Strasbourg, 21 November 2012                                                           CDLR-Bu(2012)27

 

 

BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE

ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)

 

 

MEETING REPORT

 

5 October 2012  

Council of Europe Office, Paris

Room 3

 

 

1.         Opening of the meeting

 

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed the participants. The list of participants appears at Appendix 1.

 

2.         Adoption of the agenda

 

The agenda of the meeting was adopted (see Appendix 2).

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

A proposal by the Chair to convene a meeting of signatories to the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority was welcomed by members of the Bureau.

 

3.         Considerations by the Committee of Ministers of the work of the CDLR

 

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-BU(2012)15.

 

The Chair informed the Bureau about his participation in the GR-DEM meeting on 6 September 2012 at which discussions continued on possible follow-up to be given to the Kiyv Declaration adopted by Ministers Responsible for Local and Regional Government of November 2011.

 

 

 

4.         Information on other Council of Europe bodies

 

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2012)16.

 

With regards to the upcoming Congress session, Bureau members expressed surprise that no mention of the upcoming CDLR meeting on 19-20 November 2012 could be found in the Congress timetable of events.

 

Noting the upcoming World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg 8-12 October 2012, the Bureau requested that the Secretariat prepare a report on the Forum to be presented to the CDLR at the next meeting.

 

The Bureau agreed to invite the newly elected President of the Congress to the next CDLR meeting on 19-20 November. It was agreed that the Chair will send a letter congratulating the new president on his election and inviting him to participate in the CDLR meeting.

 

5.         Priorities of the Albanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

 

The Bureau confirmed its invitation to Deputy Minister of Interior of Albania, Mr Ferdinand Poni, to share with CDLR members the achievements of the Albanian chairmanship in the field of local democracy. The Secretariat was tasked with contacting the Albanian Chairmanship to this effect.

 

The Bureau was informed that there is as yet no official documentation of the priorities of the Andorran Chairmanship which can be shared. However, the Andorran authorities have already indicated that there will be a focus on cross-border cooperation during their Chairmanship.

 

CDLR

 

6.    Implementation of the CDLR work programme according to its Terms of      Reference

 

The Bureau examined the state of implementation of the work programme and agreed the following (in brackets, reference to numbers used in document CDLR-Bu(2012)18).

 

(0.2) The Bureau held a discussion based on reflection document CDLR-Bu(2012)19 and welcomed the suggestions therein. In particular, it expressed support for an approach focusing on generic issues common to several states. Discussion on this issue would continue at a forthcoming meeting of the Bureau.

 

(0.3) The Bureau agreed that there would be no further follow up on this issue and that item could be removed.

 

(1.1) The Bureau held a discussion based on the memorandum prepared by the Secretariat (CDLR-Bu(2012)20).  With regards to the Estonian proposal, the Bureau agreed that the focus should be narrowed down, reference to article 9 ECLSG should be removed, and the questionnaire should concentrate on questions a, c and d on page 11 of document CDLR-Bu(2012)19.

 

With regards to the Italian questionnaire, the Bureau invited the Secretariat to contact the Italian delegation with a view to revising the introduction to the topic in order to facilitate eliciting specific questions from lead delegations.  Estonia and Italy will be invited to act as rapporteurs for the respective debates held on the topics they brought forward.

 

It was also noted that following contacts between delegations, another CDLR member state could introduce a third exchange of views on recent measures to reduce public expenditure.

 

(1.2)  As there are currently no information exchanges open, the Bureau requested that presentation of this issue be condensed to reflect more accurately its importance in the CDLR work programme.

 

(1.3.1)  The Bureau agreed that the Report on the implementation of the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government be presented with a cover note giving an overview of the state of ratification in Member States.

 

An exchange of views on key articles, in the form of a tour-de-table, will be held in the CDLR plenary.  Those who have ratified the Additional Protocol will be encouraged to share any issues that might have risen in the course of ratification, while those who haven’t yet will be invited to share any concerns or problems that might be preventing ratification.

 

The Bureau recalled an earlier seminar on the topic organised by Norway and the Secretariat was invited to contact the Norwegian authorities about the possibility of organising a follow-up.

 

(1.3.2)  Preparations for the organisation of a workshop have been put on hold due to upcoming elections in Belgium. However this is still expected to take place in early 2013.

 


(1.3.3)  The Secretariat presented a new draft generic Structure and Operation report designed to facilitate reporting by Member States.  In the new report format, States will simply add-in key information and statistics to a skeleton structure aimed at drawing out comparable information across Member States.  Drafting, proofreading and translation costs will be significantly reduced, and like-with-like comparisons will henceforth be much easier.  The Bureau broadly welcomed the new format with Croatia, the UK, Hungary and Belgium indicating they will adopt the new structure for their next report already in 2012.

 

(1.3.4) No further developments at this stage, a further proposal is to be determined.

 

(1.4)  The Bureau examined the overview document prepared by the Secretariat CDLR-Bu(2012)23.  Following a brief exchange of views on the proposals, the Bureau appointed Mr Auke van der Goot and Mr Edwin Lefebre as Rapporteurs and tasked them with making a concrete recommendation to the Bureau by late October.

