European Local Democracy Week 2010

Paris, 13 to 16 October 2010

A “12-star city” for ELDW 2010

06.08.2010 - The City of Paris is to take part in European Local Democracy Week 2010 with "12-star city" status.  Between 13 and 16 October, the city will be organising public meetings, workshop/discussion sessions, activities in various neighbourhoods and exhibitions.  In addition, from 2 October onwards a "Nature Bus" reflecting the theme of ELDW 2010 (sustainable development) will take to the streets to raise Parisians' awareness of biodiversity and present to them the Biodiversity Plan due to be adopted in autumn by the Conseil de Paris (the city's municipal/departmental council).

The city's ELDW programme will be rounded off by a seminar/debate on the role of civil society at a time of economic crisis, in which one of the participants will be Hamou Bouakkaz, the Paris Mayor's deputy responsible for local democracy and the voluntary sector.

All these events are to be organised by the city's Local Democracy Mission, in co-operation with the Sub-Directorate for Voluntary and Civic Activities.  The ELDW offers Paris a real opportunity not only to organise discussions and raise residents' awareness of democratic life and the city's participatory bodies, but also to share experience, in terms of participation, with other European cities such as the City of Berlin (Germany).

Like the other cities which are to participate in the ELDW with "12-star city" status, Paris has pledged to play a strong role in the ELDW and to meet certain requirements, for example allocating an ELDW budget, running a promotional campaign, organising specific activities on the 2010 theme, involving various groups of citizens and holding an event with a European dimension.