Strasbourg, 21 June 2016                                                               CDDG(2016)14

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

(CDDG)

ABRIDGED REPORT OF THE 5th MEETING

19-20 May 2016

1.            Opening of the meeting and adoption of the agenda

The meeting was opened by the Chair, Mr Paul Rowsell (United Kingdom) who welcomed the participants, in particular Mr Valentin Guznac, Deputy Secretary General of the Government of the Republic of Moldova.

The list of participants is set out in Appendix I.

The agenda as reproduced at Appendix II was adopted.

2.            Promoting democratic governance through shared experience

2.1 Administrative and local government reforms

The Chairman welcomed Mr Valentin Guznac, Deputy Secretary General of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and Ms Claudia Luciani, Director of Democratic Governance.

Ms Luciani highlighted the importance for member States to share their experience and practices with the Committee and thanked Mr Guznac for having accepted to take part in this exercice.

Mr Guznac detailed the progress and challenges in relation to the on-going local government reform process which included amalgamation, fiscal decentralisation and enhanced responsibilities for local authorities.

Issues discussed during the exchange which followed, included the role and importance of a targeted communication strategy to inform all stakeholders of the objective and process of the reforms, incentives for voluntary amalgamations and the possible need for compulsory elements, different methodologies and forms of intermunicipal cooperation that could assist in facilitating the process and possible resistance to decentralisation at the level of local authorities.

The CDDG thanked Mr Guznac for his interesting and valuable contribution.

2.2      Strengthening Democratic participation

-      E-democracy and e-governance: a way forward

The CDDG had an exchange of views focussing on the challenges encountered in member states in relation to the need to constantly adjust the legal framework for e-governance, the general acceptance of e-government and e-democracy and their accessibility by sizeable segments of the population. Some countries reported a diminishing appetite for e-governance by the public at the time governments are investing heavily in it.

The Committee noted the topicality of the issue and decided to hold a substantive exchange on the state of implementation of e-government and e-democracy at its next meeting, on the basis of a Secretariat document addressing key issues and questions such as risks in relation to different types of digital divide and exclusion of vulnerable groups, best practices in terms of content of policies and strategies, acceptance of or reluctance in using applications by citizens and administrations, as well as interoperability between tiers of government and between member States, in particular in trans-frontier areas.

This would allow the Committee to subsequently determine whether and how to update existing recommendations or to propose, if appropriate, specific and targeted guidelines.

It would also enable it to meet its responsibilities under the newly adopted Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019 the overall strategic objectives of which include building democracy online.

-      Framework for prioritisation of CDDG activities

In the course of the examination and discussion of the proposed framework for its activities, the CDDG warmly welcomed the Secretary General’s 2016 report on the “State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law: A security imperative for Europe”, welcoming the use he made of the twelve principles as benchmarks for assessing the performance of member States on good governance at all levels.

The Committee considered the identification of ethics, transparency and accountability as areas where “there is room for the Council of Europe to promote good practice among its member States” as particularly topical.

This should be addressed among the priority topics to be examined by the Committee which, in addition to this issue and the issues already identified in relation to e-democracy and e-governance, should also include (as equal priorities):

-      Democratic governance of metropolitan areas and trans-frontier territories;

-      The promotion of inclusive societies through improved democratic governance policies;

-      The reduction and simplification of tiers of government;

-      Enhancing capacities of local authorities to deliver good governance, also in connection with their competences and related financial resources.

Some delegations highlighted that there is still resistance to decentralisation and devolution and this is a challenge which should be addressed too.

2.3      Democratic inclusiveness

Gender equality and mainstreaming: member States’ experiences

The CDDG welcomed Mrs Lillemor Dahlgren from the Gender Equality Service of the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) who made a presentation of gender mainstreaming in general and of its practical consequences and implications for national policies and decision-making. The Secretariat of the Gender equality unit of the Council of Europe also introduced the Council’s Strategy on gender equality stressing its relevance for the Committee’s work.

The CDDG took note of the information presented by its two rapporteurs (Ms Lyon represented by Ms Duffy and Mr Lefebre) and their recommendations for further action.

The CDDG instructed the Secretariat to prepare with the assistance of the two rapporteurs a questionnaire on policies and action plans affecting public administration at all levels, the responses to which should serve as a basis for a document which will set out topics for future action and which will be discussed at the next meeting.

All members will also be invited to respond to the questionnaire prepared by the Gender equality unit, in cooperation with the member of the Unit on behalf of their respective countries.

