23rd Plenary Session
CG(23)4
15 October 2012
State of the Congress
Keith WHITMORE (UK, L, ILDG), President
Activity Report 2012 of the President
INTRODUCTION
In October 2011, the Committee of Ministers adopted a response to the Congress Recommendation 299 (2011) on the” Reform of the Congress within the reform of the Council of Europe” in which it welcomes the opportunity to co-operate closely with the Congress in addressing issues which affect the interests of local and regional authorities. The Committee of Ministers also reaffirmed that it attaches great importance to the work of the Congress, which, by working towards the emergence of solid, efficient local and regional democracy in Europe, is helping to achieve the Organisation’s statutory aim.
The Committee took note of the Congress’s wish to further reinforce their mutual dialogue and declared itself open to such a reinforcement. It invited its rapporteur groups to bear this in mind whenever their work could benefit from Congress input.
This response by the Committee of Ministers marks the end of a cycle of reform that the congress had undertaken since 2010.
In 2012, the Congress thus continued to implement the priorities it had fixed in the context of the reform. It focused on the activities of protection and promotion of local and regional democracy by enhancing its activities in the field of monitoring and observation of local elections and opening up the political dialogue in the field and with the States concerned.
The implementation of its recommendations made after monitoring visits or observation missions are now being assessed and can be followed by specific cooperation activities.
In recentering its activities on its priority missions, the Congress has a double aim: on the one hand to improve its efficiency, its capacity for reaction and its transparency, and on the other hand to align its structures more closely with the Council of Europe’s overall action and core values – the rule of law, democracy and human rights. It thus clearly shows its willingness to support the changes underway in the Council of Europe and to actively participate and contribute to them.
The Congress is now clearly engaged in increased dialogue and coordination with the Committee of Ministers which it keeps regularly informed of the state of preparation and results of the Congress’s sessions and the progress of its work. The Congress actively participates in conferences of specialised ministers. Its President and Secretary General have regular exchanges of views with the Committee and its Rapporteur Groups and steering committees.
The Congress is convinced that to be always more efficient, it needs to continue increasing its transversal cooperation with its institutional partners. With the Parliamentary Assembly, in particular, the Congress is promoting increased consultation and exchange, especially at the level of the rapporteurs of the two Assemblies.
This complementarity of action and cooperation in concrete areas was also the emphasis of the Chaves report, adopted by the Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional authorities in Kyiv in November 2011 and endorsed by the Congress.
Other practical examples of the co-operation and complementarity in action that the Congress is developing are, inter alia, its contribution to the Council of Europe’s policy towards neighbouring regions – with the support given to democratisation in Mediterranean countries, such as Morocco and Tunisia together with the Venice Commission– and the Congress participation in the project on strengthening local government structures and cooperation of local elected representatives in Albania, which has just entered into a new phase.
By also recentering its thematic activities, the Congress wishes to follow the core mission of the Council of Europe in ensuring the protection of fundamental rights of citizens and their participation to the democratic process. The launching of an European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion (to strengthen Roma social and economic inclusion and step up the capacity of cities and regions in this respect), the extension of the European Local Democracy Week (to raise citizens’ awareness to democracy and encourage them to take an active part in local life), as well as the plan of action built up as a contribution to the Council of Europe campaign “1 in 5” to fight sexual abuse of children, are examples of these actions.
Since the beginning of 2012, the Congress worked to elaborate its priorities for 2013-2016 which were submitted for adoption by the 23rd session. These priorities aim to continue to pave the way in which the Congress is committed since the reform. They draw the outline of its future activities, in three fields of action in particular: raising the quality of local and regional democracy, helping local authorities to face the economic and financial crisis, developing cooperation and partnerships.
These three fields of action will have as a common goal improving local and regional democracy, strengthening the capacity of cities and regions, promoting good governance and ethics, fostering respect of fundamental rights, fighting discrimination and intolerance, reinforcing intercultural and interreligious dialogue and helping to step up youth and other citizen’s participation.
Obviously, the whole future action of the Congress will have to take into account the economic and financial crisis and its devastating consequences at local level. The Congress will have to put its efforts into supporting local and regional authorities in their fight against the crisis and helping them to continue to fulfil their duties, especially in the social field, to their citizens, in particular the more vulnerable ones.
Table of contents
1. The political agenda of the President
2. Co-operation within the Council of Europe
a. The intergovernmental sector
c. The Commissioner on Human Rights
e. The European Commission for Democracy through Law (The Venice Commission)
f. Council of Europe Conference of INGOs
3. Monitoring local and regional democracy
b. Observation of local and regional elections
d. The Chamber of Local Authorities
b. Support of the democratic process in the Euro-Mediterranean region
f. Contributing to Council of Europe campaigns
6. Co-operation activities and partnership
b. Targeted co-operation and partnership
1. The political agenda of the President
· Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional authorities (Kyiv, 3-4 November 2011)
The 17th session of the ministerial Conference approved the report of Manuel Chaves, former Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy and Public Administration, on the work of the Council of Europe in the field of local and regional democracy. This report takes into account the reforms initiated by the Congress since the Utrecht Conference notably on transparency and the monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The report proposes an Agenda in common to be set between the governments of member States, the Congress, the Parliamentary Assembly and the conference of INGOs to improve coordination among those who decide on local and regional policies in governments, elected representatives and the civil society. The Congress President stated that the Congress was fully supporting the report which will serve to guide its work for the coming years.
· Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers (Strasbourg, 16 November 2011)
During the annual exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers, the President recalled the major reform steps of the Congress in 2010-2011. In addition to the central mission of monitoring local and regional democracy, the President referred to recent Congress events such as the Summit of Mayors on Roma and to other important fields of Congress action, for example, promoting human rights at the local level, pursuing local integration for better social cohesion and increasing citizens’ participation through the European Local Democracy Week.
· Meeting newly elected President of PACE and Presidents of three PACE Committees (Strasbourg, 23-25 January 2012)
The President held a bi-lateral meeting with the newly-elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Jean-Claude Mignon, on the day of the election (24 January 2012). The two Presidents discussed areas of common interest such as the fight against sexual exploitation of children and committed themselves to working together much more closely in the future, in particular through co-ordinated action between Rapporteurs of both institutions in key areas.
He also met with the newly-elected presidents of three PACE committees (23 and 25 January 2012). With the Chairman of the Monitoring Committee, Andres Herkel, he addressed the monitoring of member states and the observation of elections, with the Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, Maury Pasquier, he spoke of issues related to local and regional democracy and sustainable development and with Pietro Marcenaro, President of the political Affairs Committee, he discussed the situation in Kosovo, Roma issues and the "Arab Spring".
· Bi-partite meeting between the Congress and the EU-Committee of the Regions Presidents (Brussels, 26 January 2012)
The Congress President and Mercedes Bresso, President of the EU-Committee of the Regions, discussed progress in the implementation of the co-operation agreement between the two institutions and co-operation activities for 2012. The Presidents examined the common political priorities and decided to act in synergy in particular on local and regional elections observation, multi-level governance, neighbourhood policy, good governance and fight against corruption, the Conference for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP), the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) and policies for Roma inclusion.
· High-Level Meeting on Local and Regional Democracy (London, 13 February 2012)
At the invitation of the United Kingdom Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, the Congress participated in this high-level meeting, which brought together representatives of Council of Europe member states, and other Council of Europe stakeholders in the field of local and regional governance. The Congress delegation headed by the President presented a "position paper" in which it reiterated the Congress’s willingness to maintain and strengthen political dialogue with its institutional partners, including the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly.
· 122nd Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers (23 May 2012)
The Congress President presented the Congress’ involvement in the Council of Europe’s policy towards neighbouring regions, in particular towards Morocco and Tunisia. He underlined that the Congress is pursuing two types of intervention: an immediate assistance to help establish an adequate legal framework for a real local and regional democracy, and the support to initiatives on democratic governance and co-operation with newly elected local representatives.
· Albanian chairmanship of Committee of Ministers and territorial democracy (May-November 2012)
By placing the furtherance of local and regional democracy among the priorities of its Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, Albania highlighted the importance of the local dimension for strengthening democracy in general and bringing the country closer to the rest of Europe. The programme on local democracy devised by Albania, with the active participation of the Congress is built around several conferences and events with the participation of the President and members of the Congress.
Among these meetings, on the day after the Bureau meeting in Tirana (see below under “Bureau meetings”), the President took part to an exchange of views with teaching staff and students at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tirana and held discussions with President of Albania Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Speaker of the Parliament Jozefina Topalli, He praised the interest shown by the Albanian authorities in further improving governance and welcomed Albania's commitment to strengthening local and regional democracy in the country.
· Official visit to Croatia (4-6 June 2012)
At the invitation of the Croatian government, the President, accompanied by the Congress Secretary General, conducted an official visit to Zagreb, Kutina and Dubrovnik. The President held high-level meetings with, amongst others, the Deputy Prime Minister for Domestic, Foreign and European Policy, Neven Mimica, and Minister of Public Administration Arsen Bauk, with the reform of local and regional democracy in Croatia being one of the topics they discussed. In Dubrovnik, the main topic of discussion was the successful activities to prevent sexual violence against children implemented by Dubrovnik County and Dubrovnik city, notably in the framework of the Council of Europe campaign '1 in 5'. Among the other items on the agenda were Roma inclusion, cross-border cooperation, city diplomacy and the situation of local authorities in Croatia.
· 4th General meeting of the National Associations of Local and Regional Authorities (Strasbourg, 13 September 2012)
The President stressed the role of the national associations as an ''early-warning system'', being able to draw attention to the challenges faced by local and regional authorities and raise alarm over possible violations of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. He called for a strengthening of their contribution to the work of the Congress. To enhance this co-operation, the 4th General Meeting discussed plans for joint action. They were invited, among others, to make their contribution to the priorities of the Congress for 2013-2016, with a view to their adoption at the 23rd Session.
· 31st Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Justice (Vienna, 19-21 September 2012)
The conference examined “Responses of justice to urban violence”. The President underlined that citizens expect effective action in their defence first and foremost from local authorities. They act as intermediaries between the different services concerned. He said the Congress is convinced that the political and social response to urban violence must be fostering dialogue, building partnerships, engaging citizens – especially young people and minority groups.
· 9th Council of Europe conference of ministers responsible for youth (St Petersburg, 24 September 2012).
The conference looked in particular at identifying innovative youth policies at a time when young Europeans are experiencing increasing challenges due to demographic changes and the current economic situation. Congress President spoke at the opening and underlined that the active participation of young people in decisions and actions at local and regional levels is essential if more democratic, inclusive and prosperous societies are to be built.
· 25th General Assembly of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) (Cadiz, 27 September 2012)
A high level Congress delegation took part in this General Assembly. In his speech, the President said that the Congress is convinced that the way out of the crisis passes through the requirements of decentralisation, democracy and development. He has been honoured by a special award for his past contribution to the work of the CEMR in promoting the interests of local government across Europe, in particular their work on town twinning and cooperating with similar organisations globally, and for his work as President of Congress. The CEMR represents over 55 national associations of local or regional government from more than 40 countries. Participants were also informed about the recent developments of the current edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW).
· World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg, 5-11 October 2012)
The Congress took an active part in the World Forum for Democracy which was attended by leading international figures, experts from politics, media, civil society and academia. The aim was to identify new lines of action for strengthening democracy all over the world. Congress representatives among which Leen Verbeek, Queen’s Commissioner of the Province of Flevoland and representative of the Chamber of Regions and John Warmisham, Councellor and coordinator for the European Local Democracy Week have participated in the plenary session and in various round tables and thematic conferences. At a debate on “democracy and mondialisation” the President called for a new model of participatory democracy, based on citizen participation and involving all residents – minorities, foreigners, and migrants – and providing them with direct access to institutions of power. He emphasised the crucial role of local and regional authorities in this new framework.
2. Co-operation within the Council of Europe
In the spirit of the Council of Europe reform, the Congress embarked on close co-operation with the institutional partners within the Organisation.
a. The intergovernmental sector
1. Action Plans
The Congress has included projects on local and regional democracy in the Council of Europe action plans for Albania, Armenia and Ukraine. It contributes to the new Council of Europe policy towards neighbouring regions and has established relations in the context of this cooperation with Morocco and Tunisia.(see para.6 b).
2. European Committee for Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR)
On 2 and 3 April 2012 in Strasbourg, President Whitmore, Lars Molin, the Chair of the Monitoring Committee and the Congress Secretary General met the Bureau of the CDLR. They discussed the follow-up to monitoring missions and identified key and pressing issues for which there is a real need for further work on both sides, such as local responses to the financial crisis and citizens’ participation in the democratic process.
The Congress President had also an exchange of views with the CDLR on the priorities and current work of the Congress.
3. Steering Committee on Human Rights (CDDH)
The Secretary General of the Congress addressed the CDDH during its plenary meeting on 9 December 2011. He explained how the Congress had intensified its action regarding human rights, and recalled its intention to make use of its existing networks and knowledge bases to mobilise its resources to bring human rights issues to the attention of local authorities in member States.
4. Ad hocCommittee of Expertson Roma Issues(CAHROM)
The Congress is represented at meetings of the Committee by the Secretariat and its thematic rapporteur on the Roma / Travellers John Warmisham. At the third meeting, from 22 to 25 May 2012 in Skopje and Ohrid, Mr. Warmisham presented the state of implementation of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion, which will have two main functions: serve as a platform for the exchange of information, and provide services and support mechanism for cities and regions.
The Congress is also represented in other Steering Committees and Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe - including the steering Committee on Youth, the steering Committee on cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, the Committee of the Lanzarote Convention, through its Secretariat or its thematic rapporteurs.
b. The Parliamentary Assembly
In the framework of its reform the Congress has increased its dialogue with its institutional partners within the Council of Europe, in particular with the Parliamentary Assembly - in order to increase their co-operation in areas of common interest.
