Strasbourg, 22 April 2014 CDDG(2014)11 FINAL
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE
(CDDG)
ABRIDGED REPORT OF THE 1st MEETING
3-4 April 2014
1. Opening of the meeting and adoption of the agenda
The meeting was opened by Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who welcomed the members of the new committee, which reinforced the Council of Europe's action in the field of democracy in line with the reform launched in 2011 that had already led to the reinforcement of the democracy pillar and the establishment of the Directorate General for Democracy.
He expressed satisfaction at the presence of senior political figures who had agreed to present their countries' experience (Sweden, Ireland) or their reform agenda (Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Albania), so as to share practices and benefit from a mutual pooling of experience.
The Secretary General stressed the importance of the task conferred upon the CDDG to give an opinion on a possible Reference Text on Democracy and informed the Committee that its report on the “State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe” would be presented to the 124th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 5-6 May 2014 in Vienna.
The Secretary General assured the committee that it had the Secretariat's support in carrying out its mandate and wished its members every success in their work.
The list of participants is set out in Appendix I.
The Committee approved the agenda for the meeting (Appendix II).
2. Promoting Democratic Governance through Shared Experience
• Public administration and modernisation reforms in member States
• Citizen participation and citizen engagement
• Promoting accountability and improving standards – developing local service provision while ensuring appropriate oversight
Discussions allowed for an exchange of experience in respect of recent and ongoing administrative reforms. They were structures around three main topics:
- Territorial reform, starting from information concerning on-going and finalised reforms in Ukraine (Mr Viacheslav NEHODA, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development), Armenia (Mr Vache TERTERYAN, First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration) and Albania (Mr Enea HOTI, Senior Advisor to the Minister for Local Issues);
- Participation of citizens, launched by the presentation given by the delegation of Sweden (Mr Oscar WÅGLUND SÖDERSTRÖM, State Secretary for EU, Consumer and Democracy Affairs);
- Administrative reforms aimed at bringing administration closer to citizens, started by the presentation given by the delegation of Ireland (Mr Phil HOGAN, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government).
Questions and comments from the floor were offered by several delegations and allowed for further exchange of in-depth information about the practices presented and their implications.
Following the debates which subsequently took place, the following issues were considered to be in need of further examination:
- Territorial reforms, including consolidation and amalgamation of local authorities;
- Participation of citizens in public life at all levels, in particular at the local and regional level, including in elections and decision-making at local, regional and national level;
- Relations between tiers of government, in particular institutional dialogue between them;
- Transfrontier co-operation.
A concise summary of the thematic debates that followed the presentations is given at Appendix III.
3. Enhancing cooperation, stimulating reflection and supporting reforms –The CDDG Peer Review
Delegations commented this new methodology mentioned in the Terms of Reference of the CDDG, enabling interested member States which envisage to undertake reforms to obtain tailor-made advice from colleagues from other governments with experience in the topic under review.
Delegations of Albania, Armenia, Finland and Republic of Moldova, which hosted such peer reviews in the last year, made very positive comments as to the usefulness of the process. Other delegations expressed their appreciation for this new method of sharing experience and good practice and their interest to be associated to the process, either as reviewers or as reviewees.
4. Assisting and supporting institutional reform – The Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform
4.1 Presentation of activity of the Centre
The main highlights of the Centre’s activity in 2013 were presented. Delegations expressed their satisfaction for the work of the Centre and the results thereof. The CDDG decided to appoint Mr Francesco Giustino (Italy) as its representative to the Advisory Board of the Centre.
4.2 Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level
The CDDG took note of the mandate it had been given by the Committee of Ministers to examine "ways of simplifying the tools and procedures used for the promotion of the twelve principles of good democratic governance at local level, as well as means to increase their visibility (…)" and agreed to instruct a working party made up of the following members: Mr Balthasar, Austria, Mr Philips, Belgium, Ms Dragova, Bulgaria, Mr Fauconnier, France, Ms Ulland Billing, Norway and Ms Brook, United Kingdom, to study this matter and to submit proposals to it at its second meeting.
A number of delegations called for a simplification of the procedures while preserving the Strategy, which constituted an excellent tool for promoting democratic governance at local level.
Norway informed the Committee that 10 of its municipalities had recently been recognised for their good governance under a procedure largely based on the Council of Europe Strategy. Bulgaria indicated that it intended to apply for renewal of the accreditation of its national stakeholder platform before the year end, as it wished to continue awarding the ELOGE label.