3.            Developing tools on good democratic governance and supporting reforms

3.1      Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance

Conference on Good Governance at Local Level: Report and follow-up

The Committee took note of the information presented by the Bulgarian delegation as well as in document CDDG(2016)3 and expressed appreciation for the quality of interventions and value of the experience shared.

It also noted the first meeting of the (new) European stakeholders’ platform of the Strategy for innovation and good governance (18 May 2016) and its decision to accredit the Maltese national stakeholders’ platform and renew the accreditation of the Bulgarian platform.

The delegations from Romania and Portugal informed the members of the initiatives underway in their country to join the Strategy.

3.2      Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Activities and prospects for 2016

The CDDG was informed that, as from 1 April 2016, Mr. Dan Popescu, Head of the Centre of Expertise, had been appointed Special Advisor of the Council of Europe to the Government of Ukraine on Decentralisation. The Committee expressed its appreciation for this appointment by the Secretary General and thanked Mr. Popescu for his valuable and expert contributions to the Centre and the Committee over the years.

The Deputy Head of the Centre of Expertise, Ms. Alina Tatarenko, presented the achievements of the Centre in 2015 as well as the activities and perspectives for 2016 as set out in document CDDG(2016)4 revised. She also mentioned the specific interest expressed by UN bodies (CEPA) in the work of the Centre and its toolkits and the possibilities for cooperation and funding under the EEA/Norway Grants programme. The Norwegian delegations invited eligible member States to apply and commended the Centre for its capacity to assist and implement joint programmes.

Several members expressed their appreciation for the quality of the cooperation and the contributions made by the Centre in their projects for reform and modernisation.

Toolkit on municipal amalgamation: draft questionnaire to member States

Dr Adam Gendźwiłł, Assistant professor from the University of Warsaw, presented the questionnaire.

The Chair recalled that the toolkit should include an analysis of advantages and drawbacks of specific approaches and concrete examples of practice followed in member States.

Delegations suggested adding such topics as boundary alteration, most frequently used criteria for amalgamation (size, population) and ex-post evaluation.

The CDDG noted that the questionnaire would be finalised by mid-July at the latest in order to allow the members sufficient time to respond by early September for completion of the toolkit for November.

On-line training module on good governance

The Committee took note with interest of the presentation by Ms Victoria Brailitsa, Vice-president of the E-learning Municipal Network University in Moscow on the training module developed on the Twelve Principles for Good Governance.

The delegation of the Russian Federation proposed to organise together with the Council of Europe Office in Moscow a presentation of the training module on good governance for municipalities in Moscow. Member States would be informed in due time and invited to participate in and support this event. It was expected that representatives from different Russian Universities and municipalities would attend with a view to the further development of this on-line training tool.

Evaluation of the Centre’s Activities by the Department of Internal Oversight

The Committee took note of the modalities, survey and timetable in relation to the evaluation of the Centre’s activities that would be conducted in the second half of 2016 and expressed support for it. The Evaluation report would be finalised in the early part of 2017 but general findings could already be presented to the CDDG at its November 2016 meeting.

4.            Overview of the CDDG activities

4.1      Implementation of the CDDG work programme 2016-2017

The Committee took note of the state of implementation of the programme.

Some members stressed the continued relevance of the Structure and Operation reports. The Secretariat will circulate again the new template for the reports in order to encourage delegations to produce updated versions of national reports.

The Committee noted the growing popularity of the Rapid response service and insisted that delegations ask clearly focussed questions in order to receive useful responses within the prescribed deadline. The Secretariat will circulate on a regular basis a list of countries and questions to facilitate the contacts between delegations and avoid duplication of identical or similar requests.

The Secretariat further introduced the “peer review” to be held in Kiev, Ukraine, on local authorities’ competences in the fields of education, health and social care. Member States were asked to complete a questionnaire in relation to the issues to be examined with a view to the identification of States whose experience could be discussed in the review.

Member States were also invited to examine the possible signature and ratification of the conventions under the responsibility of the CDDG, in particular Protocol no 3 to the Madrid Outline Convention and the additional protocol to the European Charter of Local Self Government.

The Committee noted the invitation to appoint a representative in the newly created European Platform for Social Cohesion and nominated Mr Edwin Lefebre (Belgium).

