Andris Jaunsleinis: “Better co-ordination is needed between the Congress and national associations”

The Chair of the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, Andris Jaunsleinis, regrets that so little is known about the activities of the Congress among the local authorities of the member states. In this interview, he suggests that this problem could be addressed by increasing co-operation between the Congress and national associations.

Interview – 16 September 2010

Question: You are both the leader of the Latvian delegation to the Congress and the Committee of the Regions and the Chair of the Latvian Association of Local Authorities. What do you expect from the reform of the Congress and how do you see the link evolving with other European and national local authority bodies?

Andris Jaunsleinis: We entirely support the plans for the reform of the Congress including the transition to three committees and the shift in its focus onto five main priorities, but we would also like to improve co-ordination between the Congress and associations. Not enough is known about some of the Congress’s work among the local authorities of the various member countries and this makes it impossible for them to put it into practice on the ground. There needs to be better co-ordination between the Congress and the associations, which should meet at least twice a year and work more closely together. I would suggest, for example, as is already the case with the Committee of the Regions, that the heads of the national delegations of the Congress might automatically be made Vice-Chairs of their national associations, which would facilitate co-ordination.

Question: What contribution has the Congress made to local and regional democracy in Latvia and what have you learnt from this?

Andris Jaunsleinis: We have just completed a major local government reform, replacing the former 560 municipalities with 118 municipalities and nine city authorities. The Congress supported us in this and has given us its moral support since we have been members. In 1998, it conducted a monitoring visit to Latvia and made many recommendations on matters such as municipalities' financial independence, which were subsequently transposed into law. The Latvian members of the Congress have also taken part in election observation missions in other countries and this has taught us a great deal.

Question: And what do you expect of the Congress in the future, in the context of its new structures?

Andris Jaunsleinis: I am optimistic about the future of the Congress because it is, and will continue to be, a guardian of local democracy, and is the only body to perform this function in Europe. Even if local democracy may sometimes be threatened by the economic crisis because some see recentralisation as a response to these problems, I am certain that the Congress will carry on promoting local democracy and enriching it with new ideas.