The Committee appointed Mr Philips, Belgium and Ms Ulland Billing, Norway, to sit on the Council of Europe Stakeholders’ Platform.
5. Defining Democratic Principles in the Council of Europe context – A Reference text on the existing principles and standards of democracy
The CDDG had an exchange of views on the terms of reference given by the Committee of Ministers to advise “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” and having regard to the complexity of the task and the deadline given to it, decided to entrust an open-ended working group composed of representatives of member states with preparing a reasoned draft opinion for examination and adoption by the CDDG at its next meeting.
It was understood that this work would be carried out on the basis of a comprehensive report to be prepared by the Secretariat. The delegations volunteered to participate in the working group: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Delegations from Greece, Hungary and Sweden expressed interest to participate subject to further confirmation. The Secretariat invited delegations which might also be interested to sit in the group to send a written request by 11 April 2014 at the latest (email: [email protected]). The members of the group (up to 20) will have their participation costs reimbursed. Any other member State could send a representative at its own expense. Other Council of Europe bodies (Parliamentary Assembly, Congress, and Venice Commission) would be invited to contribute to this work.
6.1 Elections of the Chair and Bureau
Since members wished to have sufficient time to get to know each other before electing a Bureau, the committee elected a provisional Chair, Mr Paul Rowsell, who oversaw the proceedings for the first half-day. At the end of the morning's work, the CDDG elected its Bureau as follows:
Chair: Mr Paul-Henri Philips (Belgium)
Vice-Chair: Mr Paul Rowsell (United Kingdom)
Members: Mr Alexander Balthasar (Austria), Mr Francesco Giustino (Italy), Ms Greta Ulland Billing (Norway), Ms Paqui Santonja (Spain) (for two years), and Ms Desislava Dragova (Bulgaria) (for one year).
The Committee also appointed Mr Edwin Lefebre (Belgium) and Ms Hannah Brook (United Kingdom) as rapporteurs for Gender Equality, and Ms Laurence Gindt (Belgium) as rapporteur for Children’s Rights.
6.2 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 an opinion on the recommendation on intercultural integration, it approved the provisional points set out in Appendix IV and agreed that members could have until 30 April 2014 to send proposed amendments to the Secretariat. The revised opinion would then be distributed for adoption under electronic procedure by 15 May.
In the case of Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2033 the CDGG adopted the opinion in Appendix V.
The Committee noted the Conference on European democracy (EuDEM) 2014 on “Multilevel governance – from local communities to a true European community” to be held on 5-6 May 2014 in Strasbourg in the framework of the Austrian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
6.3 Information on other Council of Europe bodies
The Committee took note of the information in document CDDG(2014)8. The Committee was grateful to the Secretary General of the Congress for his presentation of the activities of the Congress including its latest session.
6.4 CDDG Work Programme
The Committee took note of document CDDG(2014)9 and agreed that it would be updated based on the progress of its work. Regarding the "Structure and operation" reports (see item 1.3), it welcomed the fact that certain states were already using the new format, but wished to have a framework enabling states to communicate quickly and effectively on the reforms they were implementing. The Secretariat was asked to make proposals which would first be examined by the Bureau, before possibly being presented to the CDDG.
6.5 Preparation of forthcoming meetings
The second meeting of the CDDG will be held on 17-18 November 2014.
6.6 Recent development in member States
The delegations of Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom presented recent developments concerning local government and public administration reforms or events which took place or are planned in their countries.
The CDDG recommended that presentations be sent to the Secretariat for publication on the CDDG website (www.coe.int/local).
6.7 Requests for observer status
The Committee unanimously granted observer status to the Assembly of European Regions and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.
6.8 Any other business
None.