4.2      Guidelines on civil society participation in political decision-making

Report on the meeting of the working group

The Committee took note of the information provided in document CDDG(2016)8 and by the two co-chairs of the working group. It agreed with the suggestion that an online consultation be conducted according to the following timetable: following the (first) revision of the draft elements for the guidelines, the working group as well as the CDDG Bureau members will be invited to comment by the end of June. Subsequently (early July), the new version of the draft guidelines will be circulated to all CDDG members (who may send any comments to the Secretariat for consideration by the working group at its September meeting) and also published for public consultation via the Council of Europe Democracy website during the summer period. Finalisation of the draft guidelines will then take place for transmission to the CDDG for approval at its second meeting in December.

In the event of such an on-line public consultation, which would be limited to the two official languages of the Council of Europe, member States would be invited to assist in bringing this to the attention of interested parties.

4.3      Compendium of the most relevant Council of Europe texts in the area of democracy

The CDDG took note of the compendium presented in document CDDG(2016)9 as submitted to the Rapporteur Group on Democracy of the Committee of Ministers.

The Committee expressed its profound appreciation for the excellent work done by the Secretariat and hoped that the GR-DEM would agree with its online publication.

While fully sharing this appreciation, one delegation expressed the wish that in future updating it would be possible to present relevant articles from the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms under “general” headings encompassing several topics thus avoiding the impression that their applicability was somehow restricted to selected groups or issues.

5.            Consideration by the Committee of Ministers of issues relating to the work of the CDDG

The Committee took note of recent decisions by the Committee of Ministers and adopted the comments that appear at Appendix III and IV.

6.            Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

The CDDG took note of the information presented in the documents (see CDDG(2016)11 and CDDG(2016)12) as well as of the presentations on the activities implemented under the Chairmanship of Bulgaria and on the priorities for the Estonian Chairmanship by their respective delegations.

7.            Other business

The Committee took note of the appointment of Ms Jutta Gützkow, as Head of the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform as from 1 June 2016.  In her current capacity as Head of the Civil Society Division within the Directorate of Democratic Governance, Ms Gützkow had already cooperated extensively with the Committee, more specifically also in relation to the elaboration of the guidelines for meaningful civil participation in political decision-making.

Information about other Council of Europe bodies

The Committee took note of the information set out in document CDDG(2016)13 as well as additional details presented by the representatives of the Conference.

Report of the Bureau meeting (4 March 2016).

The CDDG took note of the report.

Recent developments in member States

The Committee took note of the information on recent developments presented by Estonia, San Marino, and The United Kingdom.

In Estonia, the draft law on the amalgamation of municipalities was expected to be approved shortly by Parliament while in San Marino, in light of recent experience, a proposal was adopted to cancel the quorom for upcoming referendums.

The UK delegation informed the members of recent developments in relation to the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill. Under this legislative framework for Combined Authorities (separate statutory bodies of local authorities in England working jointly across a functional economic area to improve economic development, regeneration and transport) negotiations were underway to agree devolution deals with the Government. This comprises setting up clear, robust and transparent governance arrangements, including significant financial packages. These arrangements require the agreement of the local communicaties concerned as well as from Government and Parliament. Finally, the delegation provided the Committee with information about the upcoming referendum in the UK on whether or not to remain in the European Union.

Date of the next meeting

The sixth meeting of the CDDG would take place on 14-15 November 2016 in Strasbourg

Any other item

None.

Adoption of the abridged meeting report

The CDDG adopted this meeting report.

APPENDIX I

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

MEMBERS / MEMBRES

CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT

Mr Paul ROWSELL, Deputy Director, Democracy, Department for Communities and Local Government, 2^nd Floor NE Corner, Fry Building, 2 Marsham St

Tel: +44 (0)303 444 2568; Email: [email protected]

ALBANIA / ALBANIE

Apologised for absence / excusé

ARMENIA / ARMENIE

Ms Elen HARUTYUNYAN, Deputy to the Permanent Representative of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]

AUSTRIA / AUTRICHE

Mr Alexander BALTHASAR, Head of the Institute for State Organization and Administrative Reform, Federal Chancellery of Austria, Ballhausplatz 1, A - 1014 WIEN

Tel: (43) 1 53115 202806 ; Fax: (43) 1 53109 202806;

E-mail: [email protected]

AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAÏDJAN

Apologised for absence / excusé

BELGIUM / BELGIQUE

M. Paul-Henri PHILIPS, Coordinateur pour les Organisations Internationales, Relations multilatérales et Organisations Internationales, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, 20, B – 1035 BRUXELLES

