MCL-17(2011)1

                  Council of Europe Conference

of Ministers responsible

for Local and Regional Government

                   17th Session, Kyiv, 3 - 4 November 2011

General introductory document

Preface

On 3 and 4 November 2011 the European Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government will hold the 17th Session of their Conference to take further steps in their co-operation and in particular to :

1.       review the economic situation of local government and adopt further guidelines for policies to tackle the crisis, enhance recovery and ensure a sustainable future;

2.       examine the outlook for the future of intergovernmental co-operation on local and regional democracy issues  in the Council of Europe in the light of the reviews agreed upon at Utrecht, the proposal for a partnership between the Committee of Ministers and the Ministerial Conference, reforms in the Council of Europe and a review of progress with the implementation of the Utrecht Agenda;

3.       address the role of government in removing obstacles to transfrontier cooperation;

4.       examine the issue of human rights at local level.

This introductory document gives an overview of events on the programme and items on the agenda (see document MCL-17(2011)2), as well as a guide to the conference documents (the full list of documents appears in Appendix 1). The document follows the order of the programme for the 17^th Session. It starts by setting out the arrangements for speaking at the sessions and for proposing amendments to the final declaration (the Kyiv Declaration).

Arrangements for speaking at the Session

1.       All Ministers/Heads of delegation and observers may ask the Chair to be given the floor on any item of the agenda. In order to facilitate the task of the Chair, they are invited to make their request known prior to the Session (by e-mail to the Secretariat: [email protected]). At the session in Kyiv, requests for speaking are to be made to the Chair directly, or through designated representatives of the Host Ministry and the Secretariat. All decisions on speaking during the sessions are taken by the Chair only.

2.       As a general rule, speaking time under each item on the agenda is limited to 5 minutes. This time is subject to change in function of the number of requests and the amount of time foreseen for the item on the agenda.

 

Arrangements for (proposing) amendments to the draft Kyiv Declaration

1.       The draft for the Kyiv Declaration as agreed by the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR) (document MCL-17(2011)13) can be amended only by decision of the Ministers in session.

2.       Ministers/Heads of delegation and observers wishing to do so may propose amendments (additions and/or changes) to the relevant section of the draft Kyiv Declaration. Any amendment must be proposed or announced orally during the discussion of the agenda item and has to be submitted in writing to the Secretariat. Delegations are invited to make known at the earliest possible time any intention to propose an amendment and if possible well before the Session (by e-mail to [email protected]). 

3.       The text for the declarations inside the Kyiv Declaration will be discussed and, if possible, adopted during the discussion of the relevant item on the agenda. An overview showing the link between the various parts of the draft Kyiv Declaration and the items on the agenda appears at Appendix 2.

4.       If necessary, final decisions on any proposals for amendment will be taken on Friday morning under item 11 of the Agenda: Adoption of the Kyiv Declaration.  However, all amendments must have been proposed or announced during the discussion of the relevant item on the agenda.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Arrival and registration

All participants arriving will be met at their point of arrival in Ukraine; they will also receive information about registration for obtaining their Conference badge and Conference documentation. Transport to the hotels will be provided. The Conference website contains further information (http://17-session.kiev.ua)

Meeting of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR)

A meeting of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR) will be held in Exhibition Hall on the 5^th floor of the Ukrainian House from 17.00–18.30. Transport from and to the hotels will be provided.

Dinner and fireside chat for Ministers (only)

On the evening of Wednesday 2 November, two separate events are proposed, one for Ministers (exclusively) and one for the other participants.

For Ministers a buffet dinner will be hosted by the Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine, in the House of Receptions (22, Grushevskogo str) in Kyiv starting at 20.00. Transport from and to the hotels will be provided.

The dinner will be followed by a fireside chat, hosted by the Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine. Ministers will previously receive information on the topics of the fireside chat and about arrangements for interpretation.

