Measures set out in the Utrecht Declaration

Propoals for action by the CDLR

In order to improve the effectiveness of our international co-operation, to review working methods and enhance communication channels at domestic level, so that:

(a)      relevant “line” ministries are informed about and if appropriate contribute to our work on local and regional democracy and colleagues responsible for foreign affairs are fully briefed about the local and regional democracy issues on the Committee of Ministers’ agenda in order that appropriate instructions can be given;

(b)      in our ministries, appropriate synergies are developed and parallelisms are avoided when we shall discuss issues related to local and regional democracy as members of international organisations and structures;

(c)      decisions by international organisations and structures contrary to the acquis of the Council of Europe in the field of local and regional democracy are avoided; 

(d)      in the various international organisations and structures of which our countries are members, a coherent approach is adopted and information between member States about possible implications before decisions are taken in these other fora is exchanged, as appropriate, in consultation with local and regional authorities;

In the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union

To invite the European Commission to share information with the Council of Europe on respective approaches to good governance and to make use of the Council of Europe’s know-how in the design of programmes and initiatives pertaining to local and regional democracy and good governance;

In order to enhance the visibility and transparency of our work

To encourage the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy to develop, in partnership with our respective ministries a comprehensive communication strategy at national and European level that enhances visibility and transparency, seizing the opportunities that modern information technologies provide;

In order to improve the capacity of the Council of Europe as a whole, we invite the Committee of Ministers

To speed up the modernisation of the budgetary process aiming at simplification, multi-annuality and devolution, and

To streamline the approach to co-operation with non-member states keeping in mind the core functions of the Council of Europe;

In order to give full effect to the Kiviniemi report

As concerns strong ownership by member States

To make greater use of the Council of Europe’s acquis, tools and services in the field of local and regional democracy and good governance;

To take the necessary steps to ensure that the priorities of the communication strategy are followed up at domestic level;

To designate from our respective ministries representatives of sufficient seniority and capacity – both in substance and working languages – to sit in the intergovernmental co-operation bodies, share information, enter into negotiations and make commitments, as the case may be;

To let our representatives to take on the function of rapporteur (adviser) in multi-lateral activities where their know-how of, and experience in national policies and intergovernmental co-operation alike can be put to fruition;

To consider favourably providing the additional resources necessary for hosting meetings of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy, its sub-committees and other events in our respective countries;

To step up the dialogue with our respective national delegations to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to ensure mutual awareness about issues and our positions;

To ensure that in our dialogue with national associations of local and regional authorities, the Council of Europe and its acquis and work are taken fully into account;

To give positive consideration to requests for the secondment of competent officials to the Council of Europe Secretariat and to facilitate the organisation by the Council of Europe of dedicated summer/winter schools for officials and representatives from local and regional government;

As concerns the efficient cooperation with other international players:

To ensure that the Council of Europe and its member States are kept informed of the work relevant to local and regional democracy, we undertake individually and with others in other international organisations and structures;

To promote, as members of other international organisations and structures to which we respectively belong, partnerships and co-operation between the Council of Europe and the OECD as concerns local and regional finance, the European Union as concerns Eurostat, its regional policy and its partnerships and initiatives, the OSCE and UNDP;

To make use of - and strongly encourage other actors in our respective member States, including our colleagues of foreign affairs, to make use of the Council of Europe’s experience and know-how – which includes the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform - when considering and designing assistance programmes in the field of local and regional democracy and good governance;

As concerns organisational flexibility and efficiency:

To enter into discussions with our respective colleagues of foreign affairs and the Committee of Ministers about introducing in the Council of Europe true multi-annual budgets and decentralisation of responsibilities in order that the best possible use be made of available resources for chosen priorities;

As concerns opening up:

To promote the involvement of civil society in the work of the Council of Europe in the field of local and regional democracy and good governance, particularly as it leads to concrete action at local level and to invite the Conference of INGOs to promote awareness about the procedures and structures for the involvement of NGOs;

To aim towards making the Council of Europe’ expertise available for use outside of its borders, once its performance in serving the needs of member States enables and allows it to do so.