Strasbourg, 18 January 2013                                                       CDLR-Bu(2013)4

Item A.4 of the agenda

 

BUREAU OF THE

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)

PRIORITIES OF THE ANDORRAN CHAIRMANSHIP

OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Secretariat Memorandum

prepared by the

Directorate of Democratic Governance

Democratic Institutions and Governance Department


This document is public. It will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy.

Ce document est public. Il ne sera pas distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire.

Overview

The Principality of Andorra will chair the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the first time since its accession from 9 November 2012 to 16 May 2013.  This document presents the main priorities of the current Chairmanship as well as upcoming activities of interest to the CDLR.

Priorities of the Andorran Chairmanship

Together with Armenia and Austria, the Andorran Chairmanship has identified the following common priorities, closely aligned to the core values of the Council of Europe, to better ensure continuity across Chairmanships.

A. Human rights

The decisions set out in the declarations and action plans adopted at the Interlaken, Izmir and Brighton conferences are designed to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while recognising the fundamental achievements of the European Court of Human Rights and respecting its primary role in the Convention system. Andorra, Armenia and Austria will thus seek to implement the follow-up to these conferences and to conclude the negotiations on the EU’s accession to the Convention.

Aware of the need for additional efforts to safeguard human rights throughout Europe, they attach great importance to various current projects, such as those relating to new media, and in particular to translating them into practical initiatives. In this context, Andorra, Armenia and Austria note that achievements such as the Convention and the Council of Europe’s current activities lack visibility within our societies. They have therefore agreed to seek to bring this institution closer to citizens and propose, during their Chairmanships, to take measures to remedy this situation through transparent information, rigorous training and education in human rights, so that the Council of Europe’s core values can become part of everyone’s everyday culture.

B. Democracy

During their successive Chairmanships of the Committee of Ministers, Andorra, Armenia and Austria undertake to focus their efforts on education for democratic citizenship. In a society that has become, and is set to remain, diversified, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, alongside the ability to integrate, are crucial tasks for the Council of Europe.

Andorra, Armenia and Austria are convinced that education and training can and must contribute to such a policy mission by providing the necessary means to acquire the common cultural elements needed for living together, in harmony, in multicultural, democratic societies, with due regard for human rights and the rule of law.

Recognising the considerable importance of local and regional authorities in this context, the three Chairmanships have decided to make promoting local and regional democracy a priority.

C. Rule of law

Andorra, Armenia and Austria are aware that a number of challenges are currently emerging which threaten to undermine our societies and the very foundations of the rule of law. In this context, they attach particular importance to the Council of Europe’s work aimed at promoting democracy through law and ensuring the efficiency of justice, and at combating corruption and trafficking in human beings. During their Chairmanships, they will work together to ensure effective implementation of Council of Europe instruments and policies capable of helping the various states to address these modern-day challenges.

Activities of interest to the CDLR

6th to 8th February 2013 in Dublin: Conference Making diversity work as part of the program of the Intercultural Cities, under the auspices of the Irish presidency of the EU and of the Andorran presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

7th to 8th February 2013 in Andorra: Conference: Skills for a culture of democracy and intercultural dialogue: a political challenge and one of values.

From 15th to 21st April 2013 in Andorra: Two specific activities will be organised in close collaboration with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: