Strasbourg, 17 September 2010 CDLR(2010)33
Item 4.4.6 of the agenda
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
STRATEGY FOR INNOVATION AND GOOD
GOVERNANCE AT LOCAL LEVEL
For preparatory action
Secretariat Memorandum
prepared by the Directorate General of
Democracy and Political Affairs
Directorate of Democratic Institutions
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Introduction
Since its adoption by the Committee of Ministers in April 2008, the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance has been promoted in member states – first, in the so-called pilot countries (Bulgaria, Norway and Spain) and then in all other countries that expressed an interest in it. Details about the actions taken and state of play in all the member states concerned are given in the Appendix.
The tools necessary for the implementation of the Strategy at local level (benchmark and questionnaires) have been prepared, tested and finalised. These tools and the procedure for member states’ accession to the Strategy and the awarding of the Label of European Excellence in Local Governance (ELoGE) have been adopted by the Stakeholders’ Platform at its meeting on 12 July 2010 (see the Addendum to this document).
The members of the Stakeholders’ Platform appointed by the CDLR (Ms Annie Biefnot-Vanboterdal, Belgium, and Ms Greta Billing, Norway) can provide additional information at the present meeting of the CDLR.
The Committee of Ministers has been informed of these developments and is expected to take note of them at the 1092nd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 13 October 2010.
In a number of states the procedures for acceding to the Strategy and/or establishing the national (regional) stakeholders’ platforms are well advanced. As soon as formal requests for accreditation are submitted to the Secretary General, the Stakeholders’ Platform will be convened in order to examine the arrangements and grant the accreditation.
According to the procedure, the Council of Europe and members states will provide information about the accession to the Strategy and the above-mentioned modalities and procedures for ELoGE. Also, CDLR members are ideally suited to raise awareness about the Strategy in their respective countries.
The Secretariat is ready to provide information and assist national (regional) authorities in developing national (regional) stakeholders’ platforms and regulations on the granting of ELoGE.
Action required
CDLR members are invited to take note of the information provided above, to raise any questions they might have and to provide updated information on any measures taken in their respective countries with a view to acceding to the Strategy and/or establishing national (regional) platforms.
The CDLR is invited to express its satisfaction with the ongoing implementation of the Strategy.
Appendix
Action taken to promote and implement the Strategy
in Council of Europe member states
Austria
No decision has been taken so far on the adoption of the Strategy, neither at national nor at regional level (Länder). Austria could join in as a new candidate country in 2011 for implementation of the award of the Label of Good Governance.
The Management Center of Innsbruck (MCI), currently a partner of the municipality of Innsbruck and of the Land of Tyrol, has shown a great interest.
Belgium – Flanders
The decision to join the Strategy was formally taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Flemish Region in Spring 2010.
Flanders is interested in participating in the Strategy but an overall implementation strategy has not yet been established. The Secretariat of the Council of Europe has advised Flanders, on the basis of two policy documents by the government of Flanders, on the extent to which Flanders is already implementing many of the principles of the Strategy. Much work has already been done, of which work on two principles - principle 3 (efficiency and effectiveness) and principle 10 (sound financial management) - stand out. A meeting should be organised in Flanders to discuss how to proceed.
Belgium – Wallonia
The decision to join the Strategy is expected to be taken by the Minister of Local government before the end of 2010.
Wallonia has very effectively participated in the road-testing of the tools for awarding the Label of Good Governance. Two meetings were held in Namur – one in the presence of the Head of the Strategy, Mr Pierre Schreiber – in order to explain the process, and to discuss the draft rules for awarding the Label. A Regional Stakeholders’ Platform project is currently under discussion in the Ministry with the Union of Towns and Municipalities. An accreditation request for the platform should be sent to the CoE before the end of 2010.
Belgium – Brussels Capital
The official decision to join the Strategy has still to be taken, and should be made by the Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region before the end of 2010.
The Brussels-Capital Region is working in close co-operation with Wallonia in the implementation of the Strategy and Label of Good Governance. The two ministries (i.e. the contact persons/project leaders) are in contact to co-ordinate their work. It is expected that the request for accreditation of a Regional Stakeholders’ Platform will follow the request by the Wallonia Region. One option could be to have a common Stakeholders’ Platform, with members from the two Regions.
Bulgaria
The official decision to join the Strategy was taken by the Council of Ministers in 2007, even before the endorsement of the Strategy by the Committee of Ministers of the CoE.