Addressing the 21st session (October 2011), the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Mevlüt Çavusoglu highlighted the areas of common interest and co-operation between both organisations. He emphasised that the Assembly fully supports the work of the Congress arguing that coordinated action at various levels of government is essential in dealing with today’s challenges. He mentioned, in particular, co-ordinated action between Rapporteurs of both institutions and possible synergies in key areas such as macroeconomic difficulties, environment, the European Social Charter, combating intolerance, the fight to eradicate sexual abuse of children and the process of democratic transformation in the Arab world.
In January 2012, the Congress President met with the newly elected President of the PACE as well as with the new presidents of three PACE Committees (see above under “political agenda of the President”)
The results of the European Best Practice Award for Coastal Towns were announced jointly by the PACE President and the President of the Congress, on 26 April 2012, at a ceremony during the Parliamentary Assembly session in Strasbourg (see below under 5.c. “rewarding good practices”)
c. The Commissioner on Human Rights
The Congress has developed close relations with the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner in the fields of awareness raising and protection of Human Rights. Informal consultations may be held in the context of monitoring the local and regional democracy.
Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg took part, among others, in the Summit of Mayors on Roma in September 2011 and in the Congress session in October 2011.
The new Commissioner Nils Muižnieks (elected on 24 January 2012) was invited to address the 23rd session of the Congress (October 2012)
d. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
The Congress is represented at the meetings of the Commission by its thematic rapporteur on fight against racism Sherma Batson.
e. The European Commission for Democracy through Law (The Venice Commission)
The Congress has an outstanding cooperation with the Venice Commission in particular in the field of election observation, the monitoring of the Charter and the programmes of cooperation with the neighbouring countries.
It took part on 2 and 3 July in Tirana in a conference on the experiences by Council of Europe institutions and member countries in implementing the Venice Commission’s Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters – and adopted in 2002. Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, Vice-President of the State Parliament of Salzburg (Austria) underlined that the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters is a field guide and a source of information and inspiration for Congress observers. She demonstrated how the 5 principles of European electoral heritage – universal, equal, free, secret and direct suffrage – are taken into account and followed-up by Congress reports and recommendations. With regard to future developments, she mentioned the study on “eligibility criteria for local and regional elections” which will be carried out by the Venice Commission at the request of the Congress.
The Monitoring Committee has strengthened its cooperation with the Venice Commission on issues of local and regional democracy. Lars O. Molin, President of the Monitoring Committee, regularly represents the Congress at meetings of the Venice Commission. This gives the opportunity to inform the Commission of the follow up given by the authorities of the countries visited during the monitoring of the opinions of the Venice Commission on local and regional democracy. Furthermore, these opinions are taken into account also by Congress rapporteurs during their visits and recommendations.
The institutional cooperation activities with Morocco and Tunisia is conducted in close collaboration with the Venice Commission. The Congress has participated in several hearings and meetings of the Venice Commission with the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) of Tunisia on the draft Constitution. The Commission has also been involved in the discussions of the Congress with the Moroccan Parliament on the draft law on the advanced regionalization.
f. Council of Europe Conference of INGOs
The Congress President took part in the roundtable on “Council of Europe bodies’ 2012 Commitments on democracy” organized by the conference of INGOs on 26 June in Strasbourg). He outlined the essential elements needed for a democratic model based on active participation and stressed that civil society organisations are key partners of local and regional authorities in building conditions to achieve participation.
The INGO’s Conference also participates in the European Local Democracy Week organized every year by the Congress.
3. Monitoring local and regional democracy
a. The monitoring activities
The activities relating to the monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government have been stepped up. They have become more frequent and more regular, since each member state is now to be visited and evaluated every five years, and they involve more political dialogue and cooperation with the states concerned.
The Congress has also focused on the evaluation of the implementation of its recommendations made in the framework of the monitoring and the setting up of new forms of cooperation to address specific problems during visits.
1. Adopted recommendations
During the 21st Session (October 2011), the Congress adopted 5 Recommendations on local and regional democracy in the following countries:
● Slovenia (18 October 2011)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 308 (2011) presented by Jos Wienen (Netherlands, EPP/CD) and Merita Jegeni Yildiz (Turkey, EPP/CD) take note of the improvements observed in local government finances, the good practices concerning the integration of Roma minorities and the status of the capital city. A number of issues such as the fragmentation of municipalities and the process of regionalisation remain unresolved. The Congress would like to see an increase in the financial autonomy of local authorities. Promotion of mergers of local authorities where appropriate and launching the process of regionalisation are among the recommendations made to the Slovenian authorities along with a call to disseminate the existing good practices concerning the integration of Roma among local communities.
● Bulgaria (18 October 2011)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 310 (2011) presented by rapporteurs Artur Torres Pereira (Portugal, EPP/CD) and Johan Sauwens (Belgium, EPP/CD) underline the considerable improvement in local democracy in Bulgaria since the first monitoring visit in 1998. Some concerns are voiced over the financial restrictions the local authorities face. Efficient judicial protection is mentioned as another area requiring improvement. The Congress invites the Bulgarian authorities to withdraw their reservation in respect to Article 7, para. 2, since the local government law is already in accordance with the Charter. It also recommends Bulgaria to ratify both the Additional Protocol to the Charter on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority and Protocol No. 3 to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities concerning Euro-regional Co-operation Groupings (ECGs).
● Finland (18 October 2011)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 311 (2011) presented by rapporteur Jean-Louis Testud (France, EPP/CD) emphasises the exemplary culture of consultation and the government’s will to to involve local authorities in issues that concern them. Excessive deficits of some municipalities and the need to ensure an equal standard of basic services throughout the country are mentioned. Finnish authorities are encouraged to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in local affairs as well as the Additional Protocols to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities.
· Latvia (18 October 2011)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 317 (2011) presented by Jean-Claude Frécon (France, SOC), and Philippe Leuba (Switzerland, NR), conclude that Latvia’s legislation on local government is a good basis for the development of local self-government. Financial problems facing local authorities remain an issue. So do the restrictions on the participation in public affairs of non-citizens who identify with a national minority. A special legal status for the capital Riga and the granting to “non-citizens” of the right to vote in local elections figure among the Congress recommendations. Latvian authorities are also invited to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority as well as Protocol No. 3 to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities concerning Euro-regional Co-operation Groupings (ECGs).
· Serbia (19 October 2011)
This first monitoring report and Recommendation 316 (2011) presented by Odd Arild Kvalöy (Norway, NR) underline that the guiding principles of local self-government are secured in Serbian legislation. The need for reform of local self-government and regional autonomy are mentioned. The recommendation welcomes the legislation granting special status to the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, but is less happy that the municipalities are being made to carry the burden of the financial crisis and are not consulted sufficiently by the central government. Finding a solution to the restitution of public property is an important issue for Serbia. So is the lifting of reservations on Articles 4 para.3 and 8 para.3 of the European Charter of Local Self-Government dealing with the principle of subsidiarity. Congress calls upon Serbia to sign and ratify the Additional Protocols to the Charter.
During the 22nd Session (March 2012), the Congress adopted 6 Recommendations on local and regional democracy in the following countries:
· Lithuania (21 March 2012)
The second monitoring report and Recommendation 321 (2012) presented by Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC) and Irene Loizidou (Cyprus, EPP/CD), praises, in particular, the guarantees given in the constitution to the right to self-government for local authorities and the progress made in consultation procedures between associations of local government and the central level. The Congress recommends that Lithuanian authorities allocate sufficient resources to local authorities, entrench the principle of subsidiarity in the law on self-government and encourage citizens to participate in local affairs.
During the debate held by the Chamber of Local Authorities, special attention was given to the situation concerning the participation of national minorities in political local life in Lithuania and access to education in the languages of the Russian and Polish minority populations in the country. Comments on this situation were appended to the report and it was agreed that the Monitoring Committee of the Congress would look closely into the issue of national minorities' participation in local political life in member States of the Council of Europe, during their next meeting planned in October 2012.
· Czech Republic(21 March 2012)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 319 (2012) were presented by the rapporteurs, Emil Calota (Romania, SOC) and Philippe Receveur (Switzerland, EPP/CD), who expressed satisfaction that the legislative framework was in line with the Charter. They noted, however, that the fragmentation of municipalities still posed a challenge to effective and efficient local self-government and that coordination and simplification of the overall system of controls carried out by the State administration seemed necessary. The Congress recommended that the Czech Government develop the mechanisms of consultation with local and regional authorities and encouraged the government to uphold the principle of concomitant financing. The authorities were also invited to ratify those provisions of Articles 4 and 9 of the Charter which they had not ratified, since these are now de facto operational.
· Germany (21 March 2012)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 320 (2012), presented by Britt-Marie Lövgren (Sweden, ILDG), state that Germany has implemented the recommendations made by the Congress after its monitoring of the local government finances in 1999. The Congress acknowledged the very high standards of local democracy both in the constitutions of the federation and the Länder as well as in everyday life. It nonetheless invited German authorities to work out the standards for concomitant financing of local authorities, to strengthen and institutionalise participatory rights of national associations of local authorities both at federal and Länder level and to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.
· Republic of Moldova (22 March 2012)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 322 (2012) presented by Francis Lec (France, SOC), were produced following two monitoring visits in September and November 2011. They state that the national decentralisation strategy developed by the government of the Republic of Moldova is a sign of this country’s commitment to conducting a thorough reform of local public administration. The Congress called on the Moldovan government to ensure that local authorities were allocated resources commensurate with their responsibilities, to reduce the supervision of local authorities to allow them to manage their own affairs, to review legislation in order to clarify the powers and responsibilities of various tiers of government, and to adopt a new law on the status of the capital, Chisinau. The Congress also underlined that the efforts of the Republic of Moldova should be encouraged, so that the good intentions expressed by the authorities are translated into future action.
· Portugal (22 March 2012)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 323 (2012) presented by Jos Wienen (Netherlands, EPP) and Devrim Çukur (Turkey, SOC) highlighted the difficulties that local and regional authorities have been facing since 2008. The Portuguese Government had reduced their competencies and resources because of financial constraints, leading to a net decline in some basic principles of local autonomy in Portugal. The Congress calls on the Portuguese authorities to give local authorities more autonomy with respect to local taxes, to improve the consultation process by institutionalising systematic prior and timely consultation with the associations of regional and self-government bodies on issues that are of direct concern to local and regional authorities, to streamline budget procedures, and to ensure effective participation by municipalities in the legislative process to reform the 2007 Local Finance Act.
· Bosnia and Herzegovina (22 March 2012)
The monitoring report and Recommendation 324 (2012) presented by Beat Hirs (Switzerland, ILDG) and Jean-Marie Belliard (France, EPP), who visited the country in April and December 2011, welcomed the passing on 3 February 2012, of the Law on the Population Census and urged the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to carry out this census as soon as possible. The country’s complex structure, the fact that there has been no population census since 1991 and the lack of clarity in the definition of responsibilities are still hampering the development of local self-government. The Congress called on the entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to draw up reform plans on devolution and implement in practice the principles set out in the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The Congress stressed notably the need to continue the current discussions on revising the constitution of the Republika Srpska in order to grant special status to the city of Banja Luka and to assign it appropriate powers and resources.
2. Visits carried out
Since October 2011, the Congress carried out 11 local and regional monitoring visits in the following member States:
● Italy (2-4 November 2011)
The Congress Rapporteurs Knud Andersen (Denmark, ILDG) and Marina Bespalova (Russian Federation, EPP/CD) examined the follow-up commitments undertaken in the field of territorial democracy and decentralisation with regard to Italy’s ratification of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1990. The previous monitoring mission in the country was carried out in 1997. Meetings were held with the Italian delegation to the Congress and with representatives of the Municipal and Provincial Association. In addition, meetings were held with the Presidents of the regions of Lazio and Lombardy, communities of the Provinces of Rome and Milan and Mayors and representatives of municipal councils of Rome and Milan. The second part of the visit is scheduled for December 2012.
● Portugal (7-9 November 2011)
The Congress Rapporteurs Devrim Çukur (Turkey, SOC) and Jos Wienen (Netherlands, EPP/CD) examined the follow-up to commitments undertaken in the field of territorial democracy and decentralisation with regard to Portugal’s ratification of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1990. The delegation met, in particular, the Portuguese delegation to the Congress and representatives of the associations of local authorities, as well as the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Administrative Reform, the Mayors of Lisbon, Coimbra Porto and Vila Nova de Poiares and the President of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Meetings were also scheduled with the President of the Court of Audit and the President of the Constitutional Court as well as representatives of the Ombudsman.
● Republic of Moldova (23-25 November 2011)
The visit was the second stage in the monitoring process, which was launched by a first visit in early September 2011. The Congress rapporteurs, Francis Lec (France, SOC) and Ignacio Sanchez-Amor (Spain, SOC) met with Dorin Chirtoaca, Mayor of Chisinau and a member of the Moldovan delegation to the Congress. They discussed the state of local democracy in the Republic of Moldova and examined, in particular, the capital's new statute, which is currently before the Moldovan parliament. They also discussed the distribution of competences between the capital and central government, notably with regard to budget allocation.
· The visit to ''the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' (5 -7 December 2011)
Congress Rapporteurs, Ian Micallef (Malta, EPP/CD) and Andrée Buchmann (France, SOC), examined the honouring of commitments entered into by this country in the light of the country’s ratification of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in June 1997. The delegation focused on the country’s response to the recommendations to the national authorities following the last monitoring visit in 2007. Meetings were notably held with Nevzat Bejta, Minister of Local Self-Government; Koce Trajanovski, Mayor of Skopje; Fatmir Izairi, Mayor of Zhelino and Zoran Zaev, Mayor of Strumica.