6.9 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
Mr Enea HOTI, Senior Advisor to the Minister for Local Issues, Prime Minister’s Office, Bulevardi Dehmoret e Kombit, TIRANA
Tel: (355) 4 2277561; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
ARMENIA / ARMENIE
Mr Vache TERTERYAN, First Deputy Minister of 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]
Mr Stefan UMNIG, Federal Ministry of the Interior – III/7, Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 169, A - 1030 WIEN
Tel: (43) 1 53126 5385 ; Fax: (43) 1 53126 3492; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Stefan GÖLLER, Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department 27, European Affairs, Schlesingerplatz 2, A – 1082 WIEN
Tel: (43) 1 4000 27045 ; Fax: (43) 1 4000 7215; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Alexander WOLFSCHWENGER, Austrian Institute for European Law and Policy, Mönchsberg 2a, 5020 SALZBURG
Mob: +43 664 4488110;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
Mme Annie BIEFNOT-VANBOTERDAL, Expert auprès du Ministre des pouvoirs locaux de Wallonie, 4 rue du Moulin de Meuse, 5000 NAMUR
cel-phone : (32) 475 46 79 38 ; E-mail: [email protected]
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 43 04; 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
Mr Boris MILOSEVIC, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Public Administration, Maksimirska 63, 10000 ZAGREB
E-mail: [email protected]
CZECH REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE
Ms Jana RÁZGOVÁ, International Relations Expert, Department for International Relations and the EU, Ministry of Interior, Jindřišská 34, 110 00 Praha 1
Tel. + 420 974 818 687; Fax: + 420 974 818 841; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Petr FEJTEK, Department for Public Administration and eGovernment, 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]
Mr Arto LUHTALA, Ministerial Councelor, Department for Municipal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, PO Box 28, FIN – 00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: (358) 40 830 9194; E-mail: [email protected]
FRANCE
M. Thomas FAUCONNIER, Chef du Bureau des structures territoriales, Direction Générale des Collectivités locales, Ministère de l'Intérieur, 1 bis, place des Saussaies, F - 75800 PARIS
Tel: (33) 01 40 07 23 08 ; 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
Mr Georgios CHRYSAFIS, Directorate of Organisation and Functionning of Local Government, Mnistry of the Interior, 27, Stadiou Str., 10183 Athens
E-mail: [email protected]
HUNGARY / HONGRIE
Ms Nikolett GAÁL, International Relations Desk Officer, Department of Cross-Border Cooperation for Territorial Public Administration, Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, Kossuth Square 2-4, 1055 – BUDAPEST
Tel: +361 795 6252; Email: [email protected]
IRELAND / IRLANDE
Mr Phil HOGAN, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
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 Liene KIRSTAPSONE, Director of the Local Government Department, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Peldu street 25, LV – 1494 RIGA
Tel : (371) 26675513; 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
Mr Paulius SKARDŽIUS, Director of Public Governance Policy Department, Ministry of the Interior, Šventaragio Str. 2, LT - 01510 VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
Tel: (370) 5 271 7071; Fax: (370) 5 271 8915; E-mail: [email protected]
LUXEMBOURG / LUXEMBOURG
Ms Roberta SPOTO, Trainee, Permanent Representation, 65, allée de la Robertsau - 67000 Strasbourg
Tel: (33) 6 73 96 56 81; E-mail : [email protected]
MALTA / MALTE
Apologised for absence / excusé
REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA / REPUBLIQUE DE MOLDOVA
Mr Serghei PALIHOVICI, Deputy Secretary General of the Government, CHISINAU
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Mr Victor LAPUSNEANU, Adjoint au Représentant Permanent, 16 allée Spach, 67000 STRASBOURG
Tel : (33) 3 88 36 55 64 ; E-mail : [email protected]
MONACO
Gabriel REVEL, Adjoint au Représentant Permanent de Monaco auprès du Conseil de l'Europe
Tél.: 03 90 22 97 50 ; E-mail: [email protected]
MONTENEGRO
Mrs Tanja OSTOJIĆ, Head of Section for planning, programming and implementation of the projects, Directorate for International Cooperation and European Integration, Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog 22, 81000 PODGORICA
Tel: (382) 20 203 295; Fax: (382) 20 242 416; Mobile: (382) 67 189 290;
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]
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 Cooperation with Local Self-Government Units, Ministry of Administration and Digitalisation, WARSAW
Tel: + 48 22 245 59 04 ; E-mail: [email protected]
RUSSIAN FEDERATION / FEDERATION DE RUSSIE
Mr Andrey KARBOVSKIY, Deputy to the Permanent Representative, 75 allée de la Robertsau, 67000 STRASBOURG
Tel: (33) 3 88 24 20 15; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Dmitry RYKOVSKOV, Deputy to the Permanent Representative, 75 allée de la Robertsau, 67000 STRASBOURG
