Strasbourg, 9 March 2010                                                           CDLR(2010)18 Final

                                                                                                                       

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)

ABRIDGED REPORT OF THE 45th MEETING

1 – 2 March 2010

1.        Opening of the meeting

The European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR) met from 1 to 2 March 2010. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Vyacheslav TOLKOVANOV(Ukraine).

The list of participants appears at Appendix 1.

2.        Adoption of the agenda

The agenda as adopted appears at Appendix 2.

3.        Bureau of the CDLR

The CDLR took note of the reports of the CDLR Bureau meeting held on 25 January 2010.

4.        Decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers concerning the CDLR

The CDLR reviewed and took note of the decisions of the Committee of Ministers concerning the CDLR, as set out in document CDLR(2010)1. It examined and adopted its comments on the Congress Recommendations 270, 274, 278(2009), Recommendations 273, 276, 279(2009) not leading to any specific observation on its part (Appendix 3).

The Committee warmly welcomed and supported the proposals by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, as regards the future reform process of the Organisation which aims at enhancing its political role and consolidating its action in Europe. It considered that they dovetail in with those proposed by Mrs Kiviniemi in her report to the Ministerial Conference. The CDLR invited the Secretary General to include them in his approach.  

5.            Activities on legal framework and institutional structure

The Committee took note of the LR-IC Committee’s report of the meeting held on 12-13 October 2009 (LR-IC(2009)16).

6.            Activities on local and regional finance and public services

The Committee took note of the LR-FS Committee’s report of the meeting held on 10-11 December 2009 (LR-FS(2010)11).

The Secretariat presented the outcome of the workshop held in Reykjavik, on 22 January 2010, in co-operation with the Icelandic Ministry of Transport, Communication and Local Government and the Icelandic Association of Local authorities, on the theme “Local Authorities’ Fiscal Rules and Finances – coordinating central and local economic policy”. The representative from Iceland, Mr Hermann Sæmundsson, thanked the Secretariat, the experts and CDLR members having participated, he assessed the workshop as a very successful and much appreciated one. 

7.         Follow-up to the 16^th Session of the Ministerial Conference

7.1.1   Implementation of the Utrecht Agenda

After an in-depth review during which all the proposed activities were examined and agreed upon, the CDLR adopted its programme of activities 2010-2013, as instructed by Ministers in Utrecht. In doing so, it took care to reflect the priority that Ministers had, through their voting at Utrecht, given to the challenges and to identify outputs that meet the highest level of support.

The Committee first discussed the document in general and then reviewed it point by point. The document included the activities stemming directly from the Utrecht Declaration and activities proposed by member states in the replies to the questionnaire, supplemented with proposals by the Bureau.

In relation to the first challenge identified in Utrecht, the Committee decided reflecting the Utrecht Declaration to organise the Evaluation conference on the financial crisis in co-operation with the LGI Budapest on the 11-12 (morning) October 2010, prior to the CDLR meeting. The OECD, World Bank, CEMR and the Assembly of European Regions were identified as the major partners in, or contributors to the activities planned to address the challenge of monitoring and responding to the financial crisis.

The Committee reviewed all the activities listed in the document, and defined the objectives, impact, time-frame, and sub-committees responsible for the implementation of the activities. It agreed to use the framework document to describe and monitor the implementation of the activities, adding a column on communication to each activity.

As part of measures set out in the Utrecht Declaration to achieve strong ownership by member states, CDLR members considered the opportunity to take on the function of rapporteur (adviser) for activities. Members were thus encouraged to propose themselves as a rapporteur for activities in which their country has a particular interest and they themselves have know-how and experience. The Committee agreed to set 12 March 2010 as the deadline within which members will identify activities in which they will nominate themselves as rapporteurs.

CDLR members also were encouraged to consider favourably hosting meetings of the CDLR, its sub-committees and other events in the respective countries.

The Committee considered the Parliamentary Assembly, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Conference of INGOS as main partners in all activities planned. It noted in particular the report being prepared by the Parliamentary Assembly on the impact of the financial crisis and agreed to seek ways to contributing to it.

The Committee instructed the Secretariat to finalise the programme of activities 2010-2013 with the input given by the CDLR members and draw up “terms of reference” for the rapporteurs.