Welcome reception and buffet dinner for other participants

For other participants, at 20.00, a buffet dinner will be hosted by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine in Restaurant "Triumfalniy" in the “Kyiv” Hotel (26/1 Grushevskogo str). Transport from and to the hotels will be provided.

Thursday, 3 November 2011

The 17th Session takes place in the Ukrainian House in Kyiv. Transport from the hotels will be provided.

9.00 – 10.00            Opening session 

The opening of the 17^th Session, in addition to the opening statements, includes the adoption of the Agenda (document MCL-17(2011)2) and the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference (items 1, 2 and 3 of the Agenda).

The press, subject to prior registration, will be allowed to attend the opening session. Subsequently access to the meeting room will be limited to registered participants only.

10.00 - 10.30           Family photo

The family photo of Heads of Delegation will be taken in the Ukrainian House.

10.30 – 12.30          Local government in critical times: policies for crisis, recovery and                           sustainable future 

This session (Agenda item 4) is devoted to the presentation and discussion of the report “Crisis, recovery and sustainable future” of the CDLR, prepared by the Editorial Group established in partnership with the Open Society Foundations.

The report will be presented to Ministers by Professor Ken Davey, Chair of the Editorial Group.

Ministers are expected to hold a discussion further to the report, referring to developments in their own country, to share views more generally on the topic and to adopt the Kyiv Guidelines prepared by the CDLR and included in the draft Kyiv Declaration.

Ministers/Heads of Delegation and observers wishing to do so may propose amendments (additions and/or changes) to the relevant section of the draft Kyiv Declaration, including the Kyiv Guidelines. Any amendment must be proposed or announced orally during the session and has to be submitted in writing to the Secretariat. Delegations are invited to make known at the earliest possible time any intention to propose an amendment and if possible well before the session. 

Decisions on any proposals for amendment will be taken at the end of the discussion of the item or, should more time be needed, on Friday morning (see below).

12.30 - 14.30 Luncheon and Exchange of views

The luncheon will be held in two separate locations.

The luncheon for Ministers/Heads of delegation will be hosted by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and held in the Exhibition Hall “Kobzarska Svitlytsa” of the Ukrainian House.Formal invitations will be issued at the Session. The luncheon will include an exchange of views between the Ministers, members of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (item 6 of the Agenda).

In order to facilitate discussion, guests will be seated taking account of their linguistic preferences.

Further information on the exchange of views is contained in document MCL-17(2011)4.

The luncheon for other participants will be offered by Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine and will be held in the Exhibition Hall on the third floor of the Ukrainian House.

14.30 – 16.15           Outlook to the future

The session in plenary resumes after lunch with the examination of the outlook for the future of intergovernmental co-operation on local and regional democracy issues in the Council of Europe in the light of the reviews agreed upon at Utrecht, the proposal for a partnership between the Committee of Ministers and the Ministerial Conference, reforms in the Council of Europe and a review of progress with the implementation of the Utrecht Agenda (item 5 of the Agenda).

Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain, Minister Manuel Chaves will introduce the discussion with a statement further to the reviews he was entrusted with by the Conference at its 16th Session in Utrecht. His report appears as document MCL-17(2011)5.

Ministers will discuss this theme also having regard to the proposal for a partnership between the Committee of Ministers and the Ministerial Conference made further to the 16th Session and the reply it received (document MCL-17(2011)6, and reforms, including budgetary perspectives, in the Council of Europe (document MCL-17(2011)7).

Finally Ministers will have before them the reports on progress under all the strands of action under the Utrecht Agenda (documents MCL-17(2011)8 and 9 and their Addenda).

Ministers are expected to adopt the relevant part of the Kyiv Declaration. 

Ministers/Heads of Delegation and observers wishing to do so may propose amendments (additions and/or changes) to the relevant section of the draft Kyiv Declaration. Any amendment must be proposed or announced orally during the discussion of the Agenda item and has to be submitted in writing to the Secretariat. Delegations are invited to make known at the earliest possible time any intention to propose an amendment and if possible well before the Session. 