· Bosnia and Herzegovina (12-13 December 2011)
The visit was the second stage in the monitoring process, which was launched by a first visit in April 2011. The Congress rapporteurs, Jean-Marie Belliard (France, NR) and Beat Hirs (Switzerland, ILDG) held meetings notably with Zoran Mikulic, Minister of Justice of the FbiH; with Sarajevo and Herzegovina-Neretva cantonal authorities, and with Vinko Radovanovic, Mayor of East Sarajevo.
· Ukraine (21-23 May 2012)
The Congress delegation led by Fabio Pellegrini (Italy, SOC) and Pascal Mangin (France, EPP/CD) carried out this third general monitoring visit to the country since it ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1997. The delegation met the Mayor of Kyiv, Leonid Chernovetskyi, the Head of Kyiv City State Administration, Oleksandr Popov and members of his staff. Meetings were also held with local authorities associations, with Municipal Councillors of the cities of Simferopol and Chernivtsi, with members of Ivano-Frankivsk Council and Region and with Ministers and Members of Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The delegation held a final exchange of views with Maryna Stavniychuk, Advisor to the President of Ukraine and Head of the Main Department of Constitutional and Legal Modernisation. The second part of the visit is scheduled for April 2013.
· Hungary (23-25 May 2012)
The Congress delegation led by Artur Torres Pereira (Portugal, SOC) and Devrim Çukur (Turkey, EPP/CD) carried out a first general monitoring visit to the country since it ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1994. Meetings were held with the Hungarian delegation to the Congress and with representatives of Local associations. An exchange of views with the Secretary of State for Municipal Affairs and with the President of the Constitutional Court took also place, as well as meetings with Mayors and Municipal Councillors of the cities of Budapest, Gödöllö, Szentes and Szeged and with members of National Parliament.
· Spain (5-8 June 2012)
The Congress delegation composed of two rapporteurs on local and regional democracy, Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG) and Leen Verbeek (The Netherlands, SOC) took place at the moment when Spanish authorities were considering modifying the basic legislation governing local authorities. The second part will take place in November 2012
· Georgia (11-13 June 2012)
The Congress delegation led by Ian Micallef (Malta, EPP/DC) and Helena Pihlajasaari (Finland, SOC) carried out the second general monitoring visit to the country since it ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2004. The members of the delegation visited the Autonomous Republic of Adjara where they met the Head of the Government and the Minister of Finance, as well as the Mayors of Batumi, Kobulete, Khelvcahuri and Shuakhevi. They also had an exchange of views with the judges of the Constitutional Court of Georgia in Batumi. The delegation met with the Georgian delegation to the Congress and the representatives of the National Association of Local Authorities, as well as with the President and members of the national parliament and the Mayors of Tbilisi and Rustavi.
· Denmark (3-5 October 2012)
The Congress Rapporteurs Julia Costa (Portugal, EPP/CD) and Jean-Pierre Liouville (France, SOC) held meetings in Copenhagen, Vallensbæk, Sorø and Maribo. They had meetings with the Minister of the Economy and the Interior, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Finance, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, the President of the Supreme Court, and representatives of Dragør and Lolland municipalities as well as the Zeeland region, The report on the situation of local and regional democracy in Denmark will be submitted for approval at a meeting of the Congress’s Monitoring Committee in 2013.
· Ireland (3-5 October 2012)
The Congress Rapporteurs Michael Cohen (Malta, SOC) and Merita Jegeni Yıldız (Turkey, EPP/CD) held meetings in Dublin, Nava and Cork. The delegation met with the Minister of Environment, Community and Local Government, the mayors of Dublin and Cork (county and city), councillors from Meath and Trim, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. They also had an exchange of views with the national associations of local authorities and members of Parliament. The report on the situation of local and regional democracy in Ireland will be submitted for approval at a meeting of the Congress’s Monitoring Committee in 2013.
3. Post-monitoring activities
The Congress is determined to better assess the follow-up given to its recommendations in the framework of the monitoring of local and regional democracy in member States. It has started to organise specific activities in member States to step up dialogue with and between authorities and to assess progress made in respect of the conclusions of the monitoring.
It launched this new post-monitoring process on 4 September 2012 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Entitled “Empowering local governments through legislative reform: recommendations by the Congress of the Council of Europe”, the meeting - chaired by Lars O. Molin, President of the Monitoring Committee and opened by the Mayor of Sarajevo, Alija Behmen - was a high level forum to discuss ways to best implement the Congress’s recommendations made following the two monitoring visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011. Lars O. Molin stressed that the post-monitoring the Congress wants to establish is not some kind of police action or supervision procedure, but teamwork between peers and fellows in government, be it national or local and regional.
This meeting was preceeded by a presentation from the Congress Secretary General on Congress monitoring activities in Bosnia-Herzegovina at a meeting of the Working Group on “Western Balkans” of the Committee of the Regions in Sarajevo on 22 May 2012. He underlined that the Congress proposes to contribute to strengthen the basis on local democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina by assisting the authorities to revise or elaborate legislation related to local self-government, in particular by clarifying the distribution of competences, enhancing intergovernmental and inter-municipal cooperation and interaction, and by increasing citizens oriented effective governance and services provision.
b. Observation of local and regional elections
Already since 2010, the Congress has been taking steps to widen the scope of its observation activities. Congress election observation includes now assessments on the political system, the legal conditions and the media landscape as well as information collected at the pre-electoral stage, in particular concerning the electoral campaign.
The Congress is also focusing more intensely on the concrete follow-up to Congress’s recommendations resulting from election observation missions.
Furthermore, emphasis is placed on regular training sessions for Congress members. This training is usually carried out in co-operation with the Congress’s strategic partners in the field of election observation, notably with the EU Committee of the Regions, but also with national associations of local self-government. A recent example of successful collaboration in this field was the training session held in February 2012 in London, in partnership with the UK Local Government Association.
● Local elections in Bulgaria (23 October 2011)
Delegations led by Congress Rapporteur Mihkel Juhkami (Estonia, EPP/CD) carried out both the pre-electoral visit and the main mission during which six delegations were deployed to several regions throughout the country. The Report – which was adopted at the 22nd Session in March 2012 – noted with satisfaction that the local elections of 23 October were largely well organised and conducted in an orderly and professional manner, on the basis of a solid legal framework for democratic elections, and that there was a vibrant and competitive campaign.
However, the delegation identified several fields for improvement including the administration of elections, the voting process and practical arrangements, the vote count and related processes as well as the complaints and appeals procedures. Therefore, among other recommendations, the Congress invited the Bulgarian authorities to address the issue of a more balanced composition of election commissions at all levels, to strengthen provisions with regard to party and campaign financing, to improve the public trust in counting processes by introducing mechanisms which prevent fraudulent manipulations (eg vote-buying) and to amend the provisions concerning complaints and appeals procedures in a way that a final appeal to a court should be possible.
- Local and provincial elections in Serbia (6 May)
A delegation of the Congress headed by Nigel Mermagen (United Kingdom, ILDG) observed the local and provincial part of the elections carried out on 6 May 2012. Among the members of this delegation were also representatives of the EU Committee of the Regions. For the first time, three elections – at presidential, parliamentary and grassroots level – were held concurrently throughout the country. The delegation found improvements in the legal framework and the electoral system of Serbia which had positive effects on the identification of local leadership. But matters of concern remain the infringement of the secrecy of the vote, the lack of transparency of media ownership and the situation of the Roma minority who seems to be particularly vulnerable to possible electoral malpractices.
The draft Report due to be adopted at the 23rd Congress Plenary in October 2012 stated that the elections – with the exception of some incidents – were conducted in an overall orderly manner in – mostly – well-organised polling stations. However, the fact that three elections were organised on the same day has led to the fact that the local elections were largely overshadowed by the national vote. The Congress insisted also on the need to improve the equipment at polling stations where, in general, simple cardboard separations, rather than polling booths, were still in use.
- Partial local elections in Armenia (9 September and 23 September 2012)
A delegation of the Congress, headed by Henry Feral, (France, EPP/CD) and including also members of the EU Committee of the Regions, carried out a mission to observe partial local elections in this country. Following the observation of partial local elections held on 9 September, the Congress delegation confirmed that the voting process was well organised and elections on both dates were conducted orderly and with a satisfactory level of voter participation. However, the delegation noted with regret the lack of commitment of political parties in Armenia with regard to local governance. The delegation recognised that this was a result of various reasons, such as lack of financial resources, staff and candidates, but criticised that political parties do not pay enough attention to democracy and governance at local level. Also, the Congress delegation called for greater involvement of civil society as a whole in these matters.
- Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 October 2012)
A delegation headed by Congress Rapporteur Amy Koopmanschap (Netherlands, SOC) - including members of the EU-Committee of the Regions and a member of the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions – carried out an observation mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 4 to 8 October 2012 and observed the vote on 7 October.
Two weeks prior to this date a pre-electoral visit was organised. The delegation stated that the elections were prepared and conducted in an overall satisfying manner, although some issues of genuinely democratic elections remain to be addressed, in particular the influence of parties on the composition of polling station committees and the role of domestic observers, the registration process and the scope of liberality of the electoral law in this respect, as well as the issues of assistance for voters who cannot exercise their voting right alone and family voting. Also, the delegation recommended to reconsider the use of so-called “tendered” or unconfirmed ballots for those voters who are not on the voters’ lists but claim the right to vote in a specific municipality.
4. Institutional activities
a. Meetings of the Bureau
· Strasbourg, 2 December 2012
The Bureau considered the report of the Ukrainian Chairmanship and the priorities of the UK Chairmanship and heard President Whitmore’s report on his presentation to the Committee of Ministers at the handover (7 November) and his exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies (16 November).
The Bureau examined the last draft of the Congress new rules of procedure and heard a report from the Secretary General on the proposed Congress contribution to Council of Europe activities in Armenia, Morocco, Tunisia and Ukraine and the follow-up to capacity building and cooperation between local elected officials in Albania.
It was also informed that following the Summit of Mayors on Roma, a working group comprising representatives of 12 European cities would meet on 9 December to work on the creation of an Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion (network of cooperation and exchange of good practice). It also heard the conclusions of the meeting of the Contact Group Congress/Committee of the Regions (CoR) in Brussels on 29 November and the work of the CIVEX committee, especially concerning the future evolution of the CoR's involvement in election observation missions.
· Paris, 20 January 2012
The Bureau was informed about the official journeys of the President and the Secretary General, including the meeting of the Secretary Generals of the CoR, the Congress and the European Associations of Local and Regional Authorities in Brussels on 17 January, as well as the meeting with representatives of Ministers responsible for European affairs from sixteen German Länder in Berlin on 19 January.
Members were also informed of the communication from the Delegation of the United Kingdom before the Ministers' Deputies (18 January 2012) concerning the high-level meeting on local and regional democracy of 13 February 2012, under the UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.
The preparation of the 22nd Session, the co-operation activities, the preparatory work of the Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion and the activities of the Committees and the Chambers of the Congress were among the other items on the agenda.
· Strasbourg, 17 February 2012
The members were briefed on the high-level meeting on local and regional democracy held in London on 13 February and in particular on the recognition of the respective specificities of the CDLR and the Congress.
The preparation of the 22nd Session, the report on local election observation in Bulgaria, co-operation activities in Albania, Morocco, Tunisia and Ukraine, and the activities of the committees and Chambers of the Congress were examined.
· Strasbourg, 19 and 22 March 2012
The Bureau was informed about the implementation of the 2011-2012 Congress priorities and appointed the Chairs of the Governance and Monitoring Committees as rapporteurs on preparing the priorities for 2013 to 2016. These priorities are to be submitted for adoption at the October 2012 session.
The Bureau took note of the creation of a new political group in the Congress, the "Group of European Conservatives and Reformists”. It also took note of an analysis of the mandates of intergovernmental committees at the Council of Europe and identified six that are of particular interest to the Congress.
Furthermore, the Bureau exchanged views with Urszula Gacek, Chair of the Committee of Ministers’ Group of Rapporteurs on Democracy (GR-DEM). Improved co-operation with the Committee of Ministers and a more dynamic dialogue with the intergovernmental sector of the Council of Europe were at the centre of this exchange. Ambassador Gacek acknowledged the Congress’s contribution to Council of Europe core activities and to priority issues such as work on Roma inclusion. Ms Gacek encouraged the Congress to build on its unique experience in local democracy at a pan-European level and to adopt measures to increase knowledge and raise awareness of this work.
· Strasbourg, 15 May 2012
The Bureau heard a report of the activities and meetings of the President, including the announcement of the "Good Practice Award for Europe's coastal cities" as well as the reports of the Presidents of the two Chambers.
The Bureau reviewed a first draft report on the priorities of the 2012-2016 Congress. Changes in national delegations, follow-up of the 22nd session and preparationof the 23rd, observation of local elections in Armenia (September 2012) and Serbia (October 2012), the first findings of the pre-electoral mission in Serbia (May 2012), cooperation activities and proposals of the British Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers in respect of local and regional democracy in the Council of Europe and the future priorities of the Albanian Chairmanship were also on the agenda.
· Tirana, 14 June 2012
The Bureau meeting took place in Tirana, in the framework of the Albanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. Following a meeting with Congress President, the Mayor of Tirana, Lulzim Basha, addressed the Bureau and Deputy Minister of the Interior Ferdinand Poni presented the priorities of the Albanian Chairmanship.
The report on the Congress priorities 2013-2016, revised after the proposals made by the Bureau at its previous meeting, was approved. The project will be discussed at the 4th General Meeting of National Associations of local and Regional authorities of the Member States on 13 September 2012.
The Chairman gave a report of his participation in the 112th session of the Committee of Ministers on 23 May and drew members' attention to the information report on "the implementation of the policy of the Council of Europe towards neighbouring regions " that the Secretary General of the Council of Europe presented during this session. The President said that he had presented to ministers Congress initiatives for neighbourhood policy, including the preparation of a "special partner status" for, in the first instance, associations and elected local and Regional Authorities of Morocco and Tunisia.