7.1.2   Peer reviews

The CDLR took note of the information presented concerning the development of peer reviews as a new instrument for mutual learning between member States. The peer reviews, as part of the Utrecht Agenda, aims to enable member States to invite their peers from other countries to advise them on the particular issues they are dealing with.

With one change, the proposal for a CDLR peer review methodology was approved and the peer review adopted as a new approach that should be further encouraged in order to gain formal recognition within the Council of Europe.

The CDLR agreed to put this tool on test and invited member governments to start making use of it. Experience will then show whether the whole process would need to be enhanced by some sort of official endorsement (by the CDLR, for instance) or could remain a genuine “peer-to-peer” exercise.

7.2      Implementation of the Utrecht Declaration II

7.2.1   Partnership between the Ministerial conference and the Committee of Ministers and other steps and measures

The Committee discussed this item on the basis of document CDLR(2010)14. The CDLR took note of the progress made so far in establishing a partnership between the Ministerial Conference and the Committee of Ministers. It noted that the modalities for Mrs Kiviniemi’s presence at the session still needed to be worked out. Members agreed that it was important for the furthering of the Utrecht Declaration and achieving the improved outcomes it envisaged that a decision to establish a partnership such as that proposed by the Ministers at Utrecht be taken at the ministerial session in May. The aim would be to finalise the detailed arrangements of such a partnership in time for the Session in May 2011.

It therefore agreed that all delegations, in as far as they have not already done so, will contact their permanent representations and Ministries of Foreign Affairs in order to inform them on the Utrecht Declaration and the partnership it proposes. 

Having regard to the decision of the Ministers’ Deputies to consider the inclusion of an item on the agenda of the ministerial session at one of their forthcoming meetings and in order to assist the Deputies with the preparation of the draft communiqué for the Ministerial Session, the CDLR agreed it would be useful to propose a initial draft text on this item for the Deputies to develop. As a starting point for the draft text to be proposed, the following text was suggested:

We the ministers of foreign affairs of the member States of the Council of Europe, sitting as the Committee of Ministers, welcome and accept the invitation of our colleagues responsible for local and regional government, extended at the 16th session of their conference in Utrecht on 16-17 November 2009, to establish a strategic partnership between the Committee of Ministers and their conference in order to enable it to own and lead the agenda of the Council of Europe in that policy area with a view to securing high quality outcomes. We therefore instruct our Deputies to work out in agreement with the representatives of the ministers responsible for local and regional government the arrangements for this partnership in order that we can adopt them at our next session (May 2011).

The CDLR invited all members to make by e-mail before 11 March any proposals for amendment of this text they might have. The Bureau was charged to finalise this text on behalf of the CDLR and to communicate it to all members, together with a briefing note.

The Committee also examined the list of other steps and measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration further to the Kiviniemi report. It agreed that this list should be discussed in each of the CDLR’s sub-committees, inviting them to make proposals for consideration by the Bureau. The Bureau was instructed, taking account of the proposals emanating from the CDLR sub-committees, to prepare concrete proposals for consideration and adoption by the CDLR at its meeting in October 2010.

7.2.2   Reviews and joint work involving the Congress

The Committee discussed this item on the basis of the letter sent to the CDLR by Mr Enrique Ojeda, Director General in the Ministry of Territorial Policies of Spain, on behalf of Minister Mr Manuel Chaves.

The Committee agreed that it would be crucial for the envisaged rapporteur to have the full confidence of Minister Chaves and that it would thus be appropriate for Minister Chaves to choose this rapporteur himself. The CDLR for its part agreed, with the agreement of the representatives of the Congress and the Parliamentary Assembly, on the establishment of an Advisory Group to assist the Rapporteur which would be composed as follows:

-      3 members from the Bureau of the CDLR,

-      3 members designated by the Congress,

-      1 member designated by the Parliamentary Assembly,

-      1 member designated by the Conference of International INGO’s,

-      1 member designated  by Minister Kiviniemi,

-      1 independent expert designated by the Bureau of CDLR.

7.3      Preparation of the 17th session of the Ministerial conference

The Committee noted that the 17th Session will be held during the Ukrainian presidency of the Committee of Ministers in autumn 2011 and that concrete dates will be proposed in the near future, taking account of the need for the CDLR to have enough time to prepare it.

