Strasbourg, 7 June 2010 LR-GG(2010)9
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON GOOD DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNANCE AT LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL
(LR-GG)
MEETING REPORT
Agora Building, 26-27 April 2010
1. Opening of the meeting
Mr Childerik Schaapveld, Director of the Directorate of Democratic Institutions, opened the meeting on behalf of the Secretary General and welcomed the participants (the list of participants appears in appendix 1).
2. Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair
Mr Paul-Henri Philips (Belgium) was elected to the Chair and Mrs Neza Vodusek (Slovenia) Vice-Chair.
3. Adoption of the agenda
The Agenda as adopted appears at Appendix 2.
4. Programme of activities of the LR-GG for 2010-2013
- Draft list of activities
- Target groups and check list for development of communication action plans
The Committee first discussed the document prepared by the Secretariat (LR-GG(2010)1) in general and then reviewed it point by point, including the communication aspect of each output. The document included the activities stemming directly from the Utrecht Declaration and activities proposed by member states in the replies to the questionnaire, supplemented with proposals by the Bureau and CDLR.
The Committee reviewed all the activities listed in the document, and agreed on the objectives, impact, time-frame, and rapporteurs responsible for the implementation of the activities. It agreed to use the framework document to describe and monitor the implementation of the activities, and instructed the Secretariat to prepare the updated version of the document incorporating the comments and amendments.
On the basis of this in-depth review the LR-GG adopted its programme of activities 2010-2013 for the implementation of the Utrecht Agenda. In doing so, it took care to reflect the priority that Ministers had, through their voting at Utrecht, given to the challenges and to identify outputs that meet the highest level of support.
5. Follow-up to the Kiviniemi report: steps and measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration
The Committee took note of the steps and measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration in order to follow-up on the report by Minister Kiviniemi. Particular emphasis was put on the importance of ensuring awareness and co-ordination through appropriate communication inside the ministries responsible for local and regional government, as well as with other ministries, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Committee had no concrete proposals for action to make, but agreed that members and the Committee would bear the measures in mind in the conduct of future work.
6. Updating of the Handbook on Public Ethics at Local level
The LR-GG Committee discussed the approach to be followed with a view to completing the updating of the “Model Initiatives Package on Public Ethics at Local Level” (adopted in 2004). This activity, started in 2005, has been in a period of stand-by because of the insufficient number of national contributions and the priority given to preparations for the 16th Session of the Ministerial Conference.
As regards the national contributions to be included in the Part I of the handbook, the Committee decided to invite the countries having sent information between 2005 and 2008, to update it if need be. Countries not having sent information so far were invited to contribute to the handbook. The Committee instructed the Secretariat to prepare summaries of all information received.
7. Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local level: arrangements for the granting of the Label
The Committee discussed the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level and the arrangements for the granting of the Label on the basis of document LR-GG(2010)5 and a presentation by Mr Pierre Schreiber, Head of the Strategy. Members made several suggestions which it was agreed would be taken into consideration when preparing the proposals for adoption by the Stakeholders Platform. The Committee asked to be kept informed of developments regarding the Strategy and agreed to be ready to give further input to it whenever so requested.
8. Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform
The Committee was given a presentation on the work and outlook of the Centre of Expertise by Mr Daniel Popescu (Secretariat)which complemented the information contained in document LR-GG(2010). The subsequent exchange of views showed a very positive assessment of the work of the Centre and clear support for the strengthening of the the links between the Committee and Centre, particularly with a view to contributing to the identification of subjects and counterparts for future work in member States as well for contributing to the elaboration of new tools. It was further suggested that a particular effort should be made to raise awareness of Ministers’ Deputies about the work of Centre.
Following this more general discussion, Ms Sandra Ionescu (UK), consultant expert of the Centre, presented the structure of the future Toolkit on Human Resources Management. The Committee welcomed this work and underlined the importance of human resources management in strengthening of local government. It looked forward to seeing the final product in due course.
9. European Local Democracy Week
The Committee took up this item on the basis of document LR-GG(2010)7. Mr Jos Lemmers of the Congress Secretariat provided additional information on recent developments and introduced Mrs Maria Baroni who has been seconded to the Congress Secretariat by the Italian government to work on this activity.
The Committee emphasizes that this activity was an example of what can be achieved when the intergovernmental side and the Congress work together and reiterated the importance of the joint working group to pilot the ELDW.