The progress of the Project of a European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion, including the presentation of the concept to the European Commission and the discussions held in the context of a possible support from it, have also been communicated to the Bureau.
· Strasbourg, 14 September 2012
Members of the Bureau discussed in particular the Congress priorities for 2013-2016 in view of their adoption at the 23rd Session.
Under the item on co-operation activities, a draft resolution on the role of the Congress in the new Council of Europe policy towards neighbouring countries was presented for approval.
Other items on the agenda included the preparation of the 23rd session, the project of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion, the observation of local and regional elections, the Congress’ contribution to the ONE in FIVE Campaign of the Council of Europe as well as an exchange of views with representatives of the Council of Europe development Bank.
b. Plenary sessions
· 21st session (Strasbourg, 18-20 October 2011)
Under the title “Living together in dignity”, the focus of the 21st Session of Congress was social inclusion, involvement of citizens and awareness raising for human rights at the local level.
The Congress discussed citizen participation at grassroots level. Several round tables were also held and several reports were also adopted during the Chambers meetings (see below).
The Congress examined the reports on the state of local and regional democracy in Serbia, Slovenia, Finland, Latvia and Bulgaria and the election observation missions in Albania and Moldova. The Congress also debated energy supply and efficiency at local and regional levels and adopted a resolution which urges local and regional authorities “to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and encourage the use of renewable energy resources”.
Furthermore, the Session adopted Resolution 334 (2011) to identify “local human rights indicators”. The explanatory report, based on Congress Resolution 296 (2010) on the role of local authorities in implementing human rights, sets out the Congress’ strategy on how to approach human rights issues from the local and regional point of view. It develops an appropriate methodology for collecting data and providing analysis in order to identify the problems facing local authorities in their daily work.
Among the other topics examined by the Session was the discrimination of Roma populations. With the adoption of Resolution 333 (2011) and Recommendation 315 (2011) on “The situation of Roma in Europe – a challenge for local and regional authorities”, the Congress called for the involvement of local and regional authorities in the elaboration and implementation of national strategies for Roma and proposed the introduction of a European programme, complementing the Roma Mediator Training Programme. It also reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a co-operation frame, an “European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion and called for the creation of similar networks at national level.
The Congress held a ceremony to award four cities as winners of the third edition of the Dosta! Prize for Municipalities: The first prize ex-aequo to the city of Jyväskylä in Finland and the Municipality of Surcin, Belgrade in Serbia, the 2nd prize to the city of Southwark, London, in the United Kingdom, the 3rd prize to the Autonomous Community of Madrid in Spain. The Dosta! Prize for Municipalities rewards leading cities of their outstanding initiatives towards Roma inclusion.
Furthermore, the Congress adopted its strategic action plan as Framework for the Congress’ contribution to the ONE in FIVE Campaign. This plan outlines the various aspects of this contribution, in particular the setting up of mechanisms and action plans co-operating with the State; establishing quality management systems for child care services and benchmarks for agencies; developing regional guidelines for detection, assessment, protection and response; and evaluating and monitoring plans and policies.
The personalities addressing the 21st Session included Piero Fassino, Mayor of Turin, (Italy), Mevlüt Cavuşoğlu, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Armen Gevorgyan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia and Minister of Territorial Administration, Anatoliy Blyzniuk, Minister for Regional Development and Construction of Ukraine on behalf of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and Yury Sentyurin, State Secretary of the Russian Federation and Deputy Minister for Energy.
· 22nd Session (Strasbourg, 20-22 March 2011)
President Whitmore presented a statement on the activities of the Congress since the October 2011 session. He mentioned in particular the reform of the Congress, and the Chaves Report, which advocates closer cooperation between the Council of Europe entities working on local and regional democracy. Speaking about the challenges ahead, the President mentioned the targeted post-monitoring and post-election observation co-operation in the member states, the follow-up of the Summit of Mayors on Roma and the joint activities with the countries of the southern Mediterranean.
During the session, the Congress held debates on current issues faced by locally elected representatives, especially the financial crisis and its implications for local and regional authorities, the draft European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion and intermediate levels of government and good governance. It held several round tables and adopted several reports during the Chambers meetings (see below).
The session also adopted recommendations on the monitoring of local and regional democracy in six countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova and Portugal) and a recommendation on the observation of elections in Bulgaria.
Moreover, the Congress adopted its new Rules of Procedure, which had been revised in the light of its reform.
In his address to the session, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom, encouraged the Congress to implement the Chaves report and the recommendations of the Kyiv Ministerial Conference of November 2011. He said that this will pave the way for governments and the Congress working together in areas where such cooperation is relevant in the context of an Agenda in common.
During his speech, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe highlighted the essential role of the Congress in providing concrete answers to the problems Europe is facing, particularly with regard to intercultural issues and the promotion of cultural diversity. In addition, he praised the work of the Congress regarding the inclusion of Roma, as well as its contributions to the Kyiv Conference.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior of Albania, Ferdinand Poni, also spoke at this session.
c. The Statutory Forum
Composed of the Heads of national delegations and the members of the Congress Bureau, the Forum was set up as part of the recent reform of Congress, replacing the Standing Committee. It addresses the strategic aspects of the activities of the Congress.
The Statutory Forum met on 20 March 2012, on the occasion of the 22nd Session. The main item on the agenda was the follow-up activities to the Committee of Ministers’ proposals concerning local and regional government, resulting from the Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government including the role of the Head of National Delegations.
In this context, President Whitmore reminded the heads of delegation of their important role in developing and maintaining contacts with other political actors in their member States, namely parliamentarians, pertinent ministers and members of the CDLR as well as permanent Representatives in Strasbourg.
In the framework of the UK Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, took part in an exchange of views with the members of the Forum. She presented the new discussion paper that the British Chairmanship has prepared following the high-level meeting in London.
d. The Chamber of Local Authorities
During its 21st Session (October 2011), the Chamber debated how to increase the impact of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. It encouraged member states to withdraw any reservations and declarations made when ratifying the Charter and proposed a series of measures to strengthen the integration of the Charter in member states' domestic legislation. Of the 45 member states that have ratified the treaty, 24 have done so in its entirety, while 21 have done so with reservations.
The Chamber also adopted the reports of the election observation missions in Albania (8 May 2011 and in Moldova (5 June 2011) and adopted a report on education for democratic citizenship – tools for cities.
During the 22nd Session (March 2012), the Chamber held a roundtable on "Intercultural City: Building an inclusive local identity", as part of its co-operation with the Intercultural Cities programme launched by the Council of Europe and the European Union. The mayors of six European cities (Dublin, Rotterdam, Geneva, Osmangazi/ Bursa, Limassol and Izhevsk) reported on their experience in developing local policies in this area and discussed ways of shaping an optimum model for dealing with cultural diversity in local communities and managing relations between different ethnic and cultural groups.
The Chamber also adopted a report on "Making Cities Resilient,” encouraging cities to join the United Nations campaign on this theme, and recommending concrete action in a series of areas including knowledge development and sharing, funding mechanisms, addressing different types of cities, and an integrated and multi-level governance approach to resilience building.
Finally the Chamber adopted a report on Local Democracy in Lithuania (see para. 3 a).
On 26 April, the Congress Vice-President and President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, Jean-Claude Frécon (France, SOC) paid a visit to San Marino to examine the signature of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by this member state. During his stay, he met the Foreign Minister, Antonella Mularoni, the Secretary of State for Relations to Township Councils (Giunte di Castello), Augusto Casali, the Captains Regent Maurizio Rattini and Italo Righi as well as the Sammarinese delegation to the Congress.
e. The Chamber of Regions
During the 21st session (October 2011), the Chamber organised a Round Table on the developments of regionalisation. Mikhail Men, Governor of Ivanovo Region (Russian Federation), Uno Aldegren, Regional Government Commissioner of the Region of Skane (Sweden), Francesco Palermo, Director, Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism, Eurac (Italy) and Bartlomiej Ostrowski, Head of Office of the Regional Office of Lower Silesia in Brussels, were the guest speakers.
It organised a second Round Table on multi-level governance in Europe with Karl-Heinz Lambertz, Chair of the Governance Committee, Luc Van Den Brande, Chairman of the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, Mikhail Men, Governor of Ivanovo Region (Russian Federation), and Susanne Neuwirth, President of the Federal Council (Austria).
It also held an exchange of views on the participation of Regions in the development of European Macro-Regional strategies.
During the 22nd Session (March 2012), the Chamber held a round table on “Recent developments in regionalisation”. The Congress wished to tackle the issue of the impact on regionalisation of the austerity measures and limits on public expenditure. The Congress’ members supported the principles set out in the Reference Framework for Regional Democracy on the necessary balance between resources and competencies and the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity. This round table, and the last one held in October 2011, provided information on the state of regionalisation in some ten European countries. To deepen the knowledge of the latest developments of regionalisation in relation to the Reference Framework, the Chamber has invited the Governance Committee to prepare a report on this issue.
The Chamber also held a round table on “Regional governance in Europe: efficiency, transparency, and control”. The capacity of European regions to meet their responsibilities and competencies is directly dependent on the quality of the management of financial resources at their disposal. Regional officials have discussed ways to improve efficiency and transparency of their actions and to reconcile, in their internal functioning, effective governance and the rule of law. The round table emphasized that accounting practices should be standardised in order to increase transparency, ensure freedom of information and enable citizens to hold responsible authorities accountable. The need to increase the independence of public auditors, but also their personal liability (in case of financial loss suffered by the community) was also highlighted.
The Chamber exchanged views on transfrontier co-operation with a presentation of the Euro Region "Yaroslavna", created on the border between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The Euro Region, composed of the Kursk Oblast and the Sumy Oblast, is a good example of transfrontier cooperation as it has helped strengthen ties not only between different governmental levels, but also between the peoples of the region –and led to joint programs in the fields of education, youth, culture and environment.
The Chamber organised on 1 June 2012 in Innsbruck an International Conference on „Regions with legislative powers in Council of Europe and European Union - challenges and strategic goals“. Topics such as regionalization in Europe, regional actions in the fields of democracy, transparency and human rights and cross-border cooperation were discussed. Special attention was devoted to the development of various systems of regional democracy (federal countries, regionalised countries, regions with special status) and to the representation and role of regional governments and parliaments within the Council of Europe and its intergovernmental bodies.
On 27 July 2012, the Chamber of Regions co-organized in Tirana an International Seminar on “The state of Regionalisation in Albania: Progress and Challenges”. The Chamber was represented by its Chair, Dr Van Staa and by the Secretary General of the Congress.
f. The statutory Committees
1. The Monitoring Committee
The Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by member states of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (the Monitoring Committee), was set up in October 2010 as part of the reform of the Congress structures. Its Chair is Lars O. Molin (Sweden, L, EPP/CD). Its three Vice-Chairs are Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, R, SOC), Francis Lec (France, L, SOC) and Alexander Uss (Russian Federation, R, EPP/CD).
The Committee is responsible for monitoring the application of the Charter and following institutional developments in Europe’s regions, for preparing reports on the situation of local and regional democracy in the countries that have ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government and for monitoring specific questions related to local and regional democracy in member States.
The Committee met on 18 October 2011 in Strasbourg, during the 21st Session and adopted Resolution 334 (2011) on “Developing indicators to raise awareness of human rights at local and regional level” as well as recommendations on the monitoring in the member States.
The Chair represented the Congress, in particular, at meetings of the Venice Commission as well as the Committee of Regions and the Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU.
The Committee held its first meeting for 2012 on 26 February 2012 in Stockholm (Sweden) during which it approved six draft recommendations on local and regional democracy in Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Moldova.
This meeting also resulted in an exchange of views with Annelise Oeschger, President of the Human Rights Commission of the Conference of INGOs, on the follow-up that should be given to the recommendations and resolutions of the Congress concerning the implementation of human rights at local level. It was mainly a question of how to integrate civil society in the process of promotion and awareness of local and regional authorities to human rights. Following this discussion, the Committee decided to create a think tank bringing together members and experts, to examine how a concrete follow-up could be given to the recommendations adopted by the Congress in regard to human rights by closely associating civil society.
The Committee also responded to requests received from the Congress Bureau and the Bureau of the Chamber of Local Authorities on the situation of local and regional democracy in Belgium, Finland, Hungary and Ukraine.
The Committee held a second meeting on 6 July 2012 in Vannes (France) during which it approved two draft recommendations on local and regional democracy in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Azerbaijan. During this meeting a seminar took place on how to improve the monitoring activities, with, among others, a presentation by a member of the Group of Independent Experts on the key provisions of the Charter and situational video sketches on monitoring visits.
The Committee responded to requests received from the Congress Bureau and the Bureau of the Chamber of Local Authorities on the situation of local and regional democracy in Finland and the Netherlands.
A high-level seminar was also organised in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) with representatives from central, regional and local authorities, as part of the post-monitoring process undertaken for this member State. It discussed the ways to implement the recommendation 324 (2012) adopted by the Congress on Local and Regional democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. National authorities asked the Congress to prepare a roadmap which will be discussed during a second high level meeting scheduled at the beginning of 2013.
The Committee’s programme of activities including the planning of monitoring visits for 2012 and 2013 as well as the composition of monitoring delegations was approved. The monitoring visits for 2012 concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy (second part), Spain, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
2. The Governance Committee
The Governance Committee was set up in October 2010 as part of the reform of the Congress structures. Its Chair is Karl-Heinz Lambertz (Belgium, R, SOC). The three vice-chairs are Britt-Marie Lövgren (Sweden, L, ILDG), Enes Özklarsli (Turkey, R, EPP) and Irmeli Henttonen (Finland, L, ILDG).