It further agreed that the themes and agenda for the 17th Session will have to be established at the next meeting of the CDLR in October 2010. Several items for the agenda are already identified in the Utrecht Declaration, but further work will need to done. In that context the CDLR agreed to hold the review conference on the impact of the economic crisis on local government on 11 and 12 (morning) October 2010, just before the CDLR meeting (12-14 (morning) October). This would enable the results of this conference, which may also make proposals for new themes, to be taken fully into account.

More generally, the Bureau was charged to prepare proposals for the theme(s) and agenda for consideration by the CDLR at its meeting in October 2010. Members of the CDLR were invited to contact the Bureau and/or the Secretariat with any suggestions they might have in this regard

8.        Communication on the local and regional democracy

Because of lack of time (the CDLR having compressed its meeting to 1,5 days from the customary 3 days), the CDLR was not able to examine all the issues related to communication set out in document CDLR(2010)6. It agreed that ample time should be devoted to this important issue at its next meeting.

Meanwhile the CDLR agreed:

-      to appoint Mrs Greta Billing as the CDLR Rapporteur on Communication and Mr Paul Rowsell as co-rapporteur on behalf of the Bureau;

-      to adopt the checklist for Communication and to send it to the CDLR sub-committees for use when preparing their activities and to invite them to make any proposals for change they might deem desirable;

-      to take note and make use of the list of target groups and other aspects established by the informal brainstorming on 26 January 2010 and to instruct the CDLR sub-committees also to do so;

-      to instruct the Bureau to develop concrete proposals for the establishment of a communication network for consideration and adoption by the CDLR at its meeting in October 2010.

9.         Recent developments in member States in the field of local and regional democracy

The CDLR took note of the information provided on the High Level Meeting on Local and Regional Governance (Solna, Sweden, 8-9 October 2009) provided in document CDLR(2010)16 and presented by Mr Johan Höök (Sweden). It noted that the next meeting will be held in Brussels on 30 September/1 October 2010. The programme for the event will be sent to the CDLR Secretariat for transmission to all CDLR members.

The Committee also took note the programme of the Conference on “Democracy and decentralisation” to be held in St-Gallen (Switzerland) on 3-4 May 2010 as an event of the Swiss Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. It also noted that all members of the CDLR will receive an invitation to attend this event (at their own expense). To this aim, the Secretariat was asked to see with the Swiss Chairmanship about a possible institutional representation of the CDLR.

The representatives of Georgia, Finland and Malta informed the Committee on recent developments in their respective countries. The Georgian delegation draw in particular the attention on the organisation of an International Conference on Local and Regional Development in the light of Contemporary Challenges which will be held in Batumi in June 2010 (dates to be confirmed). 

10.      Other activities in the field of local and regional democracy

10. (10.1 – 10.4) Other activities in the field of local and regional democracy

The Committee took note of the information on the various strands of activities in the field of local and regional democracy in addition to the intergovernmental co-operation and agreed to consider at its next meeting how it could “examine their results and promote them” among the various stakeholders concerned.

It agreed that the LR-GG committee would examine the proposed arrangements for the granting of the European Label which is part of the Strategy at its next meeting on 26-27 April 2010 (possibly extended by one day).

It agreed with regard to the European Local Democracy Week to re-appoint Mr P-H Philips (Belgium) and Mr Vyacheslav Tolkovanov (Ukraine) to represent the CDLR in the co-ordination board of the ELDW with the Congress.

10.5    Forum for the future of Democracy and Good Governance in the            Information Society

The CDLR took note of the information provided in document CDLR(2010)11 and the reports by Mr P-H Philips it contains.

The CDLR further instructed the Bureau to designate its representative to the next session of the Forum (Yerevan, 19-20 October 2010) and instructed the Bureau and Secretariat to contribute actively to its preparation, as and when the CDLR’s contribution would be requested.

10.6    Information on the activities of other Council of Europe bodies

The CDLR took note of the information provided on the activities of other Council of Europe bodies set out in document CDLR(2010)12.

11.      Other business

                  None.

12.      Adoption of the abridged meeting report

The Committee adopted its meeting report.

