Strasbourg, 13 March 2012 CDLR(2012)9
Item 17 of the agenda
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
EUROPEAN LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK
For information and guidance
Secretariat Memorandum
prepared by the
Directorate of Democratic Governance, Culture and Diversity
Democracy, Institution-Building and Governance Department
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Introduction
The present document (see Appendix), was drawn up by the Secretariat of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, gives an overview of implementation of the European Democracy Week in 2012 and its future perspectives for 2012.
Implementation of the Week is coordinated by a pilot committee in which the CDLR is represented by Mr Paul-Henri Philips (Belgium). Mr Philips could, where necessary, provide extra information as a complement to that contained in the Appendix.
The members may like to contribute information or ask questions on the organisation of events linked to the week in their respective countries.
Action required
The CDLR is invited to take note of the information presented in the Annexe and hold, where necessary, an exchange of views on the European Local Democracy Week.
APPENDIX
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European Local Democracy Week 2011 |
“Human rights at local level” was the leading theme of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) in 2011. It was received with great interest by European municipalities. The feedback received by the Congress shows that the reputation and popularity of the initiative is increasing year on year in terms of the number of municipalities taking part, the variety of activities taking place and the commitments undertaken by institutional partners.
1. Annual statistics
Local Authorities: 302 municipalities took part in ELDW 2011, almost three times more than the number that took part in 2010 (115). Since Congress only collects information given by municipalities which registered to participate on the ELDW’s official website or through their national associations, the actual number of municipalities that took part is probably even higher.
Countries: Municipalities from 26 Council of Europe member states took part in the ELDW 2011. Municipalities from Finland, Sweden and Montenegro participated in the ELDW for the first time, whilst municipalities from other countries (Azerbaijan, Moldova) returned after a two or three year break. Bulgaria, Estonia and Malta did not take part in the Week this year, having done so in 2010. It is also important to point out that in some countries – such as the Russian Federation, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom - the number of participating municipalities increased considerably compared to 2010.
Population: The ELDW 2011 reached a total audience of 32,246,000, much higher than the 23,700,000 from the previous year.
2. The role of the institutional partners
National associations of local authorities
Many associations from Council of Europe member countries played an active role in preparing the 2011 European Local Democracy Week. This support created greater awareness of the event in their countries and encouraged municipalities to take part.
The growth of the Week was remarkable in certain northern countries in 2011, such as the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden, where national associations actively promoted European Local Democracy Week.
It is also interesting to note the active role played by a growing number of Congress members in organising the ELDW in their own municipalities.
European institutions and associations
European associations such as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), as well as European institutions such as the Committee of the Regions of the European Union worked with the Congress to promote ELDW.
3. The “12 Star City”: a successful concept
The 2011 event confirmed that a considerable number of municipalities were keen to engage their communities in the ELDW in such a way that they could qualify for “12 Star city” status.
In total, 19 local authorities complied with the five required conditions for the status of “12 Star city”.
The 19 municipalities which qualified as “12 Star City” represent 12 European countries, spanning from Sweden to Greece and from Portugal to Turkey.
They include Brussels (for the fifth consecutive year) and Namur from Belgium; Sisak from Croatia; Strasbourg (for the fifth consecutive year) and Angers from France; Festos and Chania from Greece; Mola di Bari (for the second year) from Italy; Utrecht from the Netherlands; Katowice (for the third consecutive year) from Poland; Amadora (for the second year) from Portugal; Belgrade (for the second year) from Serbia; Sundbyberg from Sweden; Mugla (for the second year), Lüleburgaz, Tarsus, Gebze and Gaziantep from Turkey; and Stockton-on-Tees from United Kingdom.
4. The added value of the ELDW 2011 and projections for the 2012 event
One of the major overall effects of the ELDW is improving citizens’ participation in local democracy., Thanks to its specific leading theme, “Human rights at local level”, The ELDW 2011 also helped to establish a culture of tolerance and respect, which in turn helped to improve social cohesion in the participating communities.
In order to emphasise the importance of this message and to further exploit its potential, and following feedback from the general ELDW co-ordination meeting held in Paris on the 19th January 2012, the Congress decided that the leading theme of the 2012 event would be “Human rights make for more inclusive communities”.
ELDW 2012 leaflets are already available in English and French, while new co-ordinated ELDW posters can be found on the official website. Proposals for new initiatives aimed at developing human rights at grassroots level will be online by the end of March. Following on from the interesting suggestions raised by the participants in the January meeting, these ideas will focus on human rights issues which are crucial for building more inclusive communities, such as:
- promoting engagement in society, especially for youth and under-represented groups;
- strengthening intergenerational co-operation and solidarity;
- defending more vulnerable groups;
- fostering social rights and access to public services;
- enhancing mutual respect and the defence of human rights as universal values of democracy.
13 March 2012