The Committee is responsible for affairs falling within the scope of the Congress' statutory mandate such as governance, public finance, cross-border and interregional co-operation and e-democracy as well as co-operation with the European Committee of Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR).
The Committee contributed to the preparation of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Local and Regional Government, which took place on 3-4 November in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Its 1st Vice-Chair represented the Congress at a meeting of the Stakeholders’ Platform on the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at the Local Level in October 2011.
The Governance Committee also piloted an internet forum using the NING software, which will be used as a platform for debate and discussion between members of the Committee between meetings. An electronic voting system was also successfully tested and was used by the Chamber of Local Authorities in the 21st Session.
The Committee met in Strasbourg on 26 September and prepared reports, resolutions and recommendations on the following subjects: Office of the Ombudsman and Local and Regional Authorities; Reception of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the Legal Systems of Ratifying Countries; State of Reservations and Declarations to the European Charter of Local Self-Government by the Member States of the Council of Europe and Citizen Participation at Local and Regional Level in Europe.
These reports and their recommendations and resolutions were adopted by the Congress during the 21st session.
At its meeting on 20 March 2012, the Governance Committee was informed by the Chair, Mr Karl-Heinz Lambertz, on the follow-up to the Ministerial Conference which had been held in Kyiv (3-4 November 2011) and the High-Level meeting, organised by the UK Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, which had taken place in London (13 February 2012)
A debate was held on ‘Second level local authorities – intermediate governance in Europe’ Several member states are proposing to cut second level local authorities as part of the central government response to the economic crisis. The Committee is concerned that some of these reforms are being introduced too hastily and that it is necessary to examine the added value that such authorities bring in a multi-level governance context.
Another debate was held on ‘The changes underway in the Arab countries”. The Committee agreed that the Congress should focus on sharing experience rather than presenting European practices as models to be copied. It stressed the need to develop links with civil society in the countries concerned and to network with other organisations such as COPPEM and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM). Concern was expressed that the rights of women were at risk of being eroded in the wake of some of the revolutions.
The Committee reviewed the progress of the reports that it is preparing on consultation of local authorities, criteria for standing for local elections and macro regions. Rapporteurs were assigned for future reports, including the adequate financing of local and regional authorities and inter-regional cooperation.
On 30 May 2012 in Innsbruck (Austria), the Governance Committee held a seminar on ‘Multi-level Governance in Transfrontier Co-operation’ and on the following day held its Committee meeting.
The seminar gathered experts and actors of transfrontier cooperation, there were presentations of case studies from Austria, Germany and the Ukraine and a roundtable was held on the prospects for transfrontier cooperation governance in Europe. This seminar will feed into a report on transfrontier cooperation which is being prepared by the Committee.
During the Committee meeting, the members approved reports and their recommendations and resolutions on macroregions, consultation and second-tier local authorities. These texts will be adopted during this Congress session. The Governance Committee also adopted an opinion on the Current Affairs Committee’s report on changes underway in the Arab countries which will be adopted in the plenary session this afternoon.
The Governance Committee has begun work on two major reports on ‘Interpretation and application of Article 2 of the Congress Charter’ and ‘The Development of regionalisation in Europe’ which will be prepared in cooperation with the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government’.
3. The Current Affairs Committee
The Current Affairs Committee was set up in October 2010 as part of the reform of the Congress structures. Its Chair is Emin Yeritsyan (Armenia, EPP/CD, L). Its three Vice-Presidents are: Barbara Toce (Italy SOC, L), Farid Mukhametshin (Russian Federation, ILDG, R) and Claudette Abela Baldacchino (Malta, SOC, R).
Under its terms of reference, the Committee is responsible for studying the role of local and regional authorities with regard to the major challenges of our society; preparing work on thematic issues such as social cohesion, sustainable development, education, culture and intercultural dialogue from the point of view of the Council of Europe's core values; and proposing action to respond to existing or emerging problems as well as to emergencies at local and regional levels.
At its meeting on 18 October 2011 in Strasbourg, the Committee exchanged views on current affairs and its planned activities, and appointed the following rapporteurs: Per Bodker Andersen (Denmark, L, SOC) for the report on making cities resilient in the face of disasters; Amy Koopmanshap (Netherlands, L, SOC) and Claudette Abela Baldacchino (Malta, R, SOC) as co-rapporteurs on developments in the Arab world – a new neighborhood policy and opportunities for local and regional democracy; as well as Dusica Davidovic (Serbia, R, NR) for the report on possibilities of using the provisions of the Lanzarote Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Violence in the legislation of regions with legislative powers. The Committee recommended to the Congress Bureau to appoint Ms Davidovic Thematic Rapporteur of the Congress on children, in light of Congress’ participation in the Council of Europe platform "Building a Europe for and with Children", as well as of its contribution to the Council of Europe’s ONE in FIVE Campaign to combat sexual violence against children. Also as part of this contribution, the Committee decided to organise a seminar on the role of local and regional authorities in combating sexual violence against children, in February 2012.
In addition, the Committee appointed Els Ampe (Belgium, R, ILDG) Rapporteur on political disengagement of young people, and held a hearing on the subject, with the participation of the Congress expert, Professor Helmut-Erich Willems, as well as representatives of youth organisations: Maria Martinsson from the Youth Regional Network of the Assembly of European Regions; Anemone Birkaebek of the European Youth Forum; and Giorgos Georgiadis, founder of the “Kids in Action” network from Greece.
Finally, the Committee supported a proposal by Andrea Pellizzari (Italy, L, EPP/CD) to prepare a report on the negative impact of the economic crisis on local authorities and appointed him as Rapporteur, subject to the approval by the Bureau of the Congress.
The Committee met in Strasbourg on 8 February 2012. The members discussed the Committee’s priorities and future activities, particularly in the context of the preparation of several thematic reports on the impact of the economic crisis on local and regional authorities, the changes taking place in Arab countries and the political disengagement of young people. They also discussed a report on making cities resilient in the face of natural disasters, which is to be presented at the March 2012 session of the Congress, and discussed follow-up to the Summit of Mayors for Roma. Another report is currently being drafted on the subject of preventing sexual exploitation of children and a special seminar is organised on the day after the meeting, ie. 9 February 2012, as the Congress’ contribution to the Council of Europe’s ONE in FIVE campaign.
At its meeting of 20 March 2012, during the 22nd Session of Congress, the Committee considered reports and approved the draft resolutions and recommendations on the changes taking place in Arab countries - an opportunity for local and regional democracy, on developments on the political involvement of youth in democracy, as well as legislation and regional action to combat the sexual exploitation of children. The Committee also nominated the rapporteurs for future reports, including the impact of the economic crisis on local and regional authorities, the situation of young Roma, migrants' access to regional labour market, as well as promotion of local entrepreneurship of migrants.
A second report to be debated during the 23rd session is entitled “Youth and democracy: the changing face of youth political engagement” which continues the Congress’s work in the youth field. The Committee has pursued its close cooperation with the Council of Europe Youth Sector on the Enter! Project to promote young people’s access to social rights. Local and regional authorities being often responsible for ensuring access to these rights, a joint seminar with Committee members and young people was organised in September 2012 to prepare for a training course in 2013 on this same theme. Still on the theme of youth participation and access to rights, and in the frame of the follow up to the Strasbourg Declaration on Roma, a report on “the situation of Roma youth” is being prepared and a consultation meeting with young Roma people is scheduled for November 2012.
As a contribution to the Council of Europe’s neighbourhood policy, a report on “the changes underway in the Arab countries –opportunities for local and regional democracy” will be examined at the 23rd session.
Work has begun on reports on “integration through self-employment: promoting local entrepreneurship of migrants”, the “impact of the economic crisis on local and regional authorities”, on, and on “migrants’ access to regional labour markets”. In October, the Committee will also examine a proposal for a report on the situation of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) persons at local and regional levels.
5. Field action
a. Roma inclusion
· Adoption of a Resolution and a Recommendation at the 22nd session
In adopting Resolution 333 (2011) and Recommendation 315 (2011) on "The situation of Roma in Europe - a challenge for local and regional authorities", the Congress called for the involvement of local and regional authorities in the development and implementation of national strategies for Roma (see 4.b. above)
· The European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion
Since the Summit of Mayors on Roma in September 2011, the Congress has been working in close co-operation with the Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General on Roma related issues to establish a co-operation framework for cities and regions willing to promote Roma inclusion. A Core Group of such cities and regions was set up in the wake of the Summit and has so far held two meetings, on 9 December 2011 and 22 February 2012, which have allowed drawing the contoursof a future "European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion.”
To better define the fields of action of the Alliance, a questionnaire was sent out in March 2012 to a large number of cities and regions in some thirty member States order to help identify their needs and priority issues. More than 100 municipalities and regions have replied and some 90% among them expressed their interest in joining the Alliance. The replies showed that education, employment and vocational training, together with cross-cutting issues such as rights, duties and responsibilities, Roma participation, combating stereotypes and promoting mutual understanding are the priorities to be developed in the framework of the Alliance.
Based on the answers received, the Congress and the Special Representative organised on 25 September 2012 a consultative meeting of cities, regions and other stakeholders, in the presence, among others of European Commission representatives. This meeting provided the participants with the opportunity to exchange experiences and practices from the field, discuss proposals for cooperation and ways to increase Roma participation in the democratic process. It concluded that the Alliance should be a collaborative and flexible space where exchanges, training and mutual learning can take place, where programmes and situations can be evaluated, where projects can be built and where the cities and regions can increase their capacities, especially for project implementation and for presenting integrated projects to European Union funds and other sources.
The Alliance will now draw up its programme of forthcoming activities based on the outcome of the meeting and taking into account the expectations, needs and priorities expressed, as well as the resources available. It will in particular seek cooperation with the existing initiatives and programmes.
b. Support of the democratic process in the Euro-Mediterranean region
· Contribution to the “Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Equality between Women and Men in Local Life (Istanbul, 18 November 2011)
During the preparatory organised by the Standing Committee for the Euro Mediterranean Partnership of Local and Regional Authorities (COPPEM), the Congress represented by Dubravca Suica, welcomed the initiative to draw up this Charter, which should be a stepping-stone on the path towards ensuring that women's participation in society remains constant, on a par with men. It underlined that is a timely proposal, given the momentous historical changes in North Africa.
· XVIth General Assembly of COPPEM (Palermo, Italy), 17-18 December 2011)
In his address to the General Assembly of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local and Regional Authorities, Congress President stressed that Congress and COPPEM share strong common interests in developing Euro-Mediterranean co-operation and are able to develop practical synergies. He underlined that the transformations underway in North Africa and across the Arab world, have led to new neighbourhood policies that are being implemented by both the European Union and the Council of Europe.
· Exchange of views between the Congress and members of the Moroccan Parliament (Rabat, 11 July 2012)
At the invitation of the Moroccan Parliament, a Congress delegation held an exchange of views with members of both Chambers of the Moroccan Parliament. These discussions centered on the project of advanced regionalisation in Morocco and on the draft law which will reorganise Moroccan territories and which constitutes a major issue on the national agenda. The delegation also met with Karim Chellah, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mohammed Cheikh Biadiallah, Speaker of the House of Councillors.
c. Rewarding good practices
· Best Practice Award for Coastal Towns
A new initiative to reward best local practices for the regeneration of coastal towns was launched on 11 January 2012 in Strasbourg on the initiative of the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform, in the framework of the UK Chairmanship and in partnership with the Congress and the UK Local Government Association. The winners were announced on 26 April 2012 jointly by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Jean-Claude Mignon and the President of the Congress at a ceremony during the Parliamentary Assembly session in Strasbourg.
Based on the evaluation of the 48 applications received, the First Prize was awarded to Yevpatoria (Ukraine), the Joint Second Prize to Bournemouth and Canterbury (both United Kingdom), and the Joint Third Prize to Heroy (Norway) and Zadar (Croatia). The winners and nominees were invited to the Award Ceremony which took place in Blackpool (United Kingdom) on 9 May 2012.
· The 2012 City for Children Award
The Congress supports and takes an active part in the Cities for Children Network which organised the 2012 edition of the European Award of Excellence ''City for Children'', to honour European cities for outstanding child-friendly projects. The 2012 edition held on 14 May was dedicated to child-friendly urban planning. The jury awarded innovative projects which take the perspective of children and their families into account when conceptualizing the qualities of urban areas with regard to development, architecture, free spaces and use.
d. Citizen participation
1. The European Local Democracy Week
· Promoting inclusive communities at grassroots level through human rights activities (Paris, 26 January 2012)
Representatives from municipalities, national associations, and European networks assessed the results of the 2011 edition of the ELDW and agreed on action in the field of citizen participation in 2012. The new ELDW edition will continue promoting “human rights” at grassroots level in order to foster and strengthen, in particular, social cohesion in local communities.
· Certificate for “Twelve stars cities” 2011
The Congress presented a “12 Star City” certificate to 19 municipalities that had played a particularly active role in the ELDW 2011 through involving their citizens in a wide range of events, at a ceremony organised with the City of Strasbourg during the 22nd session (March 2012).
· Ten Moroccan municipalities commit to ELDW 2012 (Rabat, 10 July 2012)
Elected representatives of fifteen municipalities, including the Mayors of Fes, Tetouan and Agadir met with the Congress with a wiew to starting practical co-operation in the local democracy sphere. During the meeting, chaired by Fathallah Oualalou, Mayor of Rabat, a presentation of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) and of its main theme for 2012: 'Human rights make for more inclusive communities' was made. Ten municipalities stated that they would participate in ELDW, committing themselves to take initiatives involving public participation as from October 2012.