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

MEMBERS / MEMBRES

CHAIR / PRESIDENT

Mr Vyacheslav TOLKOVANOV, Director of the Directorate for International Relations, Investment Development and European Integration Issues, Ministry of Regional Development and Construction of Ukraine, 9, Velyka Zytomyrska street, KYIV, 01025

AUSTRIA / AUTRICHE

Dr Elisabeth HEINZEL-SCHIEL, Director, Department for Foreign Relations and European Integration, Office of the State Government of Lower Austria/Niederösterreich, Landhausplatz 1, A – 3109 ST. PÖLTEN

AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAÏDJAN

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

BELGIUM / BELGIQUE

M. Paul-Henri PHILIPS, Adjoint du Directeur Général, Administration des pouvoirs locaux,  Ministère de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, 20, B – 1035 BRUXELLES

Mme Annie BIEFNOT-VANBOTERDAL, Directeur général, Chargée de mission auprès du Gouvernement Wallon, 18/19 Rue de la Seuwe, 7000 MONS

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

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

BOSNIE-HERZEGOVINE / BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Mrs Radmila BJELIC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Counsellor, Council of Europe Department, Musala 2, 7100 SARAJEVO

BULGARIA / BULGARIE

Mrs Penka YORDANOVA, Director, Administrative-territorial structure and decentralisation Department, “Strategic planning of regional development and administrative territorial structure” Directorate General, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, 17-19 St. Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA

Mrs Youlia IONEVA, Directorate of European Co-ordination, public relations and protocole, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, 17-19 St. Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA

CROATIA / CROATIE

Mrs Miroslava-Nina MIŠKOVIĆ, Head of Independent Division for International Cooperation, Ministry of Public Administration, Maksimirska 63, 10000 ZAGREB

CYPRUS / CHYPRE

Mr Georgios ANTONIADES, Head of Local Administration Directorate, Ministry of the Interior, NICOSIA

CZECH REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE

Mr Petr FEJTEK, Department for Effective Public Administration, Unit for Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, nám. Hrdinů 3, 140 21  Praha 4

DENMARK / DANEMARK

                                

Mr Jesper LORENZ GRADERT, Head of Section, Legal Division, Ministry of the Interior and Health, Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 COPENHAGEN K

ESTONIA / ESTONIE

Ms Olivia TALUSTE, Legal Adviser to the Regional Development Department, Ministry of the Interior, Pikk 61, TALLINN, 15065

FINLAND / FINLANDE

Ms Hannele SAVIOJA, Ministerial Adviser, Department for Municipal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, PO Box 28, FIN – 00023 GOVERNMENT, FINLAND

Mr Kimmo COLLANDER, Department for Municipal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, PO Box 28, FIN – 00023 GOVERNMENT

FRANCE

Apologised for absence/ Excusé

GEORGIA / GEORGIE

Mr David CHICHINADZE, Head of Reforms and Innovations Department, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, 12 Kazbegi, TBILISI 0160

Mr Zaza SHONIA, Director of Center for Effective Governance System and Territorial Arrangement Reform, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia

TBILISI

Mr Giorgi DIDIDZE, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Ingorokva 7, TBILISI 0134

 

GERMANY / ALLEMAGNE

Mrs Petra WUTTKE-GÖTZ, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Head of Division 07, Local Government Affairs, Alt Moabit 101d, D - 10559 BERLIN

Mrs Gabriele EISEL, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Local Government Affairs, Alt Moabit 101d, D - 10559 BERLIN

Mr Ulrich DRESSLER, Representative of the “Laender” (Regions), Ministry of the Interior of Hesse, Head of Division IV1, Local Government Affairs, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 12, Postfach 31 67, 65185 WIESBADEN

HUNGARY / HONGRIE

Dr Istvản BALÁZS, General Director, Ministry of Local Government, Merleg St. 3, P.O.B. 314/9, H - 1051 BUDAPEST

ICELAND / ISLANDE

Mr Hermann SÆMUNDSSON, Director of the Office for Local Government, Ministry of Communication, Hafnarhúsinu /Tryggvagötu, 150 REYKJAVIK

IRELAND / IRLANDE

Mr Joe ALLEN, Principal Officer, Local Government Policy, Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, EI – DUBLIN 1

ITALY / ITALIE

Mr Antonio CAPONETTO, Director, Department of Regional Affairs of the Italian Presidency of Council of Ministers, Via della Stamperia, 8, I – 00187 ROMA

