Strasbourg, 31 March 2009 CDLR(2009)4
Item 5.2.4 of the agenda
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
WORKSHOPS ON REGIONAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
Secretariat Memorandum
prepared by the Directorate General of
Democracy and Political Affairs
Directorate of Democratic Institutions
Introduction
After having been adopted in its broad principles by the CDLR in 2007, and confirmed by the Committee in its meeting in June 2008, the method of “workshops” was put into practice for the first time in December 2008.
The first edition of the CDLR workshops on local and regional democracy, focussing on the topic of “The representation of European regions at national and European level”, took place on 1-2 December 2008 in Salzburg (Austria) at the invitation of the Land of Salzburg, host and organiser of the event (in its function as LR-GI member representing Austria). The provisional report of this first event was already presented to the CDLR at its meeting in December 2008. A more detailed report is still being prepared at the moment and will be presented, shortly before the CDLR meeting, as an Addendum to this document.
At the beginning of 2009 the preparatory work started for CDLR workshop II on the topic “Regional Finance Adapted to Regional Competences: Assuring Coherence on a Long Term Basis” to take place on 11-12 May 2009 in St. Gallen/Switzerland. The draft programme in its version of 31 March 2009 as well as the entry form can be found in Appendices I and II respectively. Both documents are presented in English only to the Committee given that the working language of the Workshop will be English.
Action required
CDLR members are invited to take note of the information presented concerning
Workshop I and to express any comments or suggestions considered useful following the first edition of this new CDLR working method.
In case they are interested, delegations are again invited to register for this workshop by 17 April 2009 the latest (extended deadline), by means of the entry form appended (Appendix II), and by specifying the national developments that motivate their interest.
Any member state interested in organising a future workshop on a specific topic in 2009 or later is invited to contact the Secretariat at any time.
APPENDIX I
CDLR-Workshops on Local and Regional Democracy
Workshop II:
“Regional Finance Adapted to Regional Competences:
Assuring Coherence on a Long Term Basis”
11 – 12 May 2009
St. Gallen, Switzerland
Draft programme 31/03/2009
Monday, 11th May 2009 |
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Morning |
Arrival of participants Meeting Venue: Kantonsratssaal, Regierungsgebäude St.Gallen Meeting room of the Cantonal Council, Governmental Building St. Gallen |
13:00 hrs |
Registration and coffee, Ratsstübli |
13:30-14:45 |
Welcome and introduction |
13:30 hrs |
Welcome Canton of St.Gallen: Kathrin Hilber, Minister of Inner Affairs Council of Europe/CDLR Secretariat: Maren Lambrecht-Feigl, Administrator Swiss CDLR Delegation: Rolf Vorburger, Head of the department for international and federal affairs, Canton of St. Gallen |
14:00-14:45 hrs |
Prof. Dr. G. Kirchgässner, Schweizerisches Institut für Aussenwirtschaft und Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung - Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research (SIAW-HSG) Theoretical introduction to the topic: The distribution of competences and finances between different administration levels in the Swiss institutional System |
14:45-18:00 |
Focus on Switzerland |
14:45-15:15 hrs |
Rolf Vorburger, Canton of St.Gallen Role and responsibilities of cantons in the Swiss Federal State |
15:15-15:45 hrs |
Coffee Break, Ratsstübli |
15:45-16:30 hrs |
Karin Wittmer, Ministry of Finance, Canton of St.Gallen Financial federalims in practice |
16:30-17:00 hrs |
Representative of the Federal Finance Administration (tbc.) Operation of the financial equalisation system in the Swiss Federal State |
Monday, 11th May 2009 |
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… continued: |
Focus on Switzerland |
17:00-17:30 hrs |
Prof. Dr. Urs Müller, Director and Chief Economist, BAK Basel Economics The impact of financial federalism on regional economic performance Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) Financial federalism: the AER perspective |
17:30-18:00 hrs |
Discussion |
19:30 hrs |
Dinner hosted by Canton of St.Gallen Venue: Restaurant Schlössli |
Overnight stay in St.Gallen The list of pre-reserved hotels will be communicated to participants at the moment of registering to the workshop. |
Tuesday, 12th May 2009 |
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09:00-13:00 hrs |
Focus on different national situations, challenges and developments |
09:00-09:15 hrs |
Summary of the discussion of the first day |
09:15-09:45 hrs |
Roland Fischer, Federal Finance Administration Tax autonomy, financing (taxes vs. grants) and spending power of sub-central governments |
09:45-10:00 hrs |
Representative of the European Union (Mathias Brinkmann, Head of Unit, DG RELEX, European Commission, to be confirmed): Financial federalism as seen by the European Union |
10:00-10:15 hrs |
Nattalino Attard, Department for Local Government Office of the Prime Minister, Malta Focus on the national situation, challenges and developments of Malta (highlighting the differences between federal and unitary states as far as State-local government relationships are concerned)
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10:15-10:30 hrs |
Contribution by a Council of Europe member State Tbc |
10:30-10:45 hrs |
Contribution by a Council of Europe member State Tbc. |
10:45-11:00 hrs. |
Coffee Break, Ratsstübli |
11:00-11:15 hrs |
Bernd Semmelroggen, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (expert) Precise theme of intervention to be confirmed |
11:15-11:30 hrs |
Contribution by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) - Tbc. |
11:30-12:30 hrs |
Exchange of views and experiences, discussion |
Tuesday, 12th May 2009 |
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12:30 hrs |
Conclusions of the discussion |
12:45 hrs |
Summary and conclusion of the workshop |
13:00-16:00 |
Lunch and optional programme |
13:00 hrs |
Lunch hosted by Canton of St.Gallen Venue: Ratsstübli |
14:30 – 16:00 |
Guided tour of the old town of St.Gallen (optional) |
APPENDIX II
CDLR-Workshops on Local and Regional Democracy
Workshop II:
“Regional Finance Adapted to Regional Competences:
Assuring Coherence on a Long Term Basis”
11 – 12 May 2009
St. Gallen, Switzerland
Entry Form |
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Family name: |
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First name: |
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Title: |
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Institution, Organisation: |
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Postal address: |
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Telephone number: |
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E-mail address: |
Special interest in the workshop - Suggestions |
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We would be particularly interested in the following aspects of the topic |
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Our specific interest is based on the following national situation or developments |
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We would be ready to actively contribute to the workshop concerning the following specific issues |
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We would like to make the following further suggestions with regard to the workshop (specific aspects to hightlight, national experts possibly to associate etc.) |
For subscription to workshop II, please send this entry form by 17 April 2009 (extended deadline) to the following address (by email or fax):
Ms Marietta Germann
Department for International and Federal Affairs, Canton of St. Gallen
Phone: +41 71 229 75 03 / Fax: +41 71 229 39 55
E-mail: [email protected]