relations internationales, Bruxelles Pouvoirs Locaux, Service public régional de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, 20, B – 1035 BRUXELLES

Tel : (32) 2 800 32 77; Cel-phone: (32) 499 58 81 05; Fax :(32) 2 800 38 00;

E-mail : [email protected]

ALBANIA / ALBANIE

Apologised for absence / excusé

ARMENIA / ARMENIE

Mr Vache TERTERYAN, Acting Minister for Territorial Administration, 10, Republic Square, Government House 2, YEREVAN

Tel.: (37410) 511 303; E-mail: [email protected]

AUSTRIA / AUTRICHE

Mr Alexander BALTHASAR, Head of the Institute for State Organization and Administrative Reform, Federal Chancellery of Austria, Ballhausplatz 1, A - 1014 WIEN

Tel: (43) 1 53115 202806 ; Fax: (43) 1 53109 202806;

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Erika BERNHARD, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Austria to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg

E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Martin REICHARD, Deputy to the Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Austria to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg

E-mail: [email protected]

AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAÏDJAN

Mr Gadir KHALILOV, Senior adviser, Centre of work with municipalities, Ministry of Justice, B. Safaroglu str. 141, AZ BAKU 1009

Tel: (994) 12 596 34 08; Fax: (99412) 59 63 408; E-mail: [email protected]

BELGIUM / BELGIQUE

Ambassador Dirk VAN EECKHOUT, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Council of Europe

Mme Laurence GINDT, Attachée, Service public de Wallonie, DGO Pouvoirs Locaux, Action sociale et Santé, Direction de la Prospective et du Développement des Pouvoirs locaux, Avenue Gouverneur Bovesse, 100, 5100 NAMUR (Jambes)

Tél : +32 (0)81 32 37 57 ; E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Edwin LEFEBRE, Deputy of the Director, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Flemish Region, Agency for Home Affairs, Boudewijnlaan 30, B - 1000 BRUSSELS

Tel : (32) 2 553 40 16; Fax :(32) 2 553 39 52; E-mail : [email protected]

M. Xavier KALBUSCH, Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Gospert 1, 4700 EUPEN

Tél : (32) (0)87 59 63 00 ; Fax : (32) (0)87 55 28 91 ;

E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected]

BULGARIA / BULGARIE

Mrs Desislava DRAGOVA, Senior expert, Ministry of Regional Development, 17-19 St. Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA;

Tel : +(359) 2 9405 428 ; E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Aleksandar VASILEV, Senior expert, Ministry of Regional Development, 17-19 St. Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA;

E-mail: [email protected]

CROATIA / CROATIE

Apologised for absence / excusé

CYPRUS / CHYPRE

Mr Antonis ANTONIOU, Senior Administrative Officer, Ministry of the Interior

Tel: (357) 228 678 51; Fax: (357) 228 677 16; E-mail: [email protected]

CZECH REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE

Mr Petr FEJTEK, Department for Public Administration, Supervision and Control, Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, nám. Hrdinů 3, 140 21 Praha 4
Tel.: + 420 974 816 267; Fax: + 420 974 916 632; E-mail: [email protected]

DENMARK / DANEMARK

Mr Jesper LORENZ GRADERT, Head of Section, Ministry of Economics and the Interior, Slotsholmsgade 10-12, 1216, COPENHAGEN K

Tel: (45) 7228 2524; E-mail: [email protected]

ESTONIA / ESTONIE

Mr Kaur KAASIK-AASLAV, Adviser to the Regional Administration Department, Ministry of the Interior, Pikk 61, TALLINN, 15065

Tel: (372) 612 5136; E-mail: [email protected]

FINLAND / FINLANDE

Ms Inga NYHOLM, Ministerial adviser, Department for Local Government and Regional administration, Ministry of Finance, PO Box 28, FIN – 00023 GOVERNMENT

Tel: (358) 40 760 5524; E-mail: [email protected]

FRANCE

M. Damien FERAILLE, Bureau des structures territoriales, Direction Générale des Collectivités locales, Ministère de l'Intérieur, 1 bis, place des Saussaies, F - 75800 PARIS

Tel: (33) 01 49 27 31 78 ; E-mail: [email protected]

GEORGIA / GEORGIE

Mr Giorgi DIDIDZE, Deputy Head, Department of Reforms and Innovations, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, 12 Kazbegi, TBILISI 0160

Tel: (995) 577 112 145; E-mail: [email protected]

GERMANY / ALLEMAGNE

Mrs Kristina SCHADE, Division O2, Better regulation, bureaucracy reduction; Act on E-Government; local matters, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Alt-Moabit 101, D-10559 BERLIN

Tel: (49) 30 18 681 2137; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Gabriele STELLMACHER, Representative of the „Laender“ (States), Ministry of the Interior and Sports of Lower Saxony, Department for Local Government Affairs, Lavesallee 6, 30169 HANNOVER

Tel: (49) (0) 511 120 4640; E-mail: [email protected]

GREECE / GRECE

M. Socrate SOURVINOS, Adjoint au Représentant Permanent, Représentation Permanente de la Grèce auprès du Conseil de l’Europe, 21 place Broglie, 67000 STRASBOURG

Tél: (33) (0)3 88 32 88 18; E-mail: [email protected]

HUNGARY / HONGRIE

Ms Nikolett GAÁL, Desk officer for International Relations, Prime Minister’s Office, Department for Territorial Public Administration Development, Kossuth tér 2-4, 1055 – BUDAPEST

Tel: +361 795 6252; Email: [email protected]

IRELAND / IRLANDE

Mr Denis CONLAN, Head of Local Government Development, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Custom House, EI – DUBLIN

Tel: (353 1) 888 2186; E-mail: [email protected]

ITALY / ITALIE

Mr Francesco GIUSTINO, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, D.A.R. - Ufficio Attività Internazionali, ROMA

Tel. +39.06.6779.5130; E-mail: [email protected]

LATVIA / LETTONIE

Ms Agnese PABERZA DRAUDINA, Lawyer, Local Governments Department, Local Governments Supervision and Methodology Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Peldu street 25, LV – 1494 RIGA

Tel : (371) 66016784; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Fatma FRIDENBERGA, Riga City Council Legal Office, Ratslaukums 1, LV - 1539 RIGA

Tel: (371) 6 7026022; Fax: (371) 6 7026326; E-mail: [email protected]

LITHUANIA / LITUANIE

Mrs Rasa Dalia LIUTKEVIČIENĖ, Deputy Director, Public Governance Policy Department,

Ministry of the Interior, Šventaragio Str. 2, LT - 01510 VILNIUS

Tel: +370 5 271 7065; E-mail: [email protected]

LUXEMBOURG

M. Laurent DEVILLE, Coordination générale, Ministère de l‘Intérieur, 19 rue Beaumont, L-1219 LUXEMBOURG

Tél: (+352) 247 84615; Fax: (+352) 22 11 25; E-mail: [email protected]

MALTA / MALTE

Mr Robert TABONE, Head EU & International Affairs, Department for Local Government, Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government

E-mail: [email protected]

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA / REPUBLIQUE DE MOLDOVA

Apologised for absence / excusé

MONACO

Apologised for absence / excusé

MONTENEGRO

Mrs Olivera GRBOVIĆ, Head of Department, Directorate for State Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog 22, 81000 PODGORICA

Tel: (382) 20 243 445; Fax: (382) 20 225 518; Mobile: (382) 67 677 407;

E-mail: [email protected]

NETHERLANDS / PAYS-BAS

Mr Tom LEEUWESTEIN, Head of Europe and Local and Regional Governance Unit, Directorate General for Governance and Kingdom Relations, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, P.O Box 20011, NL - 2500 EA THE HAGUE

Tel: (31) 6 53578243; Fax: (31) 70 426 7655; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Gabriëlle METZ, Policy Advisor, Europe and Governance, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, P.O Box 20011, NL - 2500 EA THE HAGUE

Tel: (31) 6 52766098; E-mail: [email protected]

NORWAY / NORVEGE

Mrs Greta Ulland BILLING, Senior International Adviser, Department for Local Government,  Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

