Strasbourg, 8 March 2013                                                                CDLR-Bu(2013)14

BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE

ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)

MEETING REPORT

         

1 February 2013

Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe

Room 14

1.         Opening of the meeting

The CDLR Bureau met in Strasbourg on 1 February 2013, with Mr Paul Rowsell (United Kingdom) in the Chair. The list of participants appears at Appendix 1.

Mrs Claudia Luciani, Director of the Democratic Governance Directorate, addressed the Bureau to present the latest developments in the ongoing reform of the Council of Europe.  Having expressed appreciation for the work of the CDLR, Mrs Luciani called for support and input from the CDLR and promised to keep the Committee informed of developments. 

2.         Adoption of the agenda

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

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

A.1      Consideration by the Committee of Ministers of the work of the CDLR

The Bureau was informed that CDLR responses to Congress recommendations 325, 327, 328, 331, 332 and 333 had been submitted to the Committee of Ministers.

In light of GR-DEM comments on CDLR report on synergies with other actors (CDLR(2012)24), the Bureau instructed the Secretariat to redraft the text accordingly and submit it to the Bureau for approval.  The EU Commission should also be consulted.

A.2      Information on other Council of Europe bodies

The Bureau took note of the information provided by Bureau members regarding recent Congress monitoring missions to Spain and Azerbaijan. 

The Bureau expressed regret at news of the death of Mrs Lövgren, Chair of the Stakeholders Platform.  It is to be hoped, nevertheless, that a meeting of the Stakeholders Platform can be arranged soon.

A.3      Mechanisms for cooperation with Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

The Bureau was informed of the appointment by Congress of Mr Karl-Heinz Lambertz as Congress Rapporteur for the Council of Europe intergovernmental sector. The Bureau agreed that Vice-Chair, Mr Paul-Henri Philips, would contact Mr Lambertz with a view to arranging a meeting between the CDLR Bureau and Mr Lambertz in Brussels late February / early March to discuss cooperation between the CDLR and the Congress.

Discussion with the Congress should focus on concrete areas for cooperation including the prospect of organising joint events.  In particular, the Bureau will seek to explore how the CDLR might contribute to Professor Ken Davey’s report for Congress on the impact of the financial crisis.

A.4      Priorities of the Andorran Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

The Bureau asked the Secretariat to inform the CDLR of the Chairmanship conferences in Andorra and Dublin at the plenary session in April.

A.5      Implementation of the CDLR work programme according to its Terms of Reference

The Bureau took note of the progress made in implementing the workprogramme and invited Secretariat to update it accordingly in advance of the CDLR plenary session.

B.1      Exchange of information and good practices on intergovernmental issues concerning local and regional democracy and cross-border co-operation

The Bureau took note of the information in document CDLR-Bu(2013)6 and underlined the importance of the CDLR as a forum for fruitful exchanges of views.  As a means of giving added-value to the exchanges, the Bureau invited the Secretariat henceforth to prepare a short summary of responses to questionnaires circulated in advance of exchanges of views.  Furthermore, a general summary of debates will also be prepared following exchanges in the plenary.  These reports will outline the main points raised in debates without attributing comments to specific member states.

B.2      Revised Structure and Operation Reports

The Bureau was informed that the Structure and Operation reports have been revised in light of recommendations from gender rapporteurs, discussions in the CDLR and written comments received from Congress.  A revised draft will be sent to the Bureau for approval in due course.

C.1      Update on the drawing up of the Appendix to Protocol 3 to the Madrid Outline Convention

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2013)7 and of the date of the next open working group meeting in Brussels on 8 March 2013.

D.1      Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform and Co-operationprogrammes

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2013)8.  The Chair invited the Secretariat to stress the link between the CDLR and the Centre in preparing the annual report to the Committee of Ministers.

D.2      Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2013)9.

E.1      Analyse the impact of changing economic fortunes on local budgets and develop proposed policy responses on the basis, as appropriate, of the “Kyiv Guidelines”

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2013)10.  In light of the fact that Professor Ken Davey has been tasked with preparing a report on this subject for Congress, after having substantially contributed to the work of CDLR and two Ministerial conferences on the subject, the Bureau agreed to contact him to explore how the CDLR might contribute to this work.  In particular, Prof. Davey will be invited to prepare a draft questionnaire on the further impact of financial crisis on local budgets.  He will also be invited to present his draft report to the CDLR in April.

The Bureau also agreed that the CDLR should explore ways of promoting and adapting the “Benchmarking for Local Finance” Toolkit to other member states and possibly also update the Handbook on Finance at Local and Regional Level, perhaps by inviting Professor Davey to undertake this task. Proposals to this end would be submitted to the CDLR in April.

E.2      Prepare proposals to strengthen awareness-raising of the human rights dimension of local and regional governance, in consultation with the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress and the Conference of INGOs

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2013)11 and agreed to request a report on the European Court of Human Rights case law arising from local authority action.

Mr Paul-Henri Phillips and Mr Auke van der Goot were re-appointed as Rapporteurs tasked with identifying institutional weak spots in human rights implementation at the local level with a view to preparing a report for the 52^nd meeting of the CDLR.

The Secretariat was invited to liaise with them in order to prepare initial proposals (on methods and substance) for the April plenary session.

E.3      Examine how the principles of good democratic governance at local and regional level can be promoted and applied in the practices of local and regional authorities

The Bureau agreed to await the outcome of the proposed workshop in Belgium on participation before developing this issue further.

E4.      Develop activities to help to overcome obstacles to transfrontier co-operation, inter alia, by sharing the lessons learned from relevant initiatives in member States

The Bureau took note of the information contained in document CDLR-Bu(2013)11 and invited the Secretariat to prepare a document for the April plenary session that will elicit responses from delegations allowing for specific proposals to be drawn up in time for the 52^nd meeting.

Other

The draft agenda for the 51^st CDLR meeting, as presented in doc CDLR(2013)OJ1prov. and amended in light of the Bureau meeting was approved.

The Bureau approved the gender equality questionnaire prepared by the Secretariat for transmission to CDLR members.  Member states will be invited to update the Secretariat on initiatives taken in the field of gender equality and mainstreaming in advance of the April plenary session.

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, GB

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

OTHER MEMBERS / AUTRES MEMBRES

Mme Laurence DEGLAIN, Bureau des structures territoriales, Direction Générale des Collectivités locales, Ministère de l'Intérieur, 1 bis, place des Saussaies, F - 75800 PARIS

Tel: (33) 01 49 27 31 78 ; E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Gadir KHALILOV, Senior adviser, Centre of work with municipalities, Ministry of Justice, B. Safaroglu str. 141, AZ BAKU 1009

Tel: (994) 12 596 34 08; Fax: (99412) 59 63 408; 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]

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

E-mail : [email protected]

Ms Paqui SANTONJA, Special Adviser, Direction Générale pour la coordination de compétences régionales et locales, Ministère des Finances et de l’Administratin Publique, MADRID

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

Apologised for absence / excusé

Mr Auke van der GOOT, BRUXELLES

E-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARIAT

Mrs Claudia LUCIANI, Director of Democratic Governance / Directrice de la gouvernance démocratique / Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 21 49 ; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 55;

E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Alfonso ZARDI, Head of Democratic Institutions and Governance Department / Chef du Service des institutions et de la gouvernance démocratiques - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, 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]

M. Daniel POPESCU, Head of Good Governance Division / Chef de la Division de la bonne gouvernance - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 36 08; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Niall SHEERIN, Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, 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]

Mr Thomas ZANDSTRA, Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, 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]

APPENDIX 2

AGENDA