 

(1.5)  The Bureau took note of the document on Governance CDLR-Bu(2012)24 and suggested that a report on initiatives to strengthen good governance, as being part of the Terms of Reference of the CDLR could be drafted based on the outcome of the seminar organised by Belgium.

 

(3.1) The Secretariat presented the draft memorandum on possible synergies and cooperation with other international actors contained in CDLR-Bu(2012)25.  The Secretariat explained that organisations with observer status with the CDLR, such as AER and CEMR, were not included due to existing working relationships.

 

The Bureau suggested that the memorandum should be expanded further to include UN Habitat and, possibly, the Committee of the Regions.  It should also be more prescriptive and provide a roadmap on how cooperation with the different bodies might be carried out.

 

This memorandum should be submitted to the CDLR for consideration and adoption at its next meeting.

 

(4.2) No nominations for the function of rapporteur on the rights of the Child were received. CDLR members would be reminded during the next CDLR meeting.  As regards the Gender Equality Rapporteur, no further nominations were received either. The Bureau agreed that these items should be added to the draft agenda of the next CDLR.

 

7.    Date of the next meeting of the Bureau

 

The next meeting will be held at the end of January/early February 2013 with a venue and date to be determined in view of the availability of the Congress Bureau to participate in a joint Bureau meeting.

 


Other

 

8.    Strategy for Innovation and Good Democratic Governance

 

The Bureau took note of the documents on the Strategy.

 

9.    Date and agenda of the next CDLR meeting

 

The Bureau agreed that an item relating to the appointment of an additional gender rapporteur and a rapporteur on children’s rights should be added to the draft agenda of the CDLR to be held on 19-20 November 2012.

 

10.       Other business

 

None.


APPENDIX 1

 

                                                                                   

                                                      LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

 

 

CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT

 

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

Tel: (44) 303 44 42568; E-mail: [email protected]

 

OTHER MEMBERS / AUTRES MEMBRES

 

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

Tel: (385) 1 2357 532; Fax: (385) 1 2357 609; E-mail: [email protected]

 

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

Tel : (32) 2 800 32 77; Cell-phone: (32) 499 58 81 05; Fax :(32) 2 800 38 00;

E-mail : [email protected]

 

Ms Paqui SANTONJA, Conseiller spécial, Direction Générale pour la coordination des compétences régionales et locales, Ministère des Finances et de l’Administration Publique, MADRID

Tel: (34) 91 273 46 59; Fax: (34) 91 273 46 10; E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Auke van der GOOT, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, P.O Box 20011, NL - 2500 EA THE HAGUE

Tel : 32 2 679 1729 , Mobile: 32 497 43 92 98 ; E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Jesper LORENZ GRADERT, Head of Section, Ministry of Economics and the Interior, Slotsholmsgade 10-12, 1216, COPENHAGEN K

Tel: (45) 7228 2524; E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mrs Viktória ZÖLD-NAGY, Deputy State Secretary for Territorial Public Administration Development, Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, Kossuth Square 2-4, 1055 – BUDAPEST

Tel: +361 795 4905; Fax: +361 795 0121 Email: [email protected]


SECRETARIAT

 

Mr Alfonso ZARDI, Head of Democracy, Institution-Building and Governance Department/ Chef du Service de la démocratie, du renforcement des institutions et de la gouvernance - Directorate of Democratic Governance, Culture and Diversity / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, de la culture et de la diversité, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

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

 

Mr Thomas ZANDSTRA, Directorate of Democratic Governance, Culture and Diversity / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, de la culture et de la diversité, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 52 30; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Niall SHEERIN, Directorate of Democratic Governance, Culture and Diversity / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, de la culture et de la diversité, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 39 61; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;

E-mail : [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                          


APPENDIX 2

 

 

AGENDA

         

 

1.

Opening of the meeting

 

 

 

2.

Adoption of the agenda

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)OJ3]

 

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

 

 

3.

Consideration by the Committee of Ministers of the work of the CDLR

 

-   Decisions by the Committee of Ministers

-   Other developments

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)15]

 

 

 

 

 

4.

Information on other Council of Europe bodies

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)16]

 

 

5.

Priorities of the Albanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)17 BIL]

 

 

 

 

CDLR

 

 

 

6.

Implementation of the CDLR work programme according to its Terms of Reference

 

 

 

 

 

-      Overview

-      Exchanges of views on topical issues

-      Decisions on selected items:

        

         • CM decisions on monitoring

         • additional protocol to ECLSG

         • structure and operation reports

         • choice of a consultant

         • reports on governance

         • international partners

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)18]

[CDLR-Bu(2012)20]

 

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)19]

[CDLR-Bu(2012)21]

[CDLR-Bu(2012)22]

[CDLR-Bu(2012)23]

[CDLR-Bu(2012)24]

[CDLR-Bu(2012)25]

 

 

7.

Date of next meeting of the CDLR  

[CDLR(2012)OJ2 prov.2]

 

 

 

OTHER

 

 

8.

Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level

 

[CDLR-Bu(2012)26]

 

 

 

 

 

9.

-              Information on the Stakeholders’ Platform

-              Information on recent developments

 

Date of the next meeting of the Bureau                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.

Other business