Tel: (47) 22 24 72 25; Mobile: (47) 92 61 37 27; Fax: (47) 22 24 27 35;

E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Nina Britt BERGE, Senior Adviser, Department for Local Government, Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

Tel: (47) 22 24 72 55; Mobile: (47) 99 72 43 14; Fax: (47) 22 24 27 35;

E-mail: [email protected]

POLAND / POLOGNE

Mrs Monika STURLIS-GUMIENICZEK, Chief Specialist, Department of Public Administration, Ministry of Administration and Digitalisation, WARSAW

Tel: + 48 22 556 84 85 ; E-mail: [email protected]

ROMANIA / ROUMANIE

Mr Mihai Adrian GROŞAN, Director Public Administration Decentralization, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, Directorate General of Public Administration, Romanian Government, BUCAREST, Romania

Email: [email protected]

RUSSIAN FEDERATION / FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

Mr Igor KOCHETKOV, Section Chief, Department for Liaisons with the Constituent Entities of the Federation, the Parliament, and the Public Associations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arbat Str, 57, MOSCOW

E-mail: [email protected]

SERBIA / SERBIE

Apologised for absence / excusé

SLOVAK REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE SLOVAQUE

Mrs Zuzana BARBORIKOVA, Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration Section, Drieňová 22, 826 86 BRATISLAVA

Tél : + (421) 2 48592200; E-mail: [email protected]

SLOVENIA / SLOVENIE

Mrs Renata ZATLER, State Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration

Mr Roman LAVTAR, Ministry of Public Administration, Trzaska 21, 1000 LJUBLJANA,

Tel: + 386 1 4788541; Fax: + 386 1 4788649; E-mail: [email protected]

SPAIN / ESPAGNE

M. Juan Ignacio ROMERO SÁNCHEZ, Directeur Général, Direction Générale pour la coordination de compétences régionales et locales, Ministère des Finances et de l’Administration Publique

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Paqui SANTONJA, Special Adviser, Direction Générale pour la coordination de compétences régionales et locales, Ministère des Finances et de l’Administration Publique, MADRID

Tel: (34) 91 273 46 59; Fax: (34) 91 273 46 10; E-mail: [email protected]

SWEDEN / SUEDE

Mr Henrik KÄLLSBO, Deputy Director, Division for Local Government Affairs, Ministry of Finance, S - 103 33 STOCKHOLM

Tel: (46) 8 405 43 50; Fax: (46) 206 196; E-mail: [email protected]

SWITZERLAND / SUISSE

Mr Robert BAUMANN, Senior Advisor, Federal Office of Justice, Bundesrain 20, CH – 3003 BERNE

Tél : (41) 31 322 41 61 ; Fax : (41) 31 322 84 01 ;

E-mail : [email protected]

''THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA'' / "L'EX-REPUBLIQUE YOUGOSLAVE DE MACEDOINE"

Ms Gordana GAPIK-DIMITROVSKA, Head of Unit in the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, Skopje

Tel. +389 2 3200944; E-mail : [email protected]

TURKEY / TURQUIE

Mr Ali VURAL, Deputy to the Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Turkey to the Council of Europe, 23 Boulevard de l’Orangerie, 67000 STRASBOURG

Tel: (33) (0)3 88 36 50 94; E-mail: [email protected]

UKRAINE

Ms Inha VOYTSEKHOVSKA, Deputy Director for International Cooperation and Relations with International Organisations, Head of Division of Cooperation with the EU, Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine, 9, Velyka Zhytomyrska Str., 01601 KYIV

Tel: 38 044 207 18 95; Fax: 38 044 207 18 82; E-mail: [email protected]

UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State| House of Lords, Department for Communities & Local Government

4/NE, Fry – 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Ms Sharmila Meadows, Private Secretary/Lord Ahmad

Tel: + 44 (0)303 444 3488

Mr Paul Rowsell, Deputy Director, Democracy, Department for Communities and Local Government, 2^nd Floor NE Corner, Fry Building, 2 Marsham St