· New web platform for the European Local Democracy Week (Strasbourg, 8 August 2012)
The ELDW takes place every year during the week of the 15 October. The 2012 edition will take place from 15 to 21 October. Local and regional authorities of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe are invited to take part and to organize events in their community. To make the task of the participating communities easier, several innovations have been included in the new ELDW internet platform.
e. Intercultural dialogue
1. Intercultural Cities
As part of its cooperation with the "Intercultural Cities" programme launched by the Council of Europe and the European Union, the Congress held a round table discussion during the 22nd Session on 21 March, on “Intercultural City: building an inclusive local identity”. The mayors of six European cities reported on their experience in developing local policies in this area and discussed ways of shaping an optimum model for dealing with cultural diversity in local communities and managing relations between different ethnic and cultural groups. The participants in the round table included the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Deputy Mayor of Rotterdam, a Member of the Executive Council, City of Geneva, the Mayor of Osmangazi/Bursa, in Turkey, the Deputy Mayor of Limassol, in Cyprus, and the Deputy Mayor of Izhevsk, in the Russian Federation.
2. SPARDA Conference
The conference “Shaping Perceptions and Attitudes to Realise the Diversity Advantage” co-chaired by the Committee of the Regions and the Congress took place in Brussels on 13 June 2012. The Congress President praised the work done by SPARDA in communicating diversity and building dialogue on diversity issues with the local population. He called for a new model of participatory democracy, involving migrants and minority groups. In particular, he highlighted the need to take action to ensure foreign residents have equal access to social rights and public services, to fight prejudice against migrants and to raise public awareness of their cultures and contribution to the local community
f. Contributing to Council of Europe campaigns
1. Fighting sexual exploitation of children: the ONE in FIVE campaign
· Meeting of the Network of Contact Parliamentarians (Florence (Italy), 17 November 2011)
Dusica Davidovic, Congress Thematic Rapporteur on Children, took part in the 5th meeting of the Network of Contact Parliamentarians to fight sexual violence against children. She stated that the Congress has drawn up a strategic Action Plan to promote the local and regional dimension of the Council of Europe’s ONE in FIVE Campaign.
· Conference on the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (Monaco, 20 November 2011)
Taking part in this conference, President Whitmore underlined that the Congress has contributed actively to the Council of Europe programmes for children’s right and protection, such as its new Strategic Actions Plan.
· Seminar to combat sexual exploitation of children at local and regional level (Strasbourg, 9 February 2012)
As part of its contribution to the ONE in FIVE campaign, the Congress organised this seminar, which gathered a panel of experts, grassroots players and local and regional elected representatives. Based on the experiences presented, the Congress drew attention to examples of structures that could be set up at local and regional level to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and to protect and support victims and their families.
2. Combating violence against women
· Conference on combating domestic violence (Bratislava, 29 November 2011)
Taking part in this Conference, Congress thematic Rapporteur Sandra Barnes encouraged in particular local and regional authorities to lobby their governments to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
6. Co-operation activities and partnership
a. External partnerships
1. The Committee of the Regions of the European Union
The Congress has continued to intensify its co-operation with the Committee of the Regions (CoR).
The Congress and the CoR held several meetings, in particular the Contact Group meeting of 29 November 2011 in Brussels. The Group discussed several areas such as multi-level governance, counteracting corruption at local and regional level, local election observation, neighbourhood policies, the protection of fundamental rights and municipal policies in favour of Roma.
The same day a meeting of experts was organised by the Contact group on corruption with the aim to analyse good practices that could be of concrete benefit to local and regional administrations and to be promoted by the Congress and the CoR. The Congress also gathered information on initiatives underway within other international organisations, with a view to avoiding duplications and create synergies with them.
The election observation missions allowed the Congress and the CoR to assess the electoral aspect of local democracy on the ground. The Congress encouraged the CoR to present the Congress’ observation reports to the Bureau or CIVEX Commission of the CoR and to invite the Congress rapporteurs for these presentations. The Congress brought the co-operation a step closer by inviting a CoR member to join its pre-electoral missions.
In December 2011, President Whitmore addressed the Bureau of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels presenting the main results of the cooperation between the Congress and the CoR and its perspectives for the future.
On the 26th January 2012 during the annual bipartite meeting, the Congress President and the President of the CoR Mrs Bresso assessed the state of the implementation of the co-operation agreement Congress/CoR and agreed on common political priorities for 2012 (local and regional elections observations, multi-level governance, neighbourhood policies, good governance and the fight against corruption at local and regional level).
The Congress took also part on a round table on gender equality organised by the CoR on 8 February in Brussels.
The Congress organised in Strasbourg, on 22 March 2012, a meeting of its 15 members who are also members of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP). The meeting was organised with a view to creating synergies with the European Union to the benefit of local and regional authorities of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. These countries are already members of the Council of Europe and major actors in the EU Eastern Partnership initiative. The meeting gave the opportunity to the members of the Congress to consider the Council of Europe assets in the Eastern Partnership countries, exchange views, and work on a common position for the adoption of the CORLEAP action Plan. The Council of Europe Directorate General of programmes also presented the action plans and initiatives for Ukraine and Armenia.
On 27 April 2012 the Congress was represented to the 13th CIVEX meeting and on 22 May 2012 in Sarajevo, it presented, to the Working Group on the Western Balkans, its monitoring activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Congress was represented to the CoR Seminar on Good Governance, that took place in Dubrovnik on 21 June 2012, in the framework of the EU Package on the Protection of the Licit Economy.
On 18 July 2012, in the framework of the 96th Plenary Session of the CoR, the Secretary General of the Committee of the Regions, Gerhard Stahl, and the Secretary General of the Congress held an operational meeting for the on-going implementation of the cooperation between the two institutions.
On 17 September 2012 the Congress was represented to the Annual Meeting of CORLEAP in Chisinau. The importance and benefits of the Congress texts were considered by the participants and incorporated them in the final declaration of the Conference. The declaration unanimously adopted by the 16 members of the EU's Committee of the Regions and the 16 representatives of the associations of local and regional authorities of the six EAP-partner countries - many of them members of the Congress - paved the way for a deepened political dialogue and for the concrete activities to be undertaken in the coming year. Emin Yeritsyan, (Armenia, EPP/CD) was elected co-Chair of CORLEAP for 2013.
The Congress position on access to justice was presented to the 4th Annual Dialogue On Multi-Level Protection and Promotion of Fundamental Rights, that took place in Brussels on 24 September 2012.
Finally, the Congress presented its know-how and positions on electoral rights and election observation to the CIVEX on 24 September 2012 in Brussels.
· The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA)
The Congress continued to monitor very closely the evolution of ALDA and is regularly represented at its major meetings andin its decision-making bodies.
During the 22nd session (March 2012), ALDA organised for members of the Congress on behalf of the Conference of INGOs, a meeting to present the Code of practice for civil participation in decision-making. The meeting aimed at gathering examples of good practice in citizen and civil participation and identify activities to promote and use the code locally.
On 7 June in Udine, the Congress participated in the General Assembly of ALDA and to the International Conference on “Empowering Citizens and Strengthening Local Governance in Neighbouring Countries: Lessons Learned and Opportunities from East to South” The Congress President underlined the need of developing new initiatives in the South Mediterranean and in South-East European countries, aimed at strengthening the role of civil society and NGOs in promoting democracy at local level. He called for new cooperation programmes to enhance grassroots democracy, involving Local Democracy Agencies in South-East of Europe and in the South Caucasus.
· The Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South East Europe (NALAS)
This network, created at the initiative of the Congress in 2001, continues to be a privileged partner of the Congress in its field activities in Southeast Europe.
The Congress took part in the NALAS General Assembly Meeting, in Pristina on 30 March 2012, and stressed the major importance of fiscal decentralisation in the current context of economic downturn and on-going financial crisis as well as the role of local authorities in responding to this challenge.
At the annual meeting of the Presidents of associations members of NALAS, from 14 to 16 June 2012 in Tulcea, the key role of the Congress and NALAS in tackling the priorities envisaged for the Agenda in common, discussed at the Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional governments in Kyiv, was discussed.
3. European Associations of Local and Regional Authorities
The Congress has continued to pay great attention to co-operation with the associations representing regions in Europe.
· Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE)
The Congress took part in the General Assembly in L'Aquila on 24 November 2011.
ON 31 May 2012, the President of the Chamber of Regions held a meeting with the President of CALRE in Innsbruck to strengthen future cooperation. Regional institutional models and regional democracy have been identified as key areas of cooperation.
· Assembly of European Regions (AER)
On 27 October 2011, the Congress was represented at the Seminar on youth mobility and the Eastern Partnership that took place in Wroclaw, at the initiative of the AER.
The Congress attended the General Assemblies held in Ponta Delgada on 24 and 25 November 2011, in Brussels on 26 March 2012 and in Strasbourg in October 2012.
On 21 September 2012, the Congress was represented to the Summit on “The Crisis and the Regions”, organized by the AER in Pescara.
The Congress President attended on 8 October 2012 in Strasbourg the plenary meeting of the Regional Youth network of the AER.
Together with the AER and the Alsace Region, on 10 October 2012, the Chamber of Regions organised a Round Table on “Regionalisation and Democracy” in the framework of the Council of Europe World Forum for Democracy.
· Conference of European Regions with Legislative Powers (REGLEG)
The Congress participated in the General Assembly held in Brussels on 29 and 30 November 2011. President Whitmore addressing the XII annual conference of REGLEG on 30 November, underlined the many objectives shared by REGLEG and the Congress, in particular a joint project for 2012 to hold an International Conference on “the Role of Regions with Legislative Powers within the European Union and the Council of Europe''. This is a concrete achievement of the cooperation agreement signed by the Congress with REGLEG in October 2011.
On 31 May 2012, the President of the Chamber of Regions held a meeting in Innsbruck with the Presidency of the REGLEG and put the basis for reinforcing cooperation in the future.
· Standing Committee Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of the Local and Regional Authorities (COPPEM)
On 18 November 2011 in Istanbul, the Congress was represented at a meeting organised by the Commission “Equal opportunities, human rights, youth” of the Standing Committee Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of the Local and Regional Authorities (COPPEM) for the drafting of a “Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Equality between women and men in local life”.
The Congress President attended also the XVI General Assembly in Palermo on 17-18 December 2011.
b. Targeted co-operation and partnership
One of Congress’ priorities for 2011–2012 was the implementation of targeted cooperation programmes. To achieve concrete results, the Congress engaged into dialogue with local and regional representatives and involved other institutional partners. Its aim is to support local and regional elected representatives in the improvement of their capacities and leadership.
In the framework of the new Council of Europe policy towards neighbouring regions, the Congress is also enlarging its action to non-member States.
The Congress joined the Council of Europe action plan for Ukraine by adding to its local democracy component. These actions are intended to be complementary with those of the Centre of Expertise on the local administration reform and should support the European reform agenda of Ukraine in the field of local and regional democracy.
At the 22nd Session (March 2012), the Secretariat of the Congress met with members of the Ukrainian delegation to discuss the development of local and regional democracy, the consolidation of public trust towards the local elected representatives and the promotion of greater transparency at the local level.
Mayors and Presidents region will be the main recipients of an inclusive process that will be conducted with the support of associations of municipalities and regions, as well as experts from the local and regional democracy. The Ukrainian delegation of the Congress will play an essential role in this, and international networks of local and regional authorities such as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Assembly of European Regions (AER) will also be associated with certain activities.
2. A unified platform for local and regional elected representatives of Albania
At the seminar in Tirana in September 2011 on "capacity building and cooperation of local officials in Albania," Albanian mayors agreed to engage in the restoration of dialogue and cooperation and proposed to create a working group for this purpose. The Congress held consultations on 14-15 December 2011 with the Albanian authorities; members of the Albanian Parliament; mayors; local government associations and the international community to explore ways to implement the conclusions of the seminar. New meetings with all stakeholders and a meeting of mayors of municipalities representing different political tendencies were held on 12-13 April 2012.
The Congress took part to the general assemblies of the two major associations of local powers in Albania. President Whitmore spoke on 18 January 2012 in Tirana at the opening of the General Assembly of the Association of Albanian Municipalities. He recalled that the Congress is ready to support the development of dialogue between local and regional elected representatives, through concrete measures to implement a unified platform for dialogue based on political pluralism. During his meeting with the President of the Congress on 17 January 2012, Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, reiterated the willingness of the Albanian authorities to give priority to decentralisation and development of local and regional democracy in his country.
The Congress was also represented at the General Assembly of the Association of Municipalities of Albania on 12 June, which elected the Mayor of Tirana Lulzim Basha at the presidency. Mr Basha addressed the Congress Bureau at its meeting on June 14 in Tirana, as part of the Albanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. New meetings with the main Albanian authorities also took place in this context.
Moreover, the Congress and the Centre of Expertise have developed a joint project 2012-2015 to strengthen local government structures and cooperation of local elected Representatives in Albania. Switzerland has made a voluntary contribution to the Council of Europe for the implementation of this project which will start at the end of 2012.
3. Neighbourhood co-operation with Morocco
On 14-15 February 2012, a delegation from the Council of Europe led by the Director General of Programmes, including the Director of the Congress, went to Rabat. The purpose of the mission was to bring together different elements to set priorities and determine the conditions for the establishment of programmes to be implemented within the framework of cooperation between the Council of Europe and Morocco. The Congress Secretariat met amongst others the Presidents of both Houses of Parliament, various members involved in the project of regionalisation and the Mayor of Rabat.
The Congress intends to cooperate with Morocco based on peer-to peer exercises and the application of the principles enshrined in the founding texts of Congress such as the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Reference Framework for Regional Democracy, the European Code of Conduct on the political integrity of local and regional representatives. It proposes assistance to legislative activities, including the preparation of an organic law on regionalisation, assistance in various stages of the electoral process, the granting of a ‘special status’ to representatives of local and regional elected officials in the Congress and the participation of some Moroccan cities in the European Week of Local Democracy.
