Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP)

Poznan 8 September 2011

Speech by Dr Van Staa, President of the Chamber of Regions of the Council of Europe Congress

(check against delivery)

I believe that the Eastern Partnership is a great opportunity both for EU and non-EU countries. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities was involved with EP countries since they became member states of the Council of Europe helping them to integrate the principles of local and regional democracy into their law and practice, build institutions and administrative structures, create associations of local and regional authorities and euro-regional cooperation groupings and, when appropriate establish regions or define self-government for the existing ones.

We believe that the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe can successfully work together in contributing to strengthen local and regional democracy in the Eastern Partnership countries. 

Efficient and democratic multi-level governance mechanisms are needed (and even claimed) by local and regional authorities of the countries concerned.

We - local and regional authorities -  shall pursue the objective of improving the institutional and legislative framework for local democracy in the Eastern Partnership countries (in accordance with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government) and develop the system of decentralised governance. There is a need to establish efficient local government systems, promote good governance and provide the citizens with more effective services.  We also have to reinforce Europe’s stability through stronger regional structures. In this respect the Reference Framework for Regional Democracy of the Council of Europe endorsed very recently by the governments of the Member states of the Council of Europe, can represent a starting point for a European Charter on multilevel governance.

A multi-level governance system, in fact implying  coordinated action between the EU, the Member States and local and regional authorities should remain at the heart of regional policy. This will help to ensure that actions are adapted to circumstances on the ground and will provide a genuine commitment to success.

On all these questions the contribution of the Eastern Partnership countries will be very much welcomed.

But the institutional framework should be completed by concrete initiatives and targeted projects for strengthening good governance, human rights and citizens’ participation at local and regional level.

In this respect, the action plans developed by the Council of Europe, with the support of the European Union, should be endorsed.  We are ready, taking into consideration the specific situation of each country, to propose policy guidance, legal assistance and technical expertise to the Eastern Partnership countries. The ultimate objectives should be that each country could provide efficient local