The implementation of the Strategy and the Label of Good Governance is under way. The possible membership of the national stakeholders’ platform has already been drawn up and submitted for the approval of the Council of Ministers. Rules of procedure are currently being drafted, a request for accreditation should be sent to the CoE before the end of this year (probably October).
France
An official decision to join the Strategy should be taken according to the Ministry of the Interior (visited on 7 June 2010), but no deadline so far.
There is little prospect that France will request for accreditation of a national Stakeholders’ Platform in 2010. The Ministry of the Interior and the Association of Mayors emphasise the difficult situation of public finance and the lack of means, both financial and human, for implementation of the Strategy. However, the two partners confirm that France will adopt the Strategy and will participate in awarding the Label of Good Governance, but no precise deadline has been given so far.
France has had a very good level of participation in the road-testing of tools for awarding the Label of Good Governance. Among the participating municipalities, the municipality of Nevers (Nièvre) has certainly provided the best, most comprehensive and most detailed analysis of the tools, of their use and of the results they may produce. The municipalities of Strasbourg and Bordeaux, among others, are firmly committed to the implementation process and may actively support it in the appropriate fora. The Conference held in Bordeaux on 24-25 June 2010 demonstrated the great interest for the Strategy among local government elected members and executives.
Germany
No decision has been taken so far on adoption of the Strategy, neither at national nor at regional level (Länder). Germany could join as a new candidate country in 2011 for implementation of the award of the Label of Good Governance.
Five important municipalities have been approached: Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Karlsruhe, Ulm (Baden-Württemberg), Ingolstadt (Bavaria), and Leipzig (Saxony), a strong interest in the Strategy has been shown by each of them. Contacts will therefore be undertaken with the authorities competent in the field of local government in the three Länder in order to raise awareness of the Strategy and Label of Good Governance, and to encourage these authorities to adopt the Strategy officially and begin a process of accreditation of the Regional Stakeholders’ Platforms in 2011.
Italy
No formal decision has been taken to join the Strategy either by the Government or the Association of Local Authorities.
Following the Valencia Conference and high level contacts with the then Minister for Regional Affairs, Ms Lanzillotta, the association of Italian municipalities (ANCI) conducted in 2009-2010 a test of the benchmark in a pool of Italian municipalities whose results were communicated to the Council of Europe.
In 2009, Regione Molise adopted a policy statement on the Strategy and formally encouraged the municipalities in its territory to accept the Twelve principles. A regional conference to publicly launch the Strategy and the Label is scheduled in November 2010 in Teramo. Molise municipalities and other Italian regions will be invited.
The Netherlands
The decision to join the Strategy was taken by the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and was made public in the form of a letter to the Parliament on 19 June 2009.
The Ministry has delegated the implementation of the Strategy and the Dutch Code for Good Governance to KING (Kwaliteitsinstituut Nederlandse Gemeenten or Quality Institute for Dutch Local Authorities).
An intense dialogue has taken place between the Secretariat and KING to assess to what extent existing procedures and arrangements would satisfy the requirements of the Strategy of the Council of Europe.
The Netherlands may request accreditation at the next European Stakeholders’ Platform Meeting in the autumn.
Norway
The decision to join the Strategy was taken by the Royal Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
The Norwegian association of municipalities - KS is responsible for the implementation of the Strategy. Proposals on how to implement the Strategy are under consideration by KS board. This proposal includes the setting up of a National Stakeholders Platform, the use of the benchmark and the citizens and councillors questionnaires. It is expected that the board will approve the proposal, thus allowing KS and the Ministry to start the accreditation procedure.
Spain
No decision has been taken so far on the adoption of the Strategy, neither at national nor at regional level. Spain did not implement its “pilot country” role but could join as a new candidate country in 2011 for implementation of the award of the Label of Good Governance.
Five municipalities of Spain have been contacted in 2010 to check if there is any interest in the Strategy. The municipalities of Getafe, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Malaga, Pinedar de Mar, San Sebastian, and the Diputacion/Province of Girona have expressed their willingness to join in. The Association of Spanish Municipalities has also shown an interest and willingness to be involved. A meeting with the abovementioned municipalities and Deputacion is scheduled for autumn 2010.
Ukraine
The decision to adopt the Strategy was taken officially in 2009 by the Council of Ministers.
There is a high level of commitment to implement the Strategy in Ukraine. Ukraine will take advantage of the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to promote decentralisation and self-government at local level, the Strategy could become a core element of the promotion of self-government. Decisions are in progress regarding the appointment of the National Stakeholders’ Platform for awarding the Label of Good Governance and the request for the accreditation of its Platform could be submitted before the end of 2010.