At the 22nd Session, Abdelkébir Berkia, Member of Parliament and former President of the Regional Council of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer, gave a speech on regionalisation inMorocco, in which he stressed the importance of international cooperation as a key lever for local development in their territory.
It is with this in mind that in April and June 2012 at the sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress Secretariat met with a delegation of Moroccan parliamentarians who warmly welcomed the idea of a contribution of the Congress to the current discussions, which should lead to the adoption of a new territorial organisation of Morocco.
Following this meeting, on 11 July 2012, a Congress delegation held an exchange of views with members of both Chambers of the Moroccan Parliament and representatives of the Venice Commission. These discussions centered on the project of advanced regionalisation in Morocco and on the draft law which will reorganise Moroccan territories.
Furthermore, in addition to this institutional action, the Congress continued its rapprochement with the actors in the field. The elected representatives of several Moroccan local authorities met with the Congress on 10 July and stated that they would participate in ELDW, committing themselves to take initiatives involving public participation in October 2012 (see above under 5.d. “citizen participation”)
4. Neighbourhood co-operation with Tunisia
On 5 and 6 March 2012, the Congress President conducted a joint delegation of the COPPEM (Standing Committee of Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local and Regional authorities) and the ATO (Arab Towns Organisation) for a visit to Tunis. The delegation met amongst others with the Minister of Regional Development and Planning, the Mayor of Tunis, senior representatives of the Ministry of Interior; the President and members of local and regional authorities within the National Constituent Assembly; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Mayor of Bizerte.
This visit identified two main needs of Tunisia: emergency financial assistance for infrastructure and institutional support to establish the necessary conditions for the development of genuine democracy. The Action Plan of the Council of Europe will contribute at this level. The Congress could intervene in contributing to the work of the National Constituent Assembly in the field of local and regional democracy, offering a ‘special status’ in the Congress to local and regional representatives of Tunisia, by sharing its expertise with the future Parliament on electoral processes and developing cooperation with the National Association and the newly elected representatives.
The Congress has also committed to support initiatives related to democratic governance carried out by other bodies of the Council of Europe and international organisations and European associations such as the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
The Congress continued its contacts with the Tunisian authorities in the framework of the institutional support of the Council of Europe. He was invited to participate in a hearing of the Venice Commission by the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) of Tunisia, followed by a meeting of the Constituent Commission regional public authorities and local ANC in Tunis on 26 July 2012. This meeting followed a meeting in Strasbourg on 5 July 2012 between representatives of the same Commission, the Venice Commission and Congress. Cooperation continues with members of the ANC and the Venice Commission will be asked to give an opinion on the draft Constitution. Congress participated in the exchange of views which took place in this context, in Venice on 12 October 2012.
APPENDICES
1. Texts Adopted at the 21st and 22nd sessions
Adopted texts 21st SESSION
18-20 October 2011
Recommendations
Recommendation 307 Citizen participation at local and regional level in Europe
Rapporteur:
Marjan HAAK-GRIFFIOEN, The Netherlands (R, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 308 Local and regional democracy in Slovenia
Rapporteurs:
Merita JEGENI YILDIZ, Turkey (R, EPP/CD) and Jos WIENEN, The Netherlands (L, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 309 The office of Ombudsman and local and regional authorities
Rapporteurs:
Helena PIHLAJASAARI, Finland, (R, SOC) and Halvdan SKARD, Norway (L, SOC)
Recommendation 310 Local and regional democracy in Bulgaria
Rapporteurs:
Johan SAUWENS, Belgium (L, EPP/CD) and Artur TORRES PEREIRA, Portugal ((L, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 311 Local and regional democracy in Finland
Rapporteur: Jean-Louis TESTUD, France (L, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 312 Local elections in Albania (8 May 2011)
Rapporteur: Volkram GEBEL, Germany (EPP/CD)
Recommendation 313 Local elections in Moldova (5 June 2011)
Rapporteur: Hannes WENINGER, Austria (SOC)
Recommendation 314 Reservations and declarations to the European Charter of Local Self-Government
Rapporteur: Michael COHEN, Malta (SOC)
Recommendation 315 The situation of Roma in Europe: a challenge for local and regional authorities
Rapporteur: John WARMISHAM, United Kingdom (L, SOC)
Recommendation 316 Local and regional democracy in Serbia
Rapporteur: Odd Arild KVALÖY, Norway (R, NR)
Recommendation 317 Local and regional democracy in Latvia
Rapporteurs: Jean-Claude FRECON, France (L, SOC) and Philippe LEUBA, Switzerland (R, NR)
Resolutions
Resolution 325 Verification of new members’ credentials and new appointment procedures
Rapporteurs:
Anders KNAPE, Sweden (L, EPP/CD) and Ignacio SANCHEZ AMOR, Spain (R, SOC)
Resolution 326 Citizen participation at local and regional level in Europe
Rapporteur:
Marjan HAAK-GRIFFIOEN, The Netherlands (R, EPP/CD)
Resolution 327 The office of Ombudsman and local and regional authorities
Rapporteurs:
Helena PIHLAJASAARI, Finland, (R, SOC) and Halvdan SKARD, Norway (L, SOC)
Resolution 328 Local elections in Albania (8 May 2011)
Rapporteur: Volkram GEBEL, Germany (EPP/CD)
Resolution 329 Local elections in Moldova (5 June 2011)
Rapporteur: Hannes WENINGER, Austria (SOC)
Resolution 330 Reservations and declarations to the European Charter of Local Self-Government
Rapporteur: Michael COHEN, Malta (SOC)
Resolution 331 The European Charter of Local Self-Government in domestic law
Rapporteur: Willy BORSUS, Belgium (ILDG)
Resolution 332 Tools for democratic citizenship
Rapporteur: Dario GHISLETTA, Switzerland (SOC)
Resolution 333 The situation of Roma in Europe: a challenge for local and regional authorities
Rapporteur: John WARMISHAM, United Kingdom (L, SOC)
Resolution 334 Developing indicators to raise awareness of human rights at local and regional level
Rapporteur: Lars O. MOLIN, Sweden, (L, EPP/CD)
Resolution 335 Energy supply and energy efficiency at local and regional level: promoting energy transition
Rapporteur: Svetlana ORLOVA, Russian Federation (R, EPP/CD)
Adopted texts 22nd SESSION
20-22 March 2012
Recommendations
Recommendation 318 Local elections in Bulgaria (23 October 2011)
Rapporteur: Mihkel JUHKAMI, Estonia, (L, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 319 Local and regional democracy in the Czech Republic
Rapporteurs:
Emil CALOTA, Romania (L, SOC) and Philippe RECEVEUR, Switzerland (R, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 320 Local and regional democracy in Germany
Rapporteur:
Britt-Marie LOVGREN, Sweden (L, ILDG)
Recommendation 321 Local democracy in Lithuania
Rapporteurs:
Irène LOIZIDOU, Cyprus (L, EPP/CD) and Gudrun MOSLER-TÖRNSTRÖM, Austria (R, SOC)
Recommendation 322 Local and regional democracy in the Republic of Moldova
Rapporteurs:
Francis LEC, France (L, SOC) and Angelo MIELE, Italy (R, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 323 Local and regional democracy in Portugal
Rapporteurs:
Devrim ÇUKUR, Turkey (R, SOC) and Jos WIENEN, Netherlands (L, EPP/CD)
Recommendation 324 Local and regional democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rapporteurs:
Jean-Marie BELLIARD, France (R, EPP/CD) and Beat HIRS, Switzerland, (L, ILDG)
Resolutions
Resolution 336 Verification of new members’ credentials
Rapporteurs:
Anders KNAPE, Sweden (L, EPP/CD) and Ludmila SFIRLOAGA, Romania (R, SOC)
Resolution 337 New Congress Rules of Procedure
Rapporteurs:
Günther KRUG, Germany (R, SOC) and Halvdan SKARD, (L, SOC)
Resolution 338 Local elections in Bulgaria (23 October 2011)
Rapporteur: Mihkel JUHKAMI, Estonia, (L, EPP/CD)
Resolution 339 Making cities resilient
Rapporteur: Per Bodker ANDERSEN (Denmark, SOC)
2. Conferences / meetings attended and visits by the President in 2011-2012
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Date |
Place |
Title |
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2011 |
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17 - 20 October |
Strasbourg |
Congress Bureau and Session |
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21 October |
Berlin |
CEV Symposium “Volunteering and Active Citizenship –two sides of the same coin” |
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3 - 4 November |
Kiev |
Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government |
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7 November |
Strasbourg |
Transfer of CM chairmanship (UK) |
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16 November |
Strasbourg |
Annual exchange of views between the Committee of Ministers and the President of the Congress |
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20 - 21 November |
Monaco |
Conference on children’s rights |
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23 – 25 November |
Ponta Delgada |
General Assembly of AER |
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28 November |
Abbey de Neumunster (Luxembourg) |
2011 CoE Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue |
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29 November (morning) |
Brussels |
Committee of the Regions, Contact group |
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29 November (afternoon) and 30 November |
Brussels |
REG-LEG Annual Conference of Presidents |
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2 December |
Strasbourg |
Bureau meeting of the Congress |
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9 December |
Strasbourg |
Core Group on the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion |
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12 – 13 December |
Brussels |
CEMR Policy Committee and 60th anniversary |
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13 – 14 December |
Brussels |
CoR – Bureau and Plenary session |
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14 December |
London |
Meeting with Bob Neil, 3rd under-secretary for local government of the UK |
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17-18 December |
Palermo |
XVI COPPEM General Assembly |
|
2012 |
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|
11 January |
Strasbourg |
Best Practice Programme for European coastal towns meeting |
|
18 January |
Tirana |
Annual Conference of Associations of Albanians Communes |
|
19 January |
Paris |
Coordination and preparatory meeting on local European Democracy Week |
|
20 January |
Paris |
Bureau Meeting |
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23 January |
Strasbourg |
PACE Session: Election of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Assembly |
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25 January |
Strasbourg |
PACE Session |
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26 January |
Brussels, CoE office |
Meeting with Mrs Bresso, President of the CoR |
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6 February |
London |
Meeting with Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Secretary of State, UK Department for Communities and Local Government |
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9 February |
Strasbourg |
Opening of the seminar on the local and regional dimension of the campaign “one in five” to stop sexual violence against children |
|
13 February |
London |
High level meeting on local and regional democracy |
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17 February |
Strasbourg |
Bureau meeting |
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23 February |
Templepatrick |
Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) conference |
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2 March |
London |
CoE Conference on “The rule of Law as a practical concept” |
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5-8 March |
Tunis |
Official visit to Tunis |
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13 March |
London |
Meeting with Baroness Hanham |
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15 March |
Belgrade |
Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport |
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19-22 March |
Strasbourg |
Bureau Meeting and 22nd Congress Session |
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26-27 March |
Lisbon |
Meeting of the Bureau of the Executive Committee of the North-South Centre and North-South Prize Ceremony |
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2-3 April |
Strasbourg |
European Committee on local and regional democracy, CDLR |
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13 April |
Strasbourg |
Steering Committee Meeting Coastal towns |
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23 April |
Strasbourg |
Intra-institutional working lunch, invitation of SG Thorbjorn Jagland |
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23-26 April |
Strasbourg |
PACE Session |
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2 May |
London |
Meeting with Baroness Hanham |
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9 May |
Blackpool |
Award Ceremony of the European best practice programme for coastal towns |
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14 May |
Strasbourg |
2nd High Level meeting on UK priorities |
|
14 May |
Stuttgart |
6th Annual Conference of the European Network “Cities for children” and award Ceremony |
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15 May |
Strasbourg |
Bureau meeting |
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17-18 May |
Saint Petersburg |
Plenary Session of the CIS Assembly and Nevsky Ecological Forum |
|
23 May |
Strasbourg |
122nd Session of the Committee of Ministers Handover of CM Chairmanship, UK to Albania |
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29 May |
London |
Meeting with Baroness Hanham |
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2 June |
Innsbruck |
Award Ceremony of the Maximilian Prize |
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4-6 June |
Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Kutina |
Visit to Croatia, meeting with government ministers, association of local and regional authorities and Roma community |
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7-8 June |
Udine |
General Assembly of ALDA and international conference on “Empowering Citizens And Strengthening Local Governance In Neighbouring Countries” |
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13 June |
Brussels |
Sparda – Quality of life in Cities, Co-presidence |
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14 June |
Tirana |
Bureau meeting |
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16-17 June |
Göttweig |
Europaforum hosted by the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria |
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25-29 June |
Strasbourg |
PACE Session |
|
6 July |
Vanne |
Meeting of the Monitoring Committee |
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26-28 August |
Salzburg |
Official visit to Salzburg |
|
3 September |
Durres |
Exchange of interreligious dialogue |
|
5 September |
Tirana |
Ceremony on the Holocaust |
|
13 September |
Strasbourg |
Assises of National Associations of local and regional authorities |
|
14 September |
Strasbourg |
Bureau meeting |
|
19-21 September |
Vienna |
31st CoE Conference of Ministers of Justice |
|
24-25 September |
Saint Petersburg |
CoE Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth on “Young people’s access to rights: development of innovative youth policies in Europe” |
|
27-28 September |
Cadiz |
CEMR, General Assembly |
|
1-5 October |
Strasbourg |
PACE Session |
|
8-10 October |
Strasbourg |
First Session of the Strasbourg World Forum for Democracy and AER Youth Regional Network Plenary Meeting |
|
11-12 October |
Istanbul |
2nd Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Social Cohesion |
|
15-18 October |
Strasbourg |
Bureau meeting and 23rd Congress Session |
Conferences where the President was represented by a Congress member:
|
Date |
Place |
Title |
Representative |
|
24-25 October |
Rome |
Conference “Woman as actors of change in the Euro-Mediterranean” |
Suica Dubravka |
|
30 October – 1 November |
Istanbul |
11th Meeting of the CLIP Network |
John Warmisham |
|
18 October |
L’Aqulia |
CALRE – General Assembly |
Günther Krug |
|
27 March |
Strasbourg |
Conference on “Combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity across Europe: Sharing knowledge and moving forward”, |
Sandra Barnes |
|
29-30 March |
Pristina |
NALAS General Assembly meeting and Annual Conference |
Ludmila Sfirloaga |
|
20-22 May |
Wroclaw |
12th CLIP meeting |
Hendrik Hammar |
|
28-30 May |
Tunis |
International conference: Decentralization – indispensable tool for democracy and development |
Amy Koopmanschap |
|
6 September |
Tirana |
Cross-sectoral seminar “Promotion of human rights at local level” |
Lars Molin |
|
21-22 September |
Pescara |
AER Summit of the Regions on the Crisis |
Herwig van Staa |
|
5 October |
Tirana |
Seminar “Strengthening citizens’ democratic participation: seminar to mark the opening of European Local Democracy Week activities” |
John Warmisham |
3. Press Releases issued by the Congress between October 2011 and October 2012
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4. Reply from the CM to Rec 299 (2011) on the Congress Reform
Ministers’ Deputies
CM Documents
CM/Cong(2011)Rec299 final 14 October 2011
“The reform of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe reform”
Recommendation 299 (2011) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
(Reply adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 12 October 2011 at the 1123rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
1. On 19 January 2011, the Committee of Ministers adopted a revised version of the Statutory Resolution and Charter of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. In so doing, the Committee was attesting its support for the reform process initiated by the Congress in order to reinforce the effectiveness of its action to promote local and regional democracy in Europe. The Committee reiterates its encouragement to pursue these reforms so as to ensure that the Congress’s activity is fully in line with the Organisation’s strategic priorities.