Mrs Baroni informed the Committee that a proposal was being developed that would see local authorities willing to take on a particularly active role in the ELDW awarded the title of “12-star city”. The Committee expressed concern that this idea could be a source of confusion with the quality label under the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level. It invited the Congress Secretariat to prepare a paper on this issue as soon as possible. The Committee agreed that this matter should also be discussed by the CDLR.
10. Forum for the Future of Democracy
The Committee took up this item on the basis of document LR-GG(2010)8 and was given a supplementary briefing on developments by Mr Michael Remmert of the Secretariat.
Mr Remmert informed the Committee that activities on e-governance would, as a result of the re-prioritisation proposed by the Secretary General to the Committee of Ministers, be discontinued in 2011 as a lot had been accomplished in this field, including three Recommendations by the Committee of Ministers, so they were now deemed to be of a lesser priority. However, he expressed the hope that countries particularly interested in the issues of e-voting might find the means to continue work in that area.
Mr Philips highlighted his report on the Workshop he had attended as representative of the CDLR (and Belgium) on the certification of e-voting systems (26-27 November 2009) and the proposals it contained (LR-GG(2010)8 Appendix 6). Mrs Greta Billing indicated Norway might be interested in supporting further work on e-voting.
As for the Forum of the Future of Democracy, Mr Remmert highlighted that a new approach was being developed further to the findings of the evaluation report that had been commissioned. There was now strong consensus on an approach whereby the Forum would be more like a process, with a big event once every two years and smaller ones in between. As set out in the concept paper, the 2010 edition in Yerevan was taking a holistic approach based on the concept of good democratic governance. As the concept of good democratic governance had been coined and developed in the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at local level, the CDLR would obviously be an important partner.
In the exchange of views that followed the following points were made:
- the activity of looking into the feasibility of a Committee of Ministers Recommendation on Good Democratic Governance at Local and Regional Level is relevant to the Forum event of 2010;
- it would be desirable that opportunity be given to raise awareness about the Strategy at the Forum event in Yerevan;
- the Forum should contribute to the stability of ongoing work and avoid coming up with a set of principles on good democratic governance that would be inconsistent with those identified for the Strategy.
Mr Remmert underlined that the primary role of the Forum is one of a formally informal process bringing different strands together. Its role is to identify gaps, not to fill them, the latter being up to the Council of Europe bodies participating in the Forum.
11. Other business
Mr Andriy Guk (Ukraine) informed the Committee that the new government of his country had included local and regional democracy and capacity building among its priorities.
12. Date of the next meeting
The Committee confirmed the date of the next meeting for 8-9 November 2010.
Appendix 1
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
MEMBERS / MEMBRES
CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT
M. Paul-Henri PHILIPS, Adjoint du Directeur Général, Administration des pouvoirs locaux, Ministère de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, 20, B – 1035 BRUXELLES
Tél : (32) 2 800 32 77 ; Fax : (32) 2800 38 00; E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIA / ARMENIE
Mr Artur SOGHOMONYAN, Head of the Department of Community Service Affairs, Ministry of Territorial Administration, YEREVAN, Armenia
Tel: (37410) 511 322; Fax: (37410) 511 322; E-mail: [email protected];
Mrs Tamara DAVTYAN, Assistant for the Head of the Department of Community Service Affairs, Ministry of Territorial Administration, YEREVAN, Armenia
Tel: 06 31 17 11 29; E-mail: [email protected]
AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAÏDJAN
Mr Tokay BAYRAMOV, Leading adviser, Department on Administrative Supervision over Municipalities Actions, Centre of work with municipalities, Ministry of Justice, B. Safaroglu str. 141, AZ 1009
Tel: (994 55) 609 20 20; Fax: (99412) 59 63 408; E-mail: [email protected]
BELGIUM / BELGIQUE
Mr Edwin LEFEBRE, Deputy Director, Ministry of the Flemish Community, Agency for Home Affairs, Boudewijnlaan 30, B - 1000 BRUSSELS
Tel : (32) 2 553 40 16; Fax :(32) 2 553 39 52; E-mail: [email protected]