LATVIA / LETTONIE

Mrs Madara INKINA, Jurisconsult of Legal Department, Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, Lacplesa str. 27, LV – 1011 RIGA

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

LITHUANIA / LITUANIE

Mr Paulius SKARDŽIUS, Director of Public Governance Policy Department, Ministry of the Interior, Šventaragio Str. 2, LT - 01510 VILNIUS, LITHUANIA

LUXEMBOURG

Mme Christiane LOUTSCH-JEMMING, Conseiller de Gouvernement 1^ère classe, Ministère de l’Intérieur et à la Grande Région, 19 rue Beaumont, L – 1219 Luxembourg

MALTA / MALTE

Mr Natalino ATTARD, Director, Department for Local Government, Office of the Prime Minister, 26 Archbishop Street, VALLETTA VLT 1443 Malta

Mr Cleavon VELLA,Senior Principal (EU and International Desk), Department for Local Government, Office of the Prime Minister, 26 Archbishop Street, VALLETTA VLT 1443 Malta

MOLDOVA

Mme Victoria CUJBA, Chef adjoint, Direction des politiques de décentralisation, Chancellerie d’Etat, 1, Piaţa Marii Adunări Naţionale, MD – 2033 CHISINAU

MONACO

Apologised for absence / excusé

MONTENEGRO

Mr Dragan PEJANOVIĆ, Deputy Minister for Local Self-Government, Ministry for Home Affairs and Public Administration of Montenegro, Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog 22, 81000 PODGORICA

Mr Alen NIKEZIĆ, Advisor in the sector for Local Self-Government, Ministry for Home Affairs and Public Administration of Montenegro, Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog 22, 81000 PODGORICA

NETHERLANDS / PAYS-BAS

Mr Gert-Jan BUITENDIJK, Deputy Director General of Governance and Kingdom Relations, Director of Public Administration and Democracy, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, P.O Box 20011, NL - 2500 EA THE HAGUE

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

Mr Auke van der GOOT, Senior Adviser, 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

NORWAY / NORVEGE

Mrs Greta BILLING, Deputy Director General, Department of Local Government, The Royal Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

Mrs Nina Britt BERGE, Senior Adviser, Department of Local Government, The Royal Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

Ms Kjersti BARSOK, Senior Executive Officer, Department of Local Government, The Royal Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

POLAND / POLOGNE

Mr Lukasz KRYSZTOFIAK, Head of Unit, Unit of Technical Assistance and Projects, Department of Public Administration, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, ul. Wspólna 2/4, PL – 00-505 WARSZAWA

PORTUGAL

Mrs Sónia Alexandra Mendes Ramalhinho, Direction Générale des Collectivités Locales, Rua José Estevão, 137-7°, P – 1169-058 LISBOA

ROMANIA / ROUMANIE

Apologised for absence / excusé

RUSSIAN FEDERATION / FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

Mr Vladimir LEBEDENKO, Deputy Director, Department for relations with the subjects of the Federation, Parliament, political and public Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arbat Street 57, 119200 MOSCOW, Russia

Mr Mikhail VINOGRADOV, Deputy Director, Department of International relations and Transfrontier Co-operation, Ministry of Regional Development, Sadovaya-Samotechnaya Street 10/23, 127994 MOSCOW, Russia

SAN MARINO / SAINT-MARIN

Mr Paolo RONDELLI, Dipartimento Affari Interni e Protezione Civile, Responsabile SPP, Via della Capannaccia 13, Palazzo Giovagnoli, 47890 SAN MARINO

SERBIA / SERBIE

Mrs Sanja MILIĆEV, Adviser at the ministers cabinet, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of the Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 6, 11000 BELGRADE

Miss Nikica VUKADIN, Adviser at the ministers cabinet, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of the Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 6, 11000 BELGRADE

SLOVAK REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE SLOVAQUE

Mrs Silvia SLAVČEVOVÁ, Head of the State Secretary Office, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, Drieňová 22, 826 86 BRATISLAVA

SLOVENIA / SLOVENIE

Mrs Neza VODUSEK, Senior Advisor, Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy, Kotnikova 28, 1501 LJUBLJANA, Slovenia

SPAIN / ESPAGNE

Mme Rosa I. RODRÍGUEZ VARONA, Coordinatrice Aire Affaires Européennes, Ministère de la Politique Territoriale, Santa Engracia, 7, E - 28071 MADRID