2. The Committee welcomes the opportunity to co-operate closely with the Congress in addressing issues which affect the interests of local and regional authorities. It attaches great importance to the work of the Congress, which, by working towards the emergence of solid, efficient local and regional democracy in Europe, is helping to achieve the Organisation’s statutory aim.
3. The Committee recalls that it holds regular exchanges of views with the President of the Congress, as well as with its Secretary General. These exchanges of views keep it informed of the state of preparation and results of the Congress’s sessions and help it monitor the progress of its work. Furthermore, members and representatives of the Congress directly contribute to the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental activities by participating in conferences of specialised ministers as members of or observers in various bodies or committees for which the Committee of Ministers is responsible, such as its Rapporteur Groups and steering committees, like the CDLR, the CDMC, the CDMG, the CDMS and the CDEG. Moreover, they are occasionally invited to take part in Ministers' Deputies’ meetings at rapporteur group level. For example, the President of the Congress himself attended the meeting of the Rapporteur Group on Democracy on 13 January 2011, and the Chair of the Congress Monitoring Committee took part in the meeting of the Rapporteur Group on Human Rights on 17 March 2011. Conversely, the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers participates in Congress Sessions.
4. The Committee takes note of the Congress’s wish to further reinforce their mutual dialogue. It is open to such a reinforcement, and invites its rapporteur groups to bear this in mind whenever their work could benefit from Congress input.
5. The Committee of Ministers encourages the member states concerned to sign and ratify the instruments mentioned in paragraphs e to h, and, where appropriate, to reconsider their reservations to these instruments.
6. Lastly, the Committee recalls that on the occasion of its 1090th meeting (7 July 2010), it took note of Budgetary Recommendation 289 adopted by the Congress, and brought it to the attention of the governments of member states.
MCL-17(2011)5
Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government
17th Session, Kyiv, 3 - 4 November 2011
|
Outlook to the future The Chaves report |
Report to the Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government in agreement with the Congress
Council of Europe: Towards a Multi-Level Governance
Manuel Chaves
Vice-President for Territorial Policy of the Government of Spain
Minister of Territorial Policy and
Public Administration
Introduction
The statement is aimed at proposing a reflection on the situation of local and regional democracy at the Council of Europe and on the challenges in an ever-changing world in which the level of interrelation between local, regional, national and international institutions must inevitably strengthen. That is why multilevel governance is the corner-stone for Europe to meet the global challenges our continent is facing nowadays.
In practice, such multilevel governance is an agreed, binding, transversal network that works between local, regional, national and European authorities in which organized civil society is also attaining an ever-greater role. Thus, the Reflection Group chaired by Felipe González, already affirmed that “in a multilevel governance system, each level of authority – European, national, regional and local – exercises its powers according to its own legal responsibility.”
Many Council of Europe bodies are crucial actors in this system of multi-level governance involving the different levels in their work: national governments, national parliaments, local and regional authorities. The Committee of Ministers is the highest decision-making body of the organisation and defines its priorities. Together with the conferences of specialised ministers it constitutes the so-called “intergovernmental sector”. The Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress are political institutional actors representing the Parliaments and the local and regional authorities of the 47 member states. The intergovernmental sector, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress conduct a regular political dialogue in order to develop and strengthen multi-level governance within the Council of Europe.
In the current process of reflection on implementation of the Council of Europe’s reform, the promotion of local and regional democracy should be considered an essential priority, enhancing its key role in the consolidation of democratic processes in Europe and bringing good practices to other regions of the world.
The fundamental contribution of the “Kiviniemi Report”, which proposes new mechanisms to coordinate and boost Council of Europe’s work in the field of local and regional democracy, is the starting point for this statement. Its purpose is to suggest further steps on the path of reforms that the promotion of local and regional democracy requires in the frame of the Council of Europe. The proposal is based on the discussions and the will of the Congress to foster the relations and political dialogue between the different institutional levels responsible for local and regional governments within the Council of Europe. Multilevel governance should be in that sense one of the vectors to facilitate inter-institutional cooperation within the Organisation and also to maximize the efforts to ensure that local and regional democracy remains the spearhead of a more cohesive Europe.
The Council of Europe’s reform is an ongoing and complex process that has been adapting to new realities and decisions. This statement wanted to answer to the Utrecht’s mandate, concentrated in four specific fields for review:
A. The relations between intergovernmental sector and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities;
B. An agenda in common between the ministers responsible for local and regional issues and the Congress;
C. Monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government; and
D. The evaluation of the Council of Europe’s works in the field of local and regional democracy.
However, taking into account these ongoing reforms in the Council of Europe and as this document is the result of a living and proactive process, I have chosen to focus on three main issues:
A. Council of Europe and the promotion and local and regional democracy
B. An agenda in common between Ministers responsible for local and regional governments and the Congress
C. Towards a Multilevel Governance
The key ideas here presented stem partly from my reflections on the answers to a questionnaire sent in July 2010 that member states have filled out and sent back, and furthermore from the consultations and contacts established with the main stakeholders, in particular the Congress.
- Council of Europe and the promotion and local and regional democracy
The Council of Europe is undergoing a reform process that aims to improve its performance and added value to those issues that have always been “flag” in the organization. The promotion of local and regional democracy in Europe is consolidated as a fundamental part of the democracy pillar and highlights the synergies required between the Committee of Ministers, the Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional authorities and the Congress in this area.
The progress already achieved enhancing and improving the current level of cooperation between the Congress and the intergovernmental sector, particularly the Committee of Ministers also goes hand in hand with this line. Within the intergovernmental sector the essential role of the Ministers responsible for regional and local governments is also worth noting because, as Congress, they share a common objective of contributing to delivering good local and regional governance to all. They each pursue this objective within the sphere of their competence, taking into account the reality and nature of their responsibilities.
The reforms in the Council of Europe, as concerns local and regional democracy in particular, aim at avoiding duplication, suppressing redundant red-tape and maximizing the utility of documents, tools and actions developed by the Council of Europe, strengthening its overall coherence.
On one hand, within the intergovernmental sector, the relation between the Committee of Ministers and the authorities in each country competent on local and regional democracy issues, brought together in the Ministerial Conference, should be strengthened, as Tölli Report mentions.
On the other hand, progress in strengthening stable political relations between Ministerial Conference and the Congress seems also necessary in order to contribute to the cooperation between the Committee of Ministers and the Congress by complementing those aspects that may require a more detailed knowledge of the subject matter and/or matters which for their effective implementation depend on the exercise of competent authority at the domestic level. This strengthening could be expressed by a working plan, based on issues chosen jointly the Ministerial Conference and the Congress in an agenda in common, that would require the Committee of Ministers’ approval.
Certainly, these proposals should be understood within the frame of the two principles contained in the “Kiviniemi Report”: budget austerity resulting from the current economic crisis and need for a better and more visibility of the Council of Europe’s works on local and regional democracy.
- An agenda in common between Ministers responsible for local and regional governments and the Congress
This development gives effect to the work advanced in the “Kiviniemi Report” and the dual objective of internal consistency within the Council of Europe and better visibility and outreach of the Council of Europe, in the field of local and regional democracy. It is important to identify the fields deserving this effort and therefore to start building up an agenda in common between the Ministerial Conference and the Congress to be approved by Committee of Ministers as part of the wider CoE agenda on local and regional democracy.
In order to achieve that objective, the improved political dialogue described in the aforementioned A point should bring the coordination of political priorities and strategic lines to fruition.
Other Council of Europe’s bodies such as the Parliamentary Assembly and the NGO conference will also have to play a meaningful partnership in this new process.
Proposals:
This agenda could be tackled from different perspectives, all of them seeking to integrate:
- Wide approach: “Local and Regional Democracy in the framework of the Council of Europe’s reform process “. That approach is needed in order to keep placing local and regional democracy at the core of the work and of the priorities of the Council of Europe, in full process of reform. This task will be carried out in close coordination with other international organizations and especially with the European Union and its Committee of the Regions.
- Joint Approach: "The Congress and the intergovernmental sector: common aims, converging approaches". It seeks to establish an agenda in common for topics of common interest as well as for modalities mentioned under point A, contributing to rationalized procedures, improved working methods and better coordination.
Thus, a first agenda in common could be developed around the issue of multi-level governance and local and regional democracy. Inter-institutional cooperation as central axis of the common denominator – local and regional democracy – would strengthen and maximize efforts.
The following more specific subjects are proposed:
1. Monitoring the impact of the economic crisis on local and regional government and the policy responses at central, regional and local level;
2. Strengthening citizens’ democratic participation
As it was highlighted in Utrecht, the low level of citizen participation in public affairs is a big challenge to be faced from all levels of political responsibility in the administration.
3. Developing the concept of multi-level governance in the Council of Europe
This aspect should be jointly taken up with the Committee of Regions and the High Level Group on Governance of EU member States.
4. Promotion of human rights at all levels and raising awareness among local and regional authorities.
Human rights are dealt with by different intergovernmental bodies of the Council of Europe. The Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional governments, however, can substantially support these activities and co-operate with the Congress.
5. Multi-level cooperation to overcome obstacles in transfrontier cooperation
The drawing up of this list of issues by the intergovernmental sector and the Congress would stress the importance of the work and the added value of each of these bodies. In the spirit of the ongoing discussion, within the Committee of Ministers, of the reform of the Council of Europe, themes for future Ministerial Conferences could be selected from the agenda in common. Implementing this “agenda in common” from the intergovernmental side would require efficient use of current resources.
- Towards a Multilevel Governance
The reforms undertaken in the Council of Europe are bringing changes in the working methods and have made significant progress in other matters contained in the Utrecht Declaration. The European Charter of Local Self.-Government clearly is and will remain at the heart of the Council of Europe’s overall agenda on local and regional democracy. Monitoring of the Charter is a statutory responsibility of the Congress.
Since the Utrecht Conference, the Congress has initiated an important reform of its monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, laid down in it Resolution 307 (2010). This encompasses, among others, a clarification of the procedures, which are more transparent and more precise and allows greater participation of the member state in the process. Despite this, the promotion of a constructive political debate between the intergovernmental sector and the Congress on this issue could contribute to improve the efforts already deployed by the Congress.
The monitoring activities comprise several stages from the preparation of the visit in close cooperation with the authorities of the member state concerned, the visit itself, the drafting and adoption of the report and the recommendations by the Congress, the discussion of the recommendation in the Committee of Ministers and its subsidiary bodies and the concrete follow up including the implementation of the recommendations in action plans together with the authorities of the member state concerned.
It is the latter and most crucial stage that the political dialogue with the member states represented in the Committee of Ministers and in the Ministerial Conference takes place. The support of member states of the implementation of the recommendations is the precondition and the guarantee for the organisation’s efficiency in this core field of activities.
In order to better promote human rights and raise awareness of local and regional authorities of their responsibilities in the fields of their competencies and to support the many local initiatives in this regard the Congress has introduced the promotion of human rights at local level as one of its priorities, through Resolution 296 (2010). The Committee of Ministers notes that the Congress does not intend to monitor, or on its monitoring visits to assess, the implementation of human rights by local and regional authorities and that it will not duplicate the activities of Council of Europe monitoring bodies. (Reply adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 6 July 2011at the 1118th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies).
On this basis the Ministerial Conference and the Congress envisage to cooperate in promoting human rights at local and regional level. A multi-level approach is necessary to guarantee the efficiency of concrete actions of awareness-raising to make local and regional elected representatives better aware of their scope of actions in the field of fundamental rights and protection of individual liberties.
This political exchange about the issues mentioned in this document and the implementation of common activities as outlined in the agenda in common take into account the responsibility and duties of the institutional partners in the Council of Europe as well as the tasks assigned to each sphere of administration at local, regional and national level and make progresses in order to make multilevel governance a reality within the Institution.
Finally, and regarding the evaluation of the Council of Europe’s work promoting local and regional democracy, the lines put forward by the Secretary-General on internal evaluation should be followed. However, this should not prevent the monitoring and evaluation of specific issues, such as those agreed for the agenda in common. In fact, an assessment by the partners who agreed the agenda in common and are responsible for its implementation seems most appropriate.