Mme Annie BIEFNOT-VANBOTERDAL, Directrice générale, Chargée de mission auprès du Gouvernement Wallon, 18/19, rue de la Seuwe, B - 7000 MONS
Tél: +(32) (0) 65 22 06 84; +(32) (0) 475 46 79 38; Fax:+(32) (0) 65 22 06 99;
E-mail:[email protected]
M. Xavier KALBUSCH, Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Gospert 1, 4700 EUPEN
Tél : (32) (0)87 59 63 00 ; Fax : (32) (0)87 55 28 91 ; E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected]
BULGARIA / BULGARIE
Mrs Penka YORDANOVA – Deputy General Director, Strategic Planning of Regional Development and Administrative Territorial Structure, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, 17-19 Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA
Tel: (359) 2 9405450; Fax: (359) 2 9872517; E-mail:[email protected]
Mrs Youlia IONEVA, State Expert, Directorate of European coordination and Public Relations, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, 17-19 Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA
Tel: (359) 2 940 54 55; fax: (359) 2 987 25 17; E-mail: [email protected]
CZECH REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE
Mr Rudolf RYS, Administrative Advisor, Department for Territorial Public Administration, Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, nám. Hrdinů 3, 140 21 Praha 4
Tel: +420 974 816 640; fax: +420 974 816 832; E-mail: [email protected]
DENMARK / DANEMARK
Mr Jesper LORENZ GRADERT, Head of Section, Legal Division, Ministry of the Interior and Health, Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 COPENHAGEN K
Tel: (45) 33 92 47 43 E-mail: [email protected]
FINLAND / FINLANDE
Mr. Markku MÖLLÄRI, Senior Adviser, Department for Municipal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, PL 28 / Box 28, Helsinki, FI-00023 GOVERNMENT, FINLAND
Tel: (358).9 160 32210; Fax: (358) 9 160 32230; E-mail: [email protected]
FRANCE / FRANCE
Apologised for absence / Excusé
GEORGIA / GEORGIE
Mr Bidzina GIORGADZE, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Ingorokva 7, TBILISI 0134
Tel: (995) 32 510 681; E-mail: [email protected]
GERMANY / ALLEMAGNE
Mrs Gabriele EISEL, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Local Government Affairs, Alt Moabit 101d, D - 10559 BERLIN
Tel: (49) 30 18 681 2353; Fax: (49) 30 18681 59674; E-mail: [email protected]
HUNGARY / HONGRIE
Mrs Viktória ZÖLD-NAGY, Department of Public Administration Offices, Notaries and State Authority, Ministry of Local Government Merleg St. 3, P.O.B. 314/9, H - 1051 BUDAPEST
Tel: 00 361 999 4828; Fax:00 361 441 1755; E-mail: [email protected]
IRELAND / IRLANDE
Apologised for absence / Excusé
LATVIA / LETTONIE
Ms Kristīne JAUNZEME, Director of Legal Department, Ministry of Regional Development and Local governments, Lacplesa str. 27, LV – 1011 RIGA
Tel : (371) 6777 04 64; Fax: (371) 6777 0479; E-mail: [email protected]
LUXEMBOURG / LUXEMBOURG
Mme Christiane LOUTSCH-JEMMING, Conseiller de Gouvernement 1ère classe, Ministère de l'Intérieur et à la Grande Région, 19, rue Beaumont, L – 1219 LUXEMBOURG
Tél. + 352 247 84615; Fax: + 352 26 20 26 93; e-mail: [email protected]
MALTA / MALTE
Apologised for absence / Excusé
MONTENEGRO
Apologised for absence / Excusé
NETHERLANDS / PAYS-BAS
Mr Auke van der GOOT, Senior Adviser, Europe and Local and Regional Governance Unit, Directorate General for Governance and Kingdom Relations, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, P.O Box 20011, NL - 2500 EA THE HAGUE
Tel: (31) 70 426 7386; Fax: (31) 70 426 7655; E-mail: [email protected]
NORWAY / NORVEGE
Mrs Greta BILLING, Deputy Director General, Department of Local Government, The Royal Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Postbox 8112 DEP,
N - 0032 OSLO
Tel: (47) 22 24 72 25; mob. (47) 92 61 37 27; Fax: (47) 22 24 27 35;
E-mail: [email protected]
ROMANIA / ROUMANIE
Ms Monica DIMITRIU, Director of Commumnication and International Relations, National Agency of Civil Servants, Floor 6th, Room 614, District 5, Str. Georiei No. 5, BUCAREST, Romania
Tel.: + 40 722 47 51 19; Fax: + 40 73 00 111 35; E-mail: [email protected]
SAN MARINO/ SAINT-MARIN
Apologised for absence / Excusé
SLOVENIA / SLOVENIE
Mrs Neza VODUSEK, Vice-Chair of the Committee, Senior Advisor, Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy, Kotnikova 28, 1501 LJUBLJANA, Slovenia
Tel: + 386 1 434 15 12; Fax: + 386 1 434 15 38; e-mail: [email protected]
TURKEY / TURQUIE
Mr Ilker HAKTANKACMAZ, Head of the International Funding Unit, Directorate General of Local Authorities, Ministry of the interior, Devlet Mahallesi Inönü Bulvari No. 4 Bakanliklar – 06644 ANKARA
Tel: +90 312 419 07 81; Fax: +90 312 425 17 91;
E-mail: [email protected]
UKRAINE