Tel: (33) 3 88 24 20 15; E-mail: [email protected]
SAN MARINO / SAINT-MARIN
Apologised for absence / excusé
SERBIA / SERBIE
Ms Ljiljana VELICKOVIC TOMIC, Adviser, Ministry of Justice and Public Administration
Tel: + 381 11 2686 786; E-mail: [email protected]
SLOVAK REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE SLOVAQUE
Mrs Zuzana BARBORIKOVA, Ministry of the Interior, Drieňová 22, 826 86 BRATISLAVA
Tél : + (421) 2 48592200; E-mail: [email protected]
SLOVENIA / SLOVENIE
Mr Roman LAVTAR, Ministry of Interior, Trzaska 21, 1000 LJUBLJANA, Slovenia
Tel: + 386 1 4788541; Fax: + 386 1 4788649; E-mail: [email protected]
SPAIN / ESPAGNE
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 Oscar WÅGLUND SÖDERSTRÖM, State Secretary for EU, Consumer and Democracy Affairs, Office of the Swedish Prime Minister
Mr Daniel LINDVALL, Deputy Director, Division for Democratic issues, Ministry of Justice, S-103 33 STOCKOHLM
E-mail : [email protected]
Mrs Klara CEDERLUND, Director, Division for Local Government Affairs, Ministry of Finance, S - 103 33 STOCKHOLM
E-mail: [email protected]
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
Dr Robert BAUMANN, Responsable du Service du Fédéralisme/Responsible for the Service of Federalism, Office fédéral de la Justice, Bundesrain 20, CH – 3003 BERNE
Tél : (41) 31 322 41 61 ; Fax : (41) 31 322 84 01 ;
E-mail : [email protected]
TURKEY / TURQUIE
Mr Ilker HAKTANKACMAZ, Head of Foreign Relations Department, General Directorate for Local Authorities, Ministry of the interior, Devlet Mahallesi Inönü Bulvari No. 4 Bakanliklar – 06644 ANKARA
Tel: +90 312 419 07 81; Fax: +90 312 425 17 91;
E-mail: [email protected]
UKRAINE
Mr Viacheslav NEHODA, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development
Ms Svitlana PEREVERTEN, Deputy to the Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe
Tel: 03 88 61 44 51; E-mail: [email protected]
UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI
Mr Paul ROWSELL, Deputy Director, Democracy, Department for Communities and Local Government, 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB
Tel: (44) 303 44 42568; E-mail: [email protected]
Ms Hannah BROOK, Democracy Division, Department for Communities and Local Government, Zone 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU
Tel: (44) 303 4441858; E-mail: [email protected]
PARTICIPANTS
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY / ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE
Mme Nunzia CATALFO, member of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Mrs Maren LAMBRECHT-FEIGL, Secretary to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Tel: (33) 3 90 21 47 78; Fax: (33) 3 90 21 56 49; E-mail: [email protected]
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]
CONFERENCE OF INGOS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONFERENCE DES OING DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE
Mrs Annelise OESCHGER, Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Conference of INGOs, Présidente de la Commission droits de l’homme de la Conférence des OING
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Jan Robert SUESSER, Vice-President of the European Civic Forum, Vice-président du Forum civique européen
E-mail: [email protected]
COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS / COMMISSAIRE AUX DROITS DE L’HOMME
Apologised for absence / excusé
VENICE COMMISSION / COMMISSION DE VENISE
Ms Artemiza-Tatiana CHISCA, Head of Division, Democratic Institutions and Fundamental Rights
Tel: (33) 3 88 41 30 02; E-mail: [email protected]
OTHER PARTICIPANTS / AUTRES PARTICIPANTS
HOLY-SEE / SAINT-SIEGE
Professeur Thierry RAMBAUD, Professeur des Universités, 2 rue Le Nôtre, 67000 STRASBOURG
Tel: (33) (0)3 88 35 02 44; E-mail: [email protected]
BENELUX UNION/UNION BENELUX
Apologised for absence / excusé
OBSERVERS / OBSERVATEURS
OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (ODIHR) / BUREAU DES INSTITUTIONS DEMOCRATIQUES ET DES DROITS DE L'HOMME
Apologised for absence / excusé
SECRETARIAT
Mr Thorbjørn JAGLAND, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
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]
Ms Severina SPASSOVA, Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 75; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Alessandro SAVARIS, Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 52 30; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;
E-mail: [email protected]
Ms Olga SHEVCHUK, Junior Programme Manager for the Council of Europe Programme in Ukraine, vul. Illinska, 8, 04070 KYIV
Tel: (38)044 303 99 16; E-mail: [email protected]
Mme Isabelle ETTER - Secretariat / Secrétariat
Melle Manon BRANDNER – Trainee / Stagiaire
APPENDIX II
ANNOTATED AGENDA
The European Committee on Democracy and Governance is responsible for overseeing the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental work in the field of democratic governance.
