Strasbourg, 2 July 2010 CDLR-Bu(2010)18
Item 13 of the agenda
BUREAU OF THE
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
COUNCIL OF EUROPE STRATEGY FOR INNOVATION
AND GOOD GOVERNANCE AT LOCAL LEVEL
Secretariat Memorandum
prepared by the
Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs
Directorate of Democratic Institutions
 |
Introduction
The Council of Europe Stakeholders’ Platform on the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance will hold its next meeting on 12 July 2010. The CDLR will be represented by Ms Greta Billing (Norway) and Ms Annie Biefnot-Vanboterdal (Belgium).
In the first half of 2010, the work has concentrated on the testing and finalisation of the benchmark and questionnaires to be used by municipalities wishing to be awarded the European Label for Innovation and Good Governance. As a result, the relevant documents have been finalised and will be submitted to the Platform for adoption.
In order to provide member states wishing to commit themselves formally to the Strategy – now that the “pilot country” phase that started at Valencia has come to an end – with a clear-cut procedure and a set of rules, the Secretariat has also drawn up a draft regulation for the accession to the Strategy and the accreditation of the national stakeholders’ platforms that will award the Label.
All relevant documents can be downloaded from the following web address:
It is recalled that full support for the Strategy was expressed by the European Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government at the 16th Session of their Conference (Utrecht, 2009) who further invited the CDLR “to support and encourage… the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level, including the Twelve principles of good democratic governance at local level and the European Label of Good Governance at Local Level”.
Within the Secretariat, the promotion of the Strategy and the production of documents and procedures has been entrusted to two seconded officials (one full-time, another part-time) with the support of the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform. The term of office of the former however will come to an unexpected end in August and that of the latter to its normal end in December. This may impact negatively – albeit temporarily – on the continuity of work. The Bureau could envisage taking action aimed at member states in order to encourage further offers of seconded officials for the implementation of the Strategy (this is also one of the recommendations of the Kiviniemi Report).
Bureau members could also, having considered the documents prepared for consideration and adoption by the Stakeholders’ Platform, express views and give guidance to CDLR representatives that will sit in the Platform.
Action required
See above.