Tel : (32) 2 800 32 77; Cel-phone: (32) 499 58 81 05;

E-mail : [email protected]

Mme Laurence GINDT, Service public de Wallonie, DGO5 Pouvoirs Locaux, Action sociale et Santé, Direction de la Prospective et du Développement des Pouvoirs locaux, Avenue Gouverneur Bovesse, 100, 5100 NAMUR (Jambes)

Tél : +32 (0)81 32 37 57 ; E-mail : [email protected]

M. Xavier KALBUSCH, Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Gospert 1, 4700 EUPEN

Tél : (32) (0)87 59 63 00 ; Fax : (32) (0)87 55 28 91 ;

E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected]

Mr Edwin LEFEBRE, Deputy of the Director, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Flemish Region, Agency for Home Affairs, Boudewijnlaan 30, B - 1000 BRUSSELS

Tel : (32) 499 77 34 39; Fax :(32) 2 553 39 52;

E-mail : [email protected]

BULGARIA / BULGARIE

Mrs Desislava DRAGOVA, Chief expert, Ministry of Regional Development and public works, 17-19 St. Kiril I Metodii Str., 1202 SOFIA;

Tel : +(359) 2 9405 428 ; E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Marina PETKOVA, Senior Expert, General Directorate “Strategic Planning of Regional Development and Administrative-territorial Structure”, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works

Tel. +(359) 2 9405538 ; E-mail: [email protected]

CROATIA / CROATIE

Mr Boris MILOSEVIC, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Public Administration, Maksimirska 63, 10000 ZAGREB

E-mail: [email protected]

CYPRUS / CHYPRE

Mr Antonis ANTONIOU, Senior Administrative Officer, Ministry of the Interior

Tel: (357) 228 678 51; Fax: (357) 228 677 16; E-mail: [email protected]

CZECH REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE

Mr Petr FEJTEK, Department for Strategic Development and Coordination of Public Administration, Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, nám. Hrdinů 3, 140 21 Praha 4
Tel.: + 420 974 816 267; Fax: + 420 974 916 632; E-mail: [email protected]

DENMARK / DANEMARK

Mr Henrik Villum JENSEN, Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior, Holmens Kanal 22, 1060, COPENHAGEN K

Tel: (45) 41851411; E-mail: [email protected]

ESTONIA / ESTONIE

Mr Kaur KAASIK-AASLAV, Adviser to the Regional Administration Department, Ministry of Finance, Endla 13, TALLINN, 10122

Tel: (372) 611 3078; E-mail: [email protected]

FINLAND / FINLANDE

Apologised for absence / excusé

FRANCE

Apologised for absence / excusé

GEORGIA / GEORGIE

Mr Giorgi DIDIDZE, Deputy Head, Department of Euro-integration, Reforms and Innovations, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, 12 Kazbegi, TBILISI 0160

Tel: (995) 577 112 145; E-mail: [email protected]

GERMANY / ALLEMAGNE

Mrs Kristina SCHADE, Division O2, Better regulation, bureaucracy reduction; Act on E-Government; local matters, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Alt-Moabit 101, D-10559 BERLIN

Tel: (49) 30 18 6811 2137; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Gabriele STELLMACHER, Representative of the „Laender“ (States), Ministry of the Interior and Sports of Lower Saxony, Department for Local Government Affairs, Lavesallee 6, 30169 HANNOVER

Tel: (49) (0) 511 120 4640; E-mail: [email protected]

GREECE / GRECE

Mr Georgios CHRYSAFIS, Directorate of Organisation and Functionning of Local Government, Ministry of the Interior, 27, Stadiou Str., 10183 Athens

Tel: (30) 21 31 36 43 95; Mobile: (30) 69 76 40 60 27; E-mail: [email protected]

HUNGARY / HONGRIE

Ms Nikolett GAÁL, Desk officer for International Relations, Prime Minister’s Office, Department for Territorial Public Administration Development, Kossuth tér 2-4, 1055 – BUDAPEST

Tel: +361 795 6252; Email: [email protected]

ICELAND / ISLANDE

Apologised for absence / excusé

IRELAND / IRLANDE

Mr Denis CONLAN, Head of Local Government Development, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Custom House, EI – DUBLIN

Tel: (353 1) 888 2186; E-mail: [email protected]