Tel: +44 (0)303 444 2568; Email: [email protected]

Mr Simon James, Deputy Director, Elections Division, Cabinet Office, 1 Horse Guards Road | London SW1A 2HQ

Tel +44 (0)20 7276 6761; Email: [email protected]

Mrs Hannah Brook, Democracy Division, Department for Communities and Local Government

2^nd Floor NE Corner, Fry Building, 2 Marsham St

Tel: +44 (0)303 444 1858; Email: [email protected]

Mrs Aisling Lyon, Democracy Division, Department for Communities and Local Government

2^nd Floor NE Corner, Fry Building, 2 Marsham St

Tel: +44 (0)303 444 1548; Email: [email protected]

PARTICIPANTS

CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONGRES DES POUVOIRS LOCAUX ET REGIONAUX DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

Mr Andreas KIEFER, Secretary General / Secrétaire Général

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 22 48; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 51;

E-mail: [email protected]

M. Jean-Philippe BOZOULS, Head of Department I – Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Local Authorities / Chef du Service I – Secrétaire exécutif de la Chambre des pouvoirs locaux

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.20.07; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.51;  E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Tim LISNEY, Deputy Secretary of the Chamber of Local Authorities / Secrétaire adjoint de la Chambre des pouvoirs locaux – Secretary of the Governance Committee / Secrétaire de la Commission de la gouvernance

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.35.73; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.51; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Nichola HOWSON, Co-secretary to the Governance Committee / Co-secrétaire de la Commission de la gouvernance

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.22.39; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.51; E-mail: [email protected]

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS / COUR EUROPEENNE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME

Mrs Rachael KONDAK

E-mail : [email protected]

CONFERENCE OF INGOS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONFERENCE DES OING DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

M. Thierry MATHIEU, Vice-Président de la Commission démocratie, cohésion sociale et enjeux mondiaux

E-mail : [email protected]

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS / COMMISSAIRE AUX DROITS DE L’HOMME

Apologised for absence / excusé

OTHER PARTICIPANTS / AUTRES PARTICIPANTS

HOLY-SEE / SAINT-SIEGE

M. Philippe TOUSSAINT, 67 allée de la Robertsau, 67000 STRASBOURG

Tel: (33) (0)6 52 20 38 63; E-mail: [email protected]

MEXICO / MEXIQUE

M. Santiago OÑATE LABORDE, Observateur Permanent, Représentation Permanente du Mexique auprès du Conseil de l’Europe, 8 boulevard du Président Edwards, 67000 Strasbourg

Tel: (33) (0) 3 88 24 07 72 / 26 81; E-mail: [email protected]

BENELUX UNION/UNION BENELUX

Apologised for absence / excusé

OBSERVERS / OBSERVATEURS

ASSEMBLY OF EUROPEAN REGIONS (AER) / ASSEMBLEE DES REGIONS D'EUROPE (ARE)

Mme Agnès CICCARONE, Directrice, Relations membres, Affaires institutionnelles et académiques, Assemblée des Régions d’Europe, 6 rue Oberlin, 67000 STRASBOURG

Tél : (33) (0)388 227 432 ; E-mail : [email protected]

Mme Andrea PRZYBYLA, Assistante de Mme Ciccarone, Assemblée des Régions d’Europe, 6 rue Oberlin, 67000 STRASBOURG

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD) / ORGANISATION DE COOPERATION ET DE DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUES (OCDE)

Apologised for absence / excusé

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS (CEMR) / CONSEIL DES COMMUNES ET REGIONS D’EUROPE (CCRE)

Apologised for absence / excusé

CONSULTANT EXPERT / EXPERT-CONSULTANT

Mr Daniele DEL BIANCO, Director of ISIG, Institute of International Sociology, via Mazzini 13, 34170 GORIZIA, Italy

E-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARIAT

Mrs Snežana SAMARDŽIĆ-MARKOVIĆ, Director General of Democracy (DG II) / Directrice Générale de la Démocratie (DG II)

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 22 36 ; E-mail : [email protected]