1. Opening of the meeting
The meeting will be opened by Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2. Promoting Democratic Governance through Shared Experience
[CDDG(2014)1]
To achieve its aims, the CDDG will share information, disseminate best practice and develop, as appropriate, proposals for possible standards in its field of work. Exchanges will be structured around presentations by senior national experts on key topics of relevance to the Committee with a view to developing a compilation of best practice and guidelines emanating from initiatives in member States.
· Public administration and modernisation reforms in member States
Modernising democratic institutions, increasing efficiency in service provision, changing demographics or fiscal pressures are among the key drivers for the current wave of public administration reform in member States. Through presentations and debate led by member States, the CDDG will share experience and identify good practice.
· Citizen participation and citizen engagement
Problems of citizen disengagement and falling electoral participation are growing across Europe, the challenge facing member States is how to reconnect with citizens. The debate will focus on initiatives to strengthen citizen engagement and promote participation including through e-democracy and e-government.
· Promoting accountability and improving standards – developing local service provision while ensuring appropriate oversight
Citizens’ demands for greater transparency, efficiency and accountability; finding the right balance of powers and functions between tiers of government; defining the role of elected bodies and agencies; rationalisation and amalgamation of service providers. The exchanges should serve to identify common problems and offer shared solutions, fostering a stronger resolve to share lessons and learn from each other.
3. Enhancing cooperation, stimulating reflection and supporting reforms –The CDDG Peer Review
[CDDG(2014)2]
The Peer Review process, now included in the ToR of the CDDG, enables interested member States preparing public administration reforms to request advice and expertise from peers on specific issues related to the field of work of the committee
4. Assisting and supporting institutional reform – The Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform
The Centre is the operational arm of the CoE in the field of multi-level governance, supporting central, regional and local authorities to improve their institutional capacity and performance in delivering services and exercising public authority
· Presentation of activity of the Centre
[CDDG(2014)3]
à Legal assistance / capacity-building programmes 2013 / 2014
· Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level
[CDDG(2014)4]
à Examine ways of simplifying the tools and procedures used for the promotion of the twelve principles of good democratic governance at local level, as well as means to increase their visibility
5. Defining Democratic Principles in the Council of Europe context – A Reference text on the existing principles and standards of democracy
The Committee of Ministers has tasked the CDDG with advising on the necessity, purpose, scope, feasibility and budgetary and workload implications of preparing a draft reference text on the existing principles and standards of democracy.
· Discussion of working methods to prepare a response to the Committee of Ministers based on stocktaking paper prepared by Secretariat.
[CDDG(2014)5]
6. Other Agenda Items
· Election of the Chair and Bureau
[CDDG(2014)6]
· Consideration by the Committee of Ministers of issues relating to the work of the CDDG
[CDDG(2014)7]
à Decisions by the Committee of Ministers
à Other Developments
· Information on other Council of Europe bodies
[CDDG(2014)8]
· CDDG Work Programme
[CDDG(2014)9]
· Preparation of forthcoming meetings
· Recent developments in member States
· Any other business
· Adoption of the abridged meeting report
[CDDG(2014)10]
APPENDIX III
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE ON
RECENT AND ONGOING ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS
Ireland – A new era of local government
Minister Phil Hogan introduced the “historical and radical reform of local government” that will come into effect on 1 June 2014 in Ireland. It aims at delivering greater subsidiarity, reorganising structures and assuring better representational balance, which will enhance democratic governance and revive the local economic, social and community development.
The main changes concern the reduction of the number of local government structures by 65 % and the introduction of a new model of municipal governance. The merger of a number of city and county councils as well as the dissolution of 80 town councils and other subsidiary bodies will rationalise local structures and eliminate some anomalies. New municipal districts will unite towns and their hinterlands. Elected municipal representatives will have a devolved decision making capacity at district level over a range of public matters (economic development and enterprise support, planning, housing, water, roads, fire and emergency, community development, parks and recreation, and libraries), which will go together with an adequate accountability.
