22nd ENTO Annual Seminar “Networking for Training”

Strasbourg, 9 November 2009

Opening Address by Ludmila Sfirloaga, President of the Chamber of Regions

Dear Presidents,

Dear colleagues,

Dear members and friends of ENTO,

On behalf of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, I am very pleased to welcome you all to the 22^nd Annual Seminar of ENTO. Our Seminar today is dedicated to an essential subject for ENTO (and other networks present here), as we will discuss the benefits of Networking for Training. It is also a topic directly linked to last year’s Annual Seminar in Desenzano, where we discussed innovative approaches in training. Innovative practices often arise from the exchange of views and experiences with diverse stakeholders – and that is exactly what networking is about. ENTO as a network of 40 organisations from 21 countries across Europe brings together a variety of views and experiences. There are long-established organisations with extensive experience, while others are relatively new. Some members work within their national systems, others internationally, and the respective specialisations vary as well. All in all, this diversity is, we believe, a source of inspiration and brings about benefits for all members.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as you are aware, the Congress has lent considerable support to ENTO out of its firm belief in the importance of training for local and regional elected representatives. This conviction is based on the Charter of Local Self-Government. ENTO was created with the support of the Congress to make a substantial contribution to “adequate training opportunities” of local and regional staff and thus to democratic and efficient governance. The support of the Congress also finds its justification in requests by members to launch new projects assisting territorial authorities in the training of their staff. As our statutory provisions do not allow us to respond to these demands directly, the Congress could do no more than build a network of experts, which can support the municipalities and regions.

Networking is also valuable in our mind, because it facilitates the exchange of information and experiences of elected representatives and experts working in the same field. In practical terms, partner organisations can assist and support each other, they can build bilateral and multilateral partnerships and organise joint trainings or study visits. Not least, networking could facilitate the organisation of activities within the framework of Council of Europe and European Union programmes.

Since its foundation, ENTO has organised various conferences with numerous participants. Two years ago for example, it held a big conference in St. Petersburg focusing on the Bologna Process Framework. Last year, as I said, the Annual Seminar was devoted to Innovation. Because of ENTO´s current situation, today’s seminar is somewhat smaller. The hope of the Congress is, however, that this seminar and our debates on the benefits of networking will contribute to a new definition of our network. Our agenda schedules presentations of ENTO members in the first session. I am especially pleased that we will hear a case study related networks from the NISPAcee in the second session. Unfortunately, there is a last minute change to the second session as Kelmend ZAJAZI from NALAS has been unable to come to Strasbourg today. However, I am sure that all these presentations will provide us with new ideas and motivation to carry on with ENTO´s mission by launching new and interesting projects in the future.

I wish you all a fruitful debate and all the best for the future networking within ENTO.