Ms Claudia LUCIANI, Director of Democratic Governance / Directrice de la gouvernance démocratique / Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 21 49 ; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 55;

E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Alfonso ZARDI, Head of Democratic Institutions and Governance Department / Chef du Service des institutions et de la gouvernance démocratiques - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 39 06; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Daniel POPESCU, Head of Good Governance Division / Chef de la Division de la bonne gouvernance - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 36 08; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Theo WELS - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 53 04 ; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mme Isabelle ETTER - Secretariat / Secrétariat

APPENDIX II

AGENDA

APPENDIX III

PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCE

Slovenia

Ms Renata ZATLER (State Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Slovenia) gave a presentation of the Strategy for Further Development of the Slovenian Public Administration, outlining the guiding principles and objectives of the major ongoing reform to make public administration more effective and the economy more competitive. The reforms seek to streamline public administration increase efficiency and effectiveness as well as to improve the quality of the services delivered.

Key elements of the Strategy include the consultation and active involvement of target groups comprising business, citizens and civil servants.

She also elaborated on specific measures to improve the regulatory environment for businesses and citizens, to increase and improve transparency and accountability and to strengthen public participation and trust as well as to cut red tape.

Spain

Mr. Juan Ignacio ROMERO SÁNCHEZ (Director General, Coordination with Autonomous Communities and Local Entities Competences, Ministry of Finance and Public Administration, Spain) made a comprehensive presentation of the most recent reforms of public administration, public finance and the relationship between the State and regional and local authorities.

The reforms, which had already contributed to addressing a number of economic and financial issues, seek to ensure budgetary stability and financial sustainability in terms of public finances, the structure of public administration and the role of civil service as well as to establish trust and confidence in the Spanish economy and to meet and consolidate its commitments to the EU.

The range of legal instruments adopted included amendments to Article 135 of the Constitution, introducing the concept of “budget stability” and the absolute priority of debt and interest repayment, requiring a balanced budget at both the national and regional level by 2020 and linking the total debt for all public administrations.

Associated measures include early warning mechanisms at national, regional and local level on the side of public finance and indebtedness and allow for corrective action. In addition to setting up two major funds to manage public debt, additional, voluntary, follow-up measures were introduced to assist regional and local authorities in managing their financial situation. These include specific financial plans and mechanisms allowing the state to fund local and regional payment schemes as well as an independent supervisory organism to ensure compliance while respecting local autonomy.

In parallel, public administration reforms at the national level as well as that of the autonomous regions and local authorities which also seek to enhance transparency and good governance, give particular importance to reducing or suppressing overlapping competences, rationalisation of the provision of public services and ressources working hand in hand with the private and voluntary sector, as well as simplifying and improving the business environment.

United Kingdom

Lord AHMAD OF WIMBLEDON (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom) presented a number of UK developments aimed at promoting good democratic Governance by encouraging participation and community engagement on the basis of three key components: local empowerment, transparency and accountability.

In terms of local empowerment, he outlined the role of “localism” in the United Kingdom, i.e. devolution by the Government of powers, as well as freedoms and flexibilities, to a level that is as close as possible to the citizens and civil society concerned.

The recently launched ‘Northern Powerhouse’ initiative, focussing on the cities of the North, constitutes a further example within England of the devolution of powers to large conurbations. Recently agreed measures include major devolution of powers and local governance reforms to Greater Manchester combined authority that will further support business growth and skills, and will help to join up health and social care budgets. Alongside the devolution of more responsibilities, Greater Manchester will also have a directly elected mayor and stringent arrangements for holding the mayor to account.

Other measures that sought to increase community involvement and improve decision making at the local level concerned new Community Rights for citizens in four categories: the Right to Bid; the Right to Build; the Right to Challenge and new Neighbourhood Planning powers, effectively enabling local communities to play a greater role and influence decisions in shaping the areas in which they live.

In terms of accountability, vital for healthy democracy, new technologies should be embraced to bring councils closer to their communities, including to those people who do not usually attend council meetings.

Finally, referring to challenges such low levels of voter turn-out and participation as well as recent events such as the challenges for local democracy in Ukraine, he underlined the value of the Council of Europe and bodies such as the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform in developing positive democratic models and improving institutional capacity and performance.