Local stakeholders, including representatives of civil society, will be further engaged in new Local Community Development Committees. Local Enterprise Offices will be established to provide support and access to services for micro-enterprise and small business sector. Strategic Policy Committees for Economic Development and Enterprise Support will be established at local level. Oversight of local authority performance will be ensured through a National Oversight and Audit Commission for Local Government. Rationalisation of regional structures will ensure a coherent and collaborative approach to economic development in the framework of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
This reform is taking place within the context of a more wide-reaching reform of the public service in Ireland which has already delivered expenditure savings of over €830 million and staff reductions of 26% since 2008.
The presentation elicited great interest from numerous delegations some of which (Albania, Armenia) thanked Ireland for sharing its experience through the “peer review” mechanism. Questions centered on the resources of local authorities after the reform, fiscal discipline at local level (for member States of the Eurozone), citizen participation in the reform process and accountability of local government structures.
Sweden - A policy for a living democracy
State Secretary Oscar Söderström presented the specific areas that the government intend to address in the coming years, as identified in the communication “A policy for a living democracy”, which was adopted in December 2013 and transmitted to the parliament.
While the legitimacy of the democratic system depends on the citizen participation in elections as well as in political life, the turnout in elections and the political involvement in parties have declined over the years. Despite the 85% turnout in 2010, certain groups in society, in particular young people, foreign citizens and voters with a lower level of education vote less than others. Although the use of Internet and social media for political activities has increased in recent years, the main political parties have been progressively losing of their members.
The Government will appoint in spring 2014 a committee of inquiry on democratic participation and influence to propose measures and incentives to further involve citizens in elections and policy making.
A threat for democracy might be the lack of awareness about the fundamental rules and principles of democracy and citizens’ political and other rights. A major challenge that Europe is facing today is the rise of political extremism and violence.
Two years ago, the Swedish government adopted an action plan including a broad range of measures focusing on prevention and involving all relevant actors (schools, social services, law enforcement and civil society) to safeguard democracy against all forms of violent extremism. This action plan has been drawn on experience from other European countries (Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom). A national coordinator will be tasked to support and train public institutions such as schools, social services and municipalities, in methods to better preventing violent extremism.
Mr Söderström pointed out that European citizens are losing faith in democracy and institutions, particularly in societies suffering the most from the economic crisis and unemployment. He underlined that safeguarding and strengthening democracy require close cooperation among European countries and the CDDG may contribute to this aim.
The presentation by Mr. Oscar Söderström elicited a lively debate on issues such as citizen participation in public life, participation in election as candidates and voters, rise or decline in political parties’ membership, citizens’ trust in elected representatives, ideological extremism and inclusiveness of society.
Ukraine – Reform of the system of local self-government
First Deputy Minister for Regional Development and Municipal Economy Vyacheslav Negoda introduced the administrative reform started in Ukraine with the approval by the government on 1 April 2014 of the Concept of Reform of Local Self-Government and Territorial Organisation.
Efficient local self-government system will be ensured through the reduction of the number of administrative units at the municipal and the district levels and an optimum distribution of competences, resources and responsibilities between reformed local self-government bodies and new executive authorities created at the sub-regional and regional levels. The territorial consolidation will first be tested on a pilot basis in a limited number of rayons.
The reform will ensure provision of high-quality accessible public services to citizens, meet citizens’ interest in all spheres of life of the relevant territory and coordinate the interests of the state and those of territorial communities. It will also bring Ukrainian legislation in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government and other Council of Europe’s standards.
The Concept will be implemented in two stages. During the first stage (2014), a legal framework for voluntary amalgamation and cooperation of territorial communities as well as a legal base of a new administrative and territorial system will be created. The Constitution of Ukraine will be amended as regards the creation and functioning of executive bodies at the regional and the sub-regional levels. During the second stage (2015-2017), the provision of public services to the citizens will be unified and standardized, local elections will be held and the new relationship between local authorities and executive bodies will become effective.
Mr Negoda thanked the Council of Europe for its unrelenting support to local government reform and assured that further assistance would be highly appreciated as well as Council of Europe’s instruments and tools would be used as a source of inspiration.
Delegations expressed support for the reforms and stressed the importance of making progress in parallel between devolution of competences and availability of adequate resources. Questions concerned the measures envisaged to increase the tax base for local authorities, the voluntary amalgamation of municipalities and inter-municipal cooperation, the relationship between local authorities and the new executive bodies at the sub-regional and regional levels, and the capacity of local authorities to absorb the reforms and deliver the new competences that will be entrusted upon them.