SWEDEN / SUEDE

Mr Johan HÖÖK, Director, Division for Local Government Affairs, Ministry of Finance, S - 103 33 STOCKHOLM

Mrs Paula BLOMQVIST, Division for Democratic Issues, Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality, S - 103 33 STOCKHOLM

SWITZERLAND / SUISSE

Apologised for absence / excusé

"THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA" /

"L'EX-REPUBLIQUE YOUGOSLAVE DE MACEDOINE"

Mrs Milona ISTREFI, Councilor in the Ministry of Local Self-Government, Mito Hodzivasilev, Jasmin 66, 1000 SKOPJE

TURKEY / TURQUIE

Mr Murat ZORLUOĞLU, Head of Foreign Relations and Projects Department, General Directorate for Local Authorities, Ministry of the Interior, Içişleri Bakanliği, Mahalli Idareler Genel Müdürlügü, 06644 ANKARA

UKRAINE

Mr. Andriy GUK, Head of Department, Foundation for Local  Self-Government of Ukraine, L.Ukrainka bld. 26, app. 230, KYIV 01133, UKRAINE

UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI

Mr Paul ROWSELL, Deputy Director, Democracy and Local Governance, Department for Communities and Local Government, 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB

Ms Victoria JONES, Team Leader, European and International Democracy and Local Governance, Department for Communities and Local Government, 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB

Mr Clive KINGMAN, Policy Adviser, European and International Democracy and Local Governance, Department for Communities and Local Government, 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB

PARTICIPANTS

PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY / ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE

Mr Alan MEALE, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Local and Regional Democracy

Mme Agnès NOLLINGER, Head of the Secretariat / Chef du Secrétariat - Committee of the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs / Commission de l’environnement, de l’agriculture et des questions territoriales

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.22.88; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.17;  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

Mme Antonella CAGNOLATI, Director / Directrice

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.21.27; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.51;  E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Lilit NIKOGHOSYAN, Co-Secretary of the Institutional Committee / Co-Secrétaire de la Commission institutionnelle

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.35.04; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.51;  E-mail: [email protected]

Mme Stéphanie POIREL, Co-Secretary of the Institutional Committee / Co-secrétaire de la commission institutionnelle

Tél:+33(0)3 90 21 51 84 ; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 37 47; E-mail : [email protected]

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

Mme Anne-Marie CHAVANON, Présidente de la Commission du développement territorial durable, 21, boulevard de Grenelle, 75015 PARIS

OTHER PARTICIPANTS / AUTRES PARTICIPANTS

HOLY-SEE / SAINT-SIEGE

Maître Marc LEYENBERGER, Avocat au Barreau de Strasbourg, 26, rue Aubry et Rau, 67000 STRASBOURG

JAPAN / JAPON

Ms Yuko DOI, Researcher, Consulate-General of Japon, “Tour Europe”, 20 place des Halles, 67000 STRASBOURG

MEXICO / MEXIQUE

Mme María-Fernanda GONZÁLEZ, Mission Permanente du Mexique auprès du Conseil de l’Europe, 8 boulevard du Président Edwards, 67000 STRASBOURG

OBSERVERS / OBSERVATEURS

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

Mme Agnès CICCARONE, Responsable du Comité Permanent, Affaires Institutionnelles, 5 rue Oberlin, 67000 STRASBOURG

M. le Professeur Charles RICQ, Directeur du Centre d'Observation Européen des Régions (COEUR), Professeur à l’Université de Genève, Chemin de la Renardière, CH - 1272 GENOLIER (Genève)

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

Mr Boris TONHAUSER, Policy Officer, Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Square de Meeûs, 1, B – 1000 BRUXELLES

OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS / BUREAU DES INSTITUTIONS DEMOCRATIQUES ET DES DROITS DE L'HOMME

Apologised for absence / excusé

OTHER / AUTRE

Prof. Ken DAVEY, Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI), Haymesbrook - Haymes Drive, Cleeve Hill – Cheltenham GL52 3QQ, UK

SECRETARIAT

M. Jean-Louis LAURENS, Director General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Directeur Général de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 73; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 55 59;

E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Childerik SCHAAPVELD, Director of Democratic Institutions/ Directeur des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 60; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;