ITALY / ITALIE

Mr Francesco GIUSTINO, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, D.A.R. - Ufficio Attività Internazionali, ROMA

Tel. +39.06.6779.5130; E-mail: [email protected]

LATVIA / LETTONIE

Ms Agnese PABERZA DRAUDINA, Lawyer, Local Governments Department, Local Governments Supervision and Methodology Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Peldu street 25, LV – 1494 RIGA

Tel : (371) 66016784; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Fatma FRIDENBERGA, Riga City Council Legal Office, Ratslaukums 1, LV - 1539 RIGA

Tel: (371) 6 7026022; Fax: (371) 6 7026326; E-mail: [email protected]

LITHUANIA / LITUANIE

Mr Paulius SKARDŽIUS, Director of Public Governance Policy Department, Ministry of the Interior, Šventaragio Str. 2, LT - 01510 VILNIUS, LITHUANIA

Tel: (370) 5 271 7071; Fax: (370) 5 271 8915; E-mail: [email protected]

LUXEMBOURG

Apologised for absence / excusé

MALTA / MALTE

Mr Robert TABONE, Head EU & International Affairs, Department for Local Government, Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government

E-mail: [email protected]

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA / REPUBLIQUE DE MOLDOVA

Mr Valentin GUZNAC, Deputy Secretary General of the Government of Moldova

Mr Victor LĂPUȘNEANU, Counsellor,Global Affairs and Human Rights Division, General Directorate for Multilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova

tel.: +373 22 57 82 53; E-mail: [email protected]

MONTENEGRO

Mrs Olivera GRBOVIĆ, Head of Department, Directorate for State Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog 22, 81000 PODGORICA

Tel: (382) 20 243 445; Fax: (382) 20 225 518; Mobile: (382) 67 677 407;

E-mail: [email protected]

NETHERLANDS / PAYS-BAS

Apologised for absence / excusé

NORWAY / NORVEGE

Mrs Greta Ulland BILLING, Senior International Adviser, Department for Local Government,  Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

Tel: (47) 22 24 72 25; Mobile: (47) 92 61 37 27; Fax: (47) 22 24 27 35;

E-mail: [email protected]

POLAND / POLOGNE

Mrs Monika STURLIS-GUMIENICZEK, Chief Specialist, Department of Public Administration, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, WARSAW

Tel: + 48 22 556 84 85 ; E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Adam GENDZWILL, Assistant professor, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

E-mail: [email protected]

PORTUGAL

Mr Jorge Abreu SIMÕES, Senior Adviser in the General Directorate for Local Authorities and national representative in the CDGG, Direcçấo-Geral das Autarquias Locais, Rua Tenente Espanca, N° 20, 3.° Andar, 1050-223 LISBOAP – 1169-058 LISBOA

Tel: (351) 21313061; E-mail: [email protected]

ROMANIA / ROUMANIE

Mr Mihai Adrian GROŞAN, Director Public Administration Decentralization, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, Directorate General of Public Administration, Romanian Government, BUCAREST, Romania

Tel: + 40 725558955; Email: [email protected]

RUSSIAN FEDERATION / FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

Mr Igor KOCHETKOV, Head of the Division of the Department for Liaisons with the Subjects of the Federation, the Parliament, and the Public Associations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arbat Str, 57, MOSCOW

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Victoria BRAILITSA, Vice-President, Local Government Research Centre, 12 Staraya Basmannaya Street, Section 5, Apt.36, Moscow, Russian Federation 105064

E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Victor PANKRASHCHENKO, President of Local Government Research Centre, Program Director of E-learning Municipal Network University, Moscow, Russian Federation

SAN MARINO / SAINT-MARIN

Mr Paolo RONDELLI, Direttore Generale Istituti Culturali, Contrada Omerelli, 17, 47890 SAN MARINO

Tel: (378) 0549 88 2487 ; Fax : (378) 0549 88 2300 ; E-mail : [email protected]

SERBIA / SERBIE

Mrs Milica MARKOVIĆ, Independent Advisor, Improvement of work of administration in Local Self-government units, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-government

Bircaninova 6, 11 000 Belgrade

Tel:  +381 11 3620-140; M: +381 (0) 64 8135 007;

E-mail: [email protected]

SLOVAK REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE SLOVAQUE

Mrs Veronika ĎURKECHOVÁ, Local Self-Government Unit, Department on Local State Administration, Local Self-Government and Foreign Affairs, Public Administration Section, Ministry of the Interior, Drieňová 22, 826 86 BRATISLAVA