Decisions on any proposals for amendment will be taken at the end of the discussion of the item or, should more time be needed, on Friday morning (see below).

16.15 - 16.45 Break

16.45 – 18.00           Transfrontier co-operation: the role of government in removing obstacles

Ministers will discuss this topic (item 7 of the Agenda) having regard to the findings of a survey conducted by the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy on the obstacles to crossborder co-operation and the measures to overcome them (document MCL-17(2011)10). They are expected to present examples of effective mechanisms or successful initiatives that could be duplicated across Europe.

Ministers are also expected to review and adopt the relevant part of the Kyiv Declaration. 

Ministers/Heads of delegation and observers wishing to do so may propose amendments (additions and/or changes) to the relevant section of the draft Kyiv Declaration. Any amendment must be announced or proposed orally during the session and has to be submitted in writing to the Secretariat. Delegations are invited to make known at the earliest possible time any intention to propose an amendment and if possible well before the session. 

Decisions on any proposals for amendment will be taken at the end of the discussion of the item or, should more time be needed, on Friday morning (see below).

The discussion of this item completes the work of the plenary session for this day. Transport to the hotels will be provided.

18.00 – 19.00           Meeting of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR) in the Ukrainian House (main conference hall)

The CDLR will review any proposals for amendments to the Kyiv Declaration but not decide on them. Any amendments will be collated and listed in a rational way for Ministers to decide on them the next day.

For those having participated in the CDLR meeting, transport from the Ukrainian House to the hotels will be provided.

20.30 – 22.30          Dinner hosted by the Government of Ukraine      

The dinner for all participants is offered in the “Grand Ballroom” in Hotel “InterContinental” (2A Velyka Zhytomyrska str.), Kyiv.

Transportation to and from the hotels will be provided for all participants.

Friday, 4 November 2011

The plenary session resumes in the Ukrainian House in Kyiv. Transport from the hotels will be provided.

9.00 – 10.45            Human rights at local level  

 

This item on the agenda (item 8) will be introduced by Minister Norman of Sweden.

Ministers will also have before them document (MCL-17(2011)11 and Addendum.

Ministers are also expected to discuss the declaration pertaining to this point contained in the draft Kyiv Declaration.

Ministers/Heads of delegation and observers wishing to do so may propose amendments (additions and/or changes) to the relevant section of the draft Kyiv Declaration. Any amendment must be proposed or announced orally during the session and has to be submitted in writing to the Secretariat. Delegations are invited to make known at the earliest possible time any intention to propose an amendment and if possible well before the session. 

Decisions on any proposals for amendment will be taken at the end of the discussion of the item or subsequently, under Agenda item 11.

10.45 – 11.15          Break

11.15 - 12.15 Exchange of practice and experience

Under this item (item 9) it will be possible for Ministers to exchange practice and experience on issues of local and regional democracy and good governance. This item will also be the main occasion for Ministers to highlight recent achievements in their country, present ongoing reforms and point up important challenges they face. 

Document MCL-17(2011)12 gives guidance for the discussion.

12.15–12.45            Final session

Ministers may raise any other business under this item (10). Should they have the intention of doing so, they are invited to make this known to the Chair in advance.

Ministers will subsequently adopt (item 11 of the Agenda) the Kyiv Declaration, if need be through a vote, dealing first with any possible remaining amendments.

13.00                     Press conference

The host Minister and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe will hold a press conference. Other ministers are welcome to join in, if they so wish.

13.00 – 14.30          Buffet lunch

A buffet lunch is offered to all participants by host Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine and will be held in the Exhibition Hall, on the third floor of the Ukrainian House.

For participants departing transportation will be provided to the airport.

An optional programme of Kyiv city tours is proposed. Details are to be found on the website http://17-session.kiev.ua/

APPENDIX 1

MCL-17(2011)Inf

Document for information: The European Charter of Local Self-Government and the impact of Community law on local authorities in member states

APPENDIX 2

Link between items on the Agenda and relevant parts of the

draft Kyiv Declaration