Strasbourg, 30 September 2010 CDLR (2010)25
Item 4.3. of the agenda
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
STEPS AND MEASURES TO FOLLOW-UP
ON THE KIVINIEMI REPORT
For guidance
Secretariat Memorandum
prepared by the
Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs
Directorate of Democratic Institutions
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Introduction
The aim of this document is to inform the CDLR of developments regarding the follow-up to the Declaration on the steps and measures to strengthen co-operation further to the report on “How to enhance the work of the Council of Europe in the field of local and regional democracy” (The Kiviniemi report) and to help the CDLR in taking this work forward (the full list of the measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration is appended)
At its last meeting in March 2010, the CDLR decided that the list of steps and measures should be discussed in each of the CDLR’s sub-committees. The sub-committees took note of the steps and measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration in order to follow-up on the report by Minister Kiviniemi. Particular emphasis was put on the importance of ensuring awareness and co-ordination through appropriate communication inside the ministries responsible for local and regional government, as well as with other ministries, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is suggested that a report on the follow-up given to the steps and measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration, based on information from member States, be prepared and presented to the 17th Session of the Ministerial Conference in Kiev in November 2011.
As concerns those steps and measures which concern in particular action by the CDLR as a whole and/or the Secretariat the following can be said:
“ To invite the European Commission to share information with the Council of Eureope on respective approaches to good governance and to make use of the Council of Europe’s know-how in the design of programmees and initiatives pertaining to local and regional democracy and good governance.”
The Secretariat aims to identify and establish closer contact with sectors in the European Commission dealing with areas of work related to local and regional democracy and good governance. So far however other priorities have precluded taking concrete steps in this direction.
In order to enhance the visibility and transparency of our work, the new Communication Strategy was developed which the CDLR and the Secretariat are actively implementing (see Item 4.5 on the Agenda)
As concerns strong ownership by member States, CDLR members have volunteered 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 (see document CDLR(2010)26).
As concerns strong ownership by member States, Ministers further agreed 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 their respective countries. Should there be any proposals to this effect, CDLR members are invited to present them at the meeting.
As concerns strong ownership by member States and positive consideration to requests for the secondment of competent officials to the Council of Europe, attention is drawn to the call for candidates for the secondment of an official to the Council of Europe to work on the Strategy for Innovation and Good governance at Local Level.
As concerns organisational flexibility and efficiency, and initiative to enter into discussions with 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, the Council of Europe Secretary General, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland announced the preparation of the biennial programme and budget of the Council of Europe in the context of the reform of the Organisation. This is due to take effect as from 2012.
Action required
The CDLR is invited:
1. to take note of the information provided above;
2. to decide that a report on the steps and measures is to be prepared for the 17th Session of the Ministerial Conference and to give guidance to the Secretariat for taking this work forward.
APPENDIX
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FURTHER STEPS AND MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN FOLLOW UP TO THE KIVINIEMI REPORT |
Measures set out in the Utrecht Declaration
I. In order to improve the effectiveness of our international co-operation, to review working methods and enhance communication channels at domestic level, so that:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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.
II. In the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union
1. 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.
III. In order to enhance the visibility and transparency of our work
1. 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.
IV. In order to improve the capacity of the Council of Europe as a whole, we invite the Committee of Ministers
1. to speed up the modernisation of the budgetary process aiming at simplification, multi-annuality and devolution, and
2. to streamline the approach to cooperation with non-member states keeping in mind the core functions of the Council of Europe.
V. As concerns strong ownership by member States
1. 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;
2. to take the necessary steps to ensure that the priorities of the communication strategy are followed up at domestic level;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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.
VI. As concerns the efficient cooperation with other international players
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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.
VII. As concerns organisational flexibility and efficiency
1. 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.
VIII. As concerns opening up
1. 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;
2. 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.