Tél : + (421) 2 4859 2215; E-mail: [email protected]

SLOVENIA / SLOVENIE

Mr Andrej ČOKERT, Office for Local Self-Government, Ministry of Public Administration, Tržaška cesta 58, 1501 LJUBLJANA, Slovenia

Tel: + 386 1 4781879; E-mail: [email protected]

SPAIN / ESPAGNE

Mrs Natalia LAS HERAS OLIETE, Deputy Director for Institutional Relations, DG for the Coordination of Competences with Autonomous Communities and Local Entities, Ministry of Finance and Public Administration, MADRID

Tel: (34) 91 273 57 06/14; E-mail: [email protected]

SWITZERLAND / SUISSE

Mr Robert BAUMANN, Senior Advisor, Federal Office of Justice, Bundesrain 20, CH – 3003 BERNE

Tél : (41) 58 462 41 61 ; Fax : (41) 58 462 84 01 ;

E-mail : [email protected]

''THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA'' / "L'EX-REPUBLIQUE YOUGOSLAVE DE MACEDOINE"

Ms Gordana GAPIKJ-DIMITROVSKA, Head of Unit in the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, Skopje

Tel. +389 2 3200944, +389 80 328575; E-mail : [email protected]

TURKEY / TURQUIE

Mr Saban ERDOGAN, Head of Department of the Foreign Affairs, General Directorate of Local Government, Ministry of the Interior, ANKARA

Tel: + 90 312 4181072; E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Mehmet Emin BILMEZ, Ministry of the Interior, ANKARA

E-mail : [email protected]

UKRAINE

Ms Olena KUCHERENKO, Director of the Department of the Regional Development, Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services

Tel: + 38 (044) 278 7107; E-mail: [email protected]

UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI

UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI

Ms Hannah DUFFY, Senior policy advisor, Governance Reform and Democracy Unit, Department for Communities and Local Government, 2^nd Floor NE Corner, Fry Building, 2 Marsham St

Tel: +44 (0)303 444 43861; Email: [email protected]

PARTICIPANTS

PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY / ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE

Apologised for absence / excusé

CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONGRES DES POUVOIRS LOCAUX ET REGIONAUX DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

Mr Andreas KIEFER, Secretary General / Secrétaire Général

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 22 48; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 51;

E-mail: [email protected]

Mr Tim LISNEY, Deputy Secretary of the Chamber of Local Authorities / Secrétaire adjoint de la Chambre des pouvoirs locaux – Secretary of the Governance Committee / Secrétaire de la Commission de la gouvernance

Tel: (33) 3.88.41.35.73; Fax: (33) 3.88.41.27.51; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Viktoria MESHAYKINA, Project Officer, Governance and Current Affairs Committee

Tel : (33) 3 88 41 42 23; E-mail: [email protected]

CONFERENCE OF INGOS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONFERENCE DES OING DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

Mme Anne-Marie CHAVANON, Présidente de la Commission démocratie, cohésion sociale et enjeux mondiaux, FIHUAT/COFHUAT, 21 boulevard de Grenelle, 75015 PARIS

Tél. (33) 1 77 10 17 45, (33) 6 60 76 86 14; E-mail: [email protected]

OTHER PARTICIPANTS / AUTRES PARTICIPANTS

HOLY-SEE / SAINT-SIEGE

Monseigneur John Baptist ITARUMA, Deputy Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe, 2 rue Lenôtre, 67000 STRASBOURG

Tel : 33. 3 88 35 02 44 ; E-mail : [email protected]

JAPAN / JAPON

Ms Wakana FUJITA, Chargée de mission, Consultat Général du Japon, Tour Europe, 20 place des Halles, 67000 STRASBOURG

Tél: 33 (0)3 88 52 85 16; E-mail: wakana@[email protected]

MEXICO / MEXIQUE

M. le Sénateur Octavio PEDROZA GAITAN, Av. Paseo de la Reforma 135, MEXICO

Tel: 52 5345 3000

M. Santiago OÑATE LABORDE, Observateur Permanent, Représentation Permanente du Mexique auprès du Conseil de l’Europe, 8 boulevard du Président Edwards, 67000 Strasbourg

Tel: (33) (0) 3 88 24 07 72 / 26 81; E-mail: [email protected]

