Statement by Yavuz Mildon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

22.12.2008

Yavuz Mildon: “2008 was truly the year of the Congress’ renewal”

Summing up the Congress’ work at the end of 2008, President Yavuz Mildon made the following statement:

“The year 2008 was truly one of renewal for the Congress – the renewal of its membership, of its leadership and of its commitment to strengthening and deepening local and regional democracy on our continent, improving democratic governance of our communities and consolidating the framework for a new, “citizen environment” in our cities and our regions.

Looking back, we can be proud of what we have achieved. This year saw the adoption of major Congress texts on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in member states, on building and managing urban communities and on strengthening the regional tier of governance, such as European Urban Charter II: Manifesto for a new urbanity and the European Charter of Regional Democracy, as well as on child-friendly cities, integration of migrants, participation of young people, protection of biodiversity, sustainable consumption and e-democracy at local level.

The Congress’ efforts to promote transfrontier cooperation resulted in the establishment of the Black Sea Euroregion in September 2008, whereas its involvement with municipal political and economic development led to the preparation of the first report on City Diplomacy and a commitment to elaborating a Charter for City Diplomacy. Our consultations with Congress partners, including national and European associations of local and regional authorities and the EU Committee of the Regions, and their participation in Congress election observation missions have become a standard procedure. In addition, the Congress participated for the first time in the European Week of Regions and Cities, an annual Open Days event organised by the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

In Europe, we pursued our initiative of organising the annual European Local Democracy Week, with thousands of events taking place in more than 750 municipalities in 33 countries during the second, 2008 edition in October. The Congress’ Prize of the Regions, another initiative, was awarded for the first time in December to five winning and two specially acknowledged regional projects. Taking our experience beyond Europe, we gave a new boost to the dialogue between European and Arab towns, at the 3rd Euro-Arab Cities Forum in February 2008.

This was also the first year when the provisions of the new Congress Charter took effect, when for the first time national delegations were required to ensure that at least 30 per cent of their members were women. As from 2009, the Congress will also be holding two plenary sessions a year, which will help to ensure the continuity of its action and involvement of its members.

We are now looking forward to pursuing this work in the New Year and building on our achievements, in line with the Congress’ priorities for 2009-2010 aimed at making our cities and regions citizen-centred, cohesive and sustainable, at ensuring good local and regional governance, at fostering intercultural and interreligious dialogue at local and regional level, and at promoting transfrontier, intermunicipal and interregional cooperation across our continent and beyond.”