Mr Andriy GUK, Chief of Department of Foundation for Local Self-Government of Ukraine, Office of the President of Ukraine, Secretary of the Delegation of Ukraine to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, L.Ukrainka bld. 26, office 230, KYIV 01133, UKRAINE
Tel: + 380 44 223 68 10; Fax: + 380 44 286 48 63; E-mail: [email protected]
UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI
Mr Paul ROWSELL, Deputy Director, Democracy and Local Governance, Department for Communities and Local Government, 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB
Tel: (44) 303 44 42568; E-mail: [email protected]
Ms Victoria JONES, Team Leader, European and International Democracy and Local Governance, Department for Communities and Local Government, 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB
Tel: (44) 303 44 42585; E-mail: [email protected]
PARTICIPANTS
CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONGRES DES POUVOIRS LOCAUX ET REGIONAUX DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE
M. Jos LEMMERS, Chef des Services Généraux du Congrès des Pouvoirs Locaux et Régionaux du Conseil de l'Europe
Mme Maria BARONI, Chef de Projet, Semaine européenne de la Démocratie locale
EXPERT
Mrs Sanda IONESCU, The Culture Proker, 4 Milverton Close, Maidenhead,
Berkshire SL6 3AZ – United Kingdom
Tel/ + 44 1628 781316; E-mail: [email protected]
SECRETARIAT
Mr Childerik SCHAAPVELD, Director of Democratic Institutions/ Directeur des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 60; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;
E-mail: [email protected]
M. Alfonso ZARDI, Head of Department of Local and Regional Democracy and Good Governance / Chef du Service de la démocratie locale et régionale et de la bonne gouvernance - Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques - Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction Générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel : (33) 3 88 41 39 06; Fax : (33) 3 88 41 27 84; E-mail : [email protected]
Mr Frank STEKETEE, Administrator / Administrateur – Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 61; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]
Mrs Vesna ATANASOVA, Administrator / Administratrice – Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 31 68; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84;
E-mail: [email protected]
Ms Severina SPASSOVA, Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction Générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel: (33) 3 90 21 52 75; Fax: (33) 3 88 41 27 84; e-mail: [email protected]
M. Daniel POPESCU, Administrator / Administrateur – Centre of Expertise on Local Government Reform / Centre d’Expertise pour la Réforme de l’Administration Locale - Directorate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel: (33) 03 88 41 36 08; Fax: (33) 03 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]
M. Pierre SCHREIBER, Head of the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level / Chef de la stratégie pour l’innovation et la bonne gouvernance au niveau local - Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques
Tel: (33) 3 88 41 45 22; Fax: (33) 3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Michael REMMERT, Project Manager "Good Governance in the Information Society" / Directeur de Projet "Bonne gouvernance dans la société de l'information" – Department for Democratic Participation / Service de la participation démocratique – Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques
Tel: +33 3 88 41 34 05; Fax: +33 3 90 21 52 85; e-mail: [email protected]
Mme Yvonne MANGOLD, Secrétariat, Direction des institutions démocratiques / Directorate of Democratic Institutions
Tel : (33) 3 90 21 41 16; Fax : (33) 3 88 41 27 84; E-mail : [email protected]
Appendix 2
AGENDA
26-27 April 2010
Strasbourg, Agora Building
Room G02
|
1. |
Opening of the meeting |
|
|
2. |
Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair |
|
|
3. |
Adoption of the agenda |
[LR-GG(2010)OJ1rev.2] |
|
4. |
Programme of activities of the LR-GG for 2010-2013: - Draft list of activities - Target groups and check list for development of communication action plans |
[LR-GG(2010)1] [LR-GG(2010)2] |
|
5. |
Follow-up to the Kiviniemi report: steps and measures agreed in the Utrecht Declaration |
[LR-GG(2010)3] |
|
6. |
Updating of the handbook on Public Ethics at local level |
[LR-GG(2010)4] |
|
7. |
Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level: arrangements for the granting of the label |
[LR-GG(2010)5] |
|
8. |
Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform |
[LR-GG(2010)6] |
|
9. |
European Local Democracy Week |
[LR-GG(2010)7] |
|
10. |
Forum for the Future of Democracy |
[LR-GG(2010)8] |
|
11. |
Other business |
|
|
12. |
Date of the next meeting |