BENELUX UNION/UNION BENELUX

Apologised for absence / excusé

OBSERVERS / OBSERVATEURS

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS (CEMR) / CONSEIL DES COMMUNES ET REGIONS D’EUROPE (CCRE)

Apologised for absence / excusé

OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (ODIHR) / BUREAU DES INSTITUTIONS DEMOCRATIQUES ET DES DROITS DE L'HOMME

Ms Tiina KUKKAMAA-BAH, Chief of Democratic Governance and Gender Unit, Miodowa 10, PL-00-251 WARSAW

Tél: 48 22 5200 700; E-mail: [email protected]

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHT

Apologised for absence / excusé

EXPERT CONSULTANT / CONSULTANT EXPERT

Mrs Lillemor DAHLGREN, Head of Operations, gender equality, Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research, University of Gothenburg, Box 709, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

E-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARIAT

Ms Claudia LUCIANI, Director of Democratic Governance / Directrice de la gouvernance démocratique / Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 21 49 ; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 55;

E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Alfonso ZARDI, Head of Democratic Institutions and Governance Department / Chef du Service des institutions et de la gouvernance démocratiques - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 39 06; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Theo WELS - Directorate of Democratic Governance / Direction de la gouvernance démocratique, Directorate General of Democracy / Direction générale de la démocratie

Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 53 04 ; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mme Isabelle ETTER - Assistant / Assistante

E-mail : [email protected]

APPENDIX II

AGENDA

17

APPENDIX III

Comments by the CDDG

On Resolutions No 1 (Nafplion Declaration) and Resolution No 2 adopted by the 16^th session of the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for spatial planning (Nafplion, Greece, 16-17 June 2014)

1        The Committee of Ministers has invited the CDDG to comment on two Resolutions adopted by the European Ministers responsible for Spatial planning (CEMAT) at the 16^th session of their conference in Nafplion, Greece, on 16-17 June 2014.

2        The CDDG notes with satisfaction that the Nafplion Declaration addresses the issues of public participation and good governance in relation to spatial planning processes which deeply impact on populations and the territories they live in. The CDDG expresses its appreciation for the work of the European ministers in this respect.

3        The Committee also notes with interest the other proposals made by the Ministers as regards possible themes for activities to be conducted within the Council of Europe.

4        Furthermore, in its recent report on State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Europe (2016) the Secretary General reports that “in a number of member states, the implementation of major reforms and/or investments, notably the launching of infrastructure projects, has given rise to significant tensions in the face of persistent or underestimated popular opposition”.

5        The Committee, having regard to the Secretary General’s report, is currently identifying its priorities for work in the biennium 2016-2017 in the framework of its Terms of Reference which request it to “promote the common goal of democratic security” in relation to (inter alia) “democratic participation and democratic governance (including e-governance and e-democracy) at all levels, including the local and regional level”.

6        Accordingly, the Committee will use the documents adopted at Nafplion as useful sources of inspiration for the concrete activities it will implement in pursuance of its priorities.

7        The Committee of Ministers will be duly informed in the framework of the meeting reports that the CDDG forwards to it after each of its meetings.

APPENDIX IV

Comments by the CDDG on

Recommendation 385 (2016) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Autonomy and borders in an evolving Europe

1        The Committee of Ministers has invited the CDDG to comment on Recommendation 385 which relates to the principles, frameworks and procedures for protecting and modifying the status, competences and borders of sub-national entities within domestic law. 

2        The CDDG welcomes the Congress’ reference to both the European Charter of Local Self-government (whose article 5 provides Contracting Parties with a framework for their regulations with regard to changes of boundaries of local authorities) and the Reference Framework for Regional Democracy, presented in 2009 to the Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government at the 16^th session of their Council of Europe conference (which covers, amongst other things, questions such as Relations with other tiers of government, Loyalty, territorial integrity and cohesion, and Protection of regional self-government).

3        The CDDG also notes that in many member States inter-municipal cooperation and amalgamation are chosen as a means of ensuring sustainability in the delivery of quality public services while maintaining a high degree of democratic representativeness.

4        Accordingly, the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform has produced and is in the process of updating, with a contribution from the Committee, a Toolkit that could help both central governments and local authorities in designing and implementing sound inter-municipal cooperation and amalgamation. The Committee during its discussions highlighted the important contribution that amalgamations and territorial reforms can make to delivering better public services, stronger democratic arrangements and improved outcomes for communities.

5        The CDDG commends the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform which could provide support and its tools to all governments considering reforms of their local government.