E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Alfonso ZARDI, Head of the Department of Local and Regional Democracy and Good Governance / Chef du Service de la démocratie locale et régionale et de la bonne gouvernance - Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

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

Mr Frank STEKETEE, Administrator / Administrateur – Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 61; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Vesna ATANASOVA, Administrator / Administratrice – Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 31 68; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Severina SPASSOVA, Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel : +33 (0)3 90 21 52 72 ; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84 ;

E-mail: [email protected]

M. Daniel POPESCU, Administrator / Administrateur – Centre of Expertise on Local Government Reform / Centre d’Expertise pour la Réforme de l’Administration Locale - Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: (33) 03 88 41 36 08; Fax: (33) 03 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

M. Pierre SCHREIBER, Head of the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level / Chef de la stratégie pour l’innovation et la bonne gouvernance au niveau local - Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: (33) 3 88 41 45 22; Fax: (33) 3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Gabriela MATEI, Division of Programmes for Democratic Stability / Division des Programmes pour la Stabilité démocratique – Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: (33) 3 88 41 54 73; Fax: (33) 3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mme Isabelle ETTER, Mme Yvonne MANGOLD, Ms Siobhán MONTGOMERY - Secretariat / Secrétariat

APPENDIX 2

AGENDA

Explanations:

APPENDIX 3

COMMENTS OF THE CDLR ON

RECOMMENDATIONS 270, 273, 274, 276, 278, 279 (2009) OF THE CONGRESS

1.         Following the invitation from the Ministers’ Deputies to comment on a number of Congress Recommendations, the CDLR examined these recommendations with interest, in particular Nos. 270, 274 and 278(2009), which more specifically concern local and regional authorities.

2.         With regard to Recommendation 270(2009) – “Transfrontier co-operation in Europe”, the CDLR is perfectly aware of the special importance of transfrontier co-operation between member states and between local and regional authorities. It would point out that the obstacles to cross-border co-operation and ways of overcoming these obstacles were one of the main subjects discussed by the European ministers responsible for local and regional government, meeting in Utrecht on 16 and 17 November 2009 for the 16th session of their conference (Part I (B) of the Utrecht Declaration). The ministers asked the CDLR to prepare a report on the implementation of Committee of Ministers Recommendation (2005) 2 on 'good practices in and reducing obstacles to transfrontier and interterritorial co-operation’ – and on Recommendation (2005)3 on ‘teaching neighbouring languages in border regions’ – which they intend to discuss at the next session of their conference.

3.         Moreover, following the discussions that took place at the ministerial conference, the CDLR adopted aprogrammeof activities for 2010-2013, including various activities in the field of transfrontier co-operation: promotion of Protocol No. 3 to the Madrid Outline Convention, establishing appendices to the Convention, and the sharing of experiences and good practices in transfrontier co-operation. The Netherlands and Spain agreed that an international event could be held in 2010, providing the opportunity to discuss experiences and pragmatic approaches to overcoming obstacles to transfrontier co-operation in member states.

4.         With regard to Recommendation 274(2009) – “E-democracy: opportunities and risks for local authorities”, the CDLR followed with interest and actively contributed to the discussions at the Forum for the Future of Democracy, whose 2008 session was held in Madrid. Its representative at the Forum submitted a report to the CDLR, which will take into consideration the proposals set out in the report concerning programmes of future activities. The CDLR would also point out that the Council of Europe Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level also covers the field of technological innovation and citizens’ access to public services. Its implementation therefore also helps to attain the objectives set by the Congress.

5.         As mentioned in Recommendation 278(2009) – “Regions with legislative powers: towards multi-level governance”, after several in-depth discussions between the CDLR and the Congress on this subject, a “reference framework for regional democracy” was prepared.  The European ministers responsible for local and regional government, meeting in Utrecht on 16 and 17 November 2009 took note of this document “which those considering institutional reforms and governance at the regional level, including the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in their work, could use.”

6.         The CDLR is prepared to continue sharing experiences relating to this issue at workshops which would be attended on a voluntary basis by representatives of member states, the Congress and other interested parties, if the wish for such exchanges is expressed. 

7.         With regard to Congress Recommendations 273, 276, 279(2009), the CDLR does not have any comments to make as they do not appear to have any substantial link to the priority areas of action identified by the Committee of Ministers.