APPENDIX IV

CDDG ADVICE ON THE PREPARATION OF

A REFERENCE TEXT ON DEMOCRACY

1.         The Committee of Ministers, in the Terms of Reference it adopted on 19-20 November 2013 for the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) has instructed the Committee to:

“on the basis of a comprehensive document by the Secretariat, advise the Committee of Ministers on the necessity, purpose, scope, feasibility and budgetary and workload implications of the preparation of a reference text bringing  together existing principles and standards of democracy, intended for programming purposes….”

2.         Having carefully considered the Secretariat’s Memorandum of 25 September 2014 on a possible reference text on democracy, and noted and considered the Secretary General's comments on a reference text in his Statutory Declaration of 16 September 2014 to the Ministers’ Deputies, the CDDG’s advice to the Committee of Ministers is as set out below.

Advice

3.         The CDDG takes note of the Secretary General's view that “it would be a useful exercise to go through a process of bringing the existing principles and standards of democracy together, reaffirming them in a single authoritative document, as a reference text on democracy”. The CDDG similarly takes note of the Secretary General’s comment that “such a text does not exist in any other organisation and it could be useful for many others as a book of reference”.

4.         Underpinning this position of the CDDG is the belief that it would be feasible to draw into a single document statements in existing Council of Europe documents which set out principles and standards of democracy. The Secretariat Memorandum provides some indication of how such an exercise might be approached, and the CDDG accepts that this could prove a practicable way forward.

 

5.         The CDDG nevertheless believes that such an exercise might not be straightforward, and that creating a reference text carries risks (for example, highlighting inconsistencies and incompatibilities between different texts, or providing an overly narrow understanding or definition of democracy). These risks, if realised, could lower the existing standards of democracy.

6.         As to the purpose of a reference text on democracy, the CDDG notes that its Terms of Reference envisages the document is to be used “for programming purposes”. The CDDG accepts that such a document could contribute to the internal decision-making and prioritisation within the Council of Europe. The CDDG also notes that the Secretary General envisages such a document as being potentially useful for many organisations “as a book of reference” and hence facilitate the upholding of democratic principles, and the CDDG also accepts that such a document could serve such a purpose. However, the CDDG recognises that a reference text which could under certain circumstances serve such beneficial purposes might on occasion risk being detrimental to the promotion of a modern and effective democracy.

7.         Accordingly, the CDDG considers that there is a balanced judgement to be made as to whether the clear usefulness of a reference text on democracy outweighs the risks the existence of such a text might pose. The CDDG is therefore clear that there is no unequivocal necessity for a reference text on democracy.

8.         The budgetary and workload implications of preparing a reference text with the scope and form that maximises its usefulness and minimises its risks are important factors to take into account. The CDDG believes that these implications are not insignificant, and considers that this task could not be undertaken by the CDDG without putting at risk other of its activities within the current Terms of Reference. However, the CDDG is clear that questions of prioritisation and the allocation of resources are not matters for it to consider, but are matters for the Committee of Ministers.

9.         The CDDG therefore advises the Committee of Ministers that decisions about whether or not it is appropriate now for the member states of the Council of Europe to embark on drawing up a reference text on democracy will involve reaching a balanced judgement which must be a matter for the Committee of Ministers. Further, the CDDG advises that in reaching this balanced judgement the Committee of Ministers should have regard to the following:

• A reference text on democracy, bringing the existing principles and standards of democracy together and reaffirming them in a single document could be useful for internal programming purposes and for facilitating the upholding of democratic principles across Europe and indeed more widely.

• There is no unequivocal necessity for such a text.

10.      Given these considerations, the CDDG advises the Committee of Ministers to ask the Secretariat of the Council of Europe to prepare a compendium of the most relevant existing documents in the area of democracy.

11.         Upon the agreement from the CDDG on which existing documents should be in the list, the Secretariat will (1) use this compendium for its own programming purposes; (2) make it available online on the web-site of the Council of Europe for the information purposes of European citizens.