120th Session of the Committee of Ministers

Strasbourg, 11 May 2010

Speech by Ian Micallef, President a.i. of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Madam President,

Ministers,

Excellencies,

It is great honour for me to address you today on behalf of the Congress, assembly of local and regional elected representatives of the Council of Europe. I would like to use this occasion to express our gratitude to the authorities of Switzerland for their strong commitment to local democracy issues during their Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, and I hope that we will continue this exemplary co-operation with the forthcoming Presidency. 

Your Session is taking place in the context of a worrying situation on our continent, against the background of the economic crisis and, to a certain extent, a European political crisis – but also in the context of the ambitious reform of the Council of Europe, launched by its Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland with your full support.

There is a strong political will in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to be an active element of this reform. We fully share the need to make this Organisation, which is to say all its entities, more efficient and more relevant.

The Congress embarked, already last year, on its own revision of working methods, structures and activities. We are now moving to put words into action. In April, the Congress Bureau held an extraordinary meeting, devoted entirely to our reform. In June, our Standing Committee will give a further boost to this process.

In the coming months, we intend to move forward a programme of changes to ensure that the Congress will continue to bring an added value to the Council of Europe. I would like to make certain that the first wave of reform is approved during the October session, and, personally, I will do my utmost to pursue this process of change after October.

Our reform will include two main packages. The first concerns the changes that we can implement within the remit of the Congress’ own competences. They stem first and foremost from the mission of the Congress as a watchdog for local and regional self-government in Europe, a partner of national governments and a reference point for territorial democracy, notably through monitoring the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

The Congress is bringing a new dynamic to its monitoring activities that we have to coordinate with the other Council of Europe monitoring instruments, to ensure their greater impact and tangible developments in member States.

I say “tangible” because monitoring does not mean a mere collection of reports, giving good or bad marks to situations in European countries. The Congress is not a court. It is above all a partner in the evolution of our society, ensuring a balanced development of its local and regional dimension. In this respect, the Congress is, for you, a natural partner.

In this spirit, I believe that the Congress needs to organise specific co-operation programmes, involving both national and territorial authorities, to address the major issues of concern, and to increase their capacity for organising free and fair elections, and for local governance.

 

I can assure you that we intend to go as far as possible within this first reform package. However, another batch will need the green light from you, the Committee of Ministers, because it will require revising the Congress’ Charter and the Statutory Resolution. We expect your backing in this matter because we do not want to slow down the pace of our reform.

Furthermore, the Congress has also introduced a new dimension in its activities, to make local and regional authorities aware of their responsibilities for implementing human rights, and to ensure that our communities are providing the same protection to all their residents.

Ministers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We count on your support for the reform of the Congress, which will help to maintain the momentum of change within the Council of Europe as a whole. We fully share your need to revitalise this Organisation, and we all must be ambitious and audacious in our efforts.

We must do it together, and the Congress is fully involved in this crucial endeavour.

Thank you.