First Vice-Minister of Territorial Administration of Armenia Vache Terteryan presented the territorial reform that the government is currently experimenting on the basis of voluntary municipal amalgamation. If successful, this experiment could be extended to the whole country. Administrative reform will follow territorial reform.
In Albania, a territorial and administrative reform has also been launched, explained Mr Enea Hoti, Senior advisor to the Minister for local issues. The country comprises over 320 municipalities whose capacity to deliver adequate services to citizens is seriously impaired. 90% of resources of local authorities come from the government. The reform aims at creating bigger municipalities on the basis of functional criteria (territory, population, service delivery). A citizen consultation process is ongoing before draft legislation on local competences and on local finance is presented to parliament.
Both speakers referred positively to the assistance received from the Council of Europe which included “peer reviews” and expected it to continue. The discussion enabled to exchange views on municipal amalgamation procedures, finding the right balance of resources to fund competences (local tax, state grants, shared tax) and citizen participation.
APPENDIX IV
Draft Recommendation CM/Rec(2013)… of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on intercultural integration
Proposed comments by the CDDG
1. This draft recommendation concerns the guide “The intercultural city step by step: Practical guide for applying the urban model of intercultural integration” and its implementation at the local level in Member States.
2. The Committee recalls the “importance of creating spaces for cross-cultural exchange and debate, facilitating access to and exercise of citizenship and fostering intercultural competence, particularly at a local level.”
3. It also notes the Recommendation 261(2009) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities which points that successful inclusive intercultural cities demonstrate a capacity for innovation and are able “to increase city’s attractiveness and to bring new investments and job opportunities”.
4. The CDDG welcomes the draft recommendation and notes the importance of inclusive intercultural integration in promoting citizen participation at a local level.
5. The CDDG notes that, even if intercultural integration is extremely important within the cities, it should however be implemented all over the country and include, for instance, rural areas.
6. The CDDG would like to recall key texts prepared by the CDLR and adopted or promoted by the Committee of Ministers such as the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, Recommendation (2001)19 on the participation of citizens in local public life, Recommendation (2005)3 on teaching neighbouring languages in border regions and the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level and its 12 European Principles of Good Democratic Governance.
7. These texts could be usefully referred to in the recommendation and/or in the Guide.
8. Given that the terms of reference of the CDDG task it with sharing information about policy and best practice and developing, where appropriate, possible standards related, inter alia, citizens’ democratic participation, the CDDG would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the dissemination and implementation of the Guide, should the Committee of Ministers so decide.
APPENDIX V
Comments by the CDDG on
Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2033(2014)
Internet and politics: the impact of new information and communication technology on democracy
1. On 12-13 February 2014, the Ministers’ Deputies communicated Recommendation 2033(2014) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) for information and possible comments by 18 April 2014. The CDDG is grateful to the Committee of Ministers for the opportunity given to provide comments.
2. The CDDG agrees with the Parliamentary Assembly’s view that new information and communication technologies have an impact on democracy, and that a European dimension should be included in measures to promote representative democracy in the internet age.
3. In this respect, it recalls that it has been entrusted by the Committee of Ministers with the task to share information about policy and best practice and to develop, where appropriate, possible standards related, inter alia, to strengthening democratic governance including e-governance and e-democracy.
4. At its first meeting on 3-4 April 2014, the CDDG engaged in in-depth exchanges of views on such issues as territorial reform and decentralisation policies, civic participation and administrative reforms aiming at bringing administration closer to citizens. Debates were introduced and animated by Ministers and Secretaries of State from Armenia, Ireland, Sweden and Ukraine. There were also other presentations including by the Albanian and Moldovan delegations. The discussions showed the relevance of the Council of Europe as a forum where member States can discuss issues of democracy and governance.
5. The CDDG notes the proposal of the Parliamentary Assembly to launch a “Council of Europe White Paper on Democracy, politics and the Internet”.
6. The Committee recalls that the Committee of Ministers has given it responsibilities to advise “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”.
7. This opinion will be delivered by the end of 2014, as requested by the Committee of Ministers.
8. Accordingly the CDDG is of the opinion that as any reference text would be intended primarily for programming purposes and thus have a bearing on any such White Paper process, it might be advisable for the Committee of Ministers to await this advice and their decision in relation to any reference text before taking a decision on the possible launching of a White Paper process.