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Strasbourg, 28 September 2009                                          CDLR(2009)56 Addendum I

                                                                                                                       

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)

DRAFT AGENDA AND DRAFT PROGRAMME

OF THE 16TH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

(UTRECHT, 16-17 NOVEMBER 2009)


DRAFT AGENDA FOR THE 16th SESSION

(UTRECHT, 16-17 NOVEMBER 2009)

Good local and regional governance in turbulent times:

the challenge of change

1.

Opening of the 16th Session

2.

Adoption of the agenda

3.

Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference

4.

The Kiviniemi report: How to enhance the work of the Council of Europe in the field of local and regional democracy?

5.

Progress review:

-         Implementation of the Budapest Agenda by the Council of Europe and member States

-         Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance

-         European Local Democracy Week

-         Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

-         Co-operation programmes

6.

Exchange of views between the Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

7.

Debate on key topics:

-         Impact of the economic crisis on local and regional government: what policy responses by governments?

-         Transfrontier co-operation: the role of central government in removing obstacles

8.

Debate: What are the most important challenges governments face in local and regional democracy today?

9.

Vote by Ministers to determine the Utrecht Agenda

10.

Exchange of practice and experience on issues of local and regional democracy and good governance

Including: Report on developments on citizen participation in member states, covering also the integration of foreigners in local life

11.

Council of Europe Reference Framework for Regional Democracy

12.

Other business

13.

Adoption of the Utrecht Declaration and final resolution

14.

Closing of the Session


DRAFT PROGRAMME FOR THE 16th SESSION

(UTRECHT, 16-17 NOVEMBER 2009)

Good local and regional governance in turbulent times:

the challenge of change

Sunday 15 November 2009

Afternoon

Arrival of Ministers and other participants

17:00-18:30

Meeting of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR)

Venue: Jaarbeurs Congres Gebouw,

           Jaarbeursplein, Utrecht

19:00–22:30

Welcome reception and buffet dinner for Delegations hosted by the Province of Utrecht

Venue: National Museum from Musical Clock to Street Organ

           Steenweg 6, Utrecht

Dinner  hosted by the Queen’s Commissioner in the Province of Utrecht (Ministers only)

Fireside chat (Ministers only)

(topic to be specified)

Venue: Paushuis

           Kromme Nieuwegracht 49, Utrecht

Monday 16 November 2009

 

9:00-10:00

Venue: Jaarbeurs Congres Gebouw,

           Jaarbeursplein, Utrecht

Opening of the 16th session

- Statements:

-        Secretary General of the Council of Europe

-        Host Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

-        Chair of the Committee of Ministers

-        President of the Parliamentary Assembly

-        President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

-        Mayor of the City of Utrecht

-        Queen’s Commissioner of the Province of Utrecht

Adoption of the Agenda

Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference

10:00-12:15

(including a 30 minute break)

The Kiviniemi report: How to enhance the work of the Council of Europe in the field of local and regional democracy?

Introductory statement by Minister Mari Kiviniemi

Discussion


12:15-12:45

Progress review:

-         Implementation of the Budapest Agenda by the Council of Europe and member States

-         Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance

-         European Local Democracy Week

-         Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

-         Co-operation programmes

12.45-12.55

Photograph


Monday 16 November 2009

12:55–14:30

Luncheon hosted by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for ministers / heads of delegation, delegations from Congress and Parliamentary Assembly, with an Exchange of views between the Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Luncheon for other participants hosted by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations

14:30-16:15

Topical debates:

-         Impact of the economic crisis on local and regional government: what policy responses by governments?

-         Transfrontier co-operation: the role of central government in removing obstacles

16:15-16:45

Break

16:45 -17:30

Debate on the Utrecht Agenda: What are the most important challenges governments face in local and regional democracy today?

17:30-18:00

Vote to determine the Utrecht Agenda (2010-2013)

18:00-19:00

Meeting of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR)

(NB: amendments to the draft Utrecht Declaration will be decided upon by the Ministers themselves on the second day).

19:30–19:45

19:45-20:30

20:30

Venue: Railway Museum

Maliebaanstation, Utrecht

Ceremony of opening for signature of:

-        The Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self- Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority and

-        Protocol No. 3 to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier
Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities concerning Euroregional Co-operation Groupings (ECGs)

Cocktail offered by the Mayor of the City of Utrecht

Dinner hosted by the Mayor of the City of Utrecht


Tuesday 17 November 2009

9:00-9:30

Venue: Jaarbeurs Congres Gebouw,

          Jaarbeursplein, Utrecht

The Council of Europe Reference Framework for Regional Democracy

9:30-10:45

Discussion of the draft for the Utrecht Declaration and the draft Final Resolution

10:45 – 11:15

Break

11:15-12:30

Exchange of practice and experience on issues of local and regional democracy and good governance

Including: Discussion of the Report on developments on citizen participation in member states, covering also the integration of foreigners in local life

12:30-13:00

Adoption of the Utrecht Declaration

Adoption of the Final Resolution

Other business

Closing of the 16th Session

13:00

Press conference by the host Ministers and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

13:00-14:30

Buffet lunch offered by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations

Afternoon

Departure of Ministers and other participants

Optional events:

1.      Geldmuseum & Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt / Money Museum & Royal Dutch Mint

2.      Utrecht and the Dutch Gaming Industry

3.      Theatrical Utrecht Canal Tour

4.      Peace of Utrecht and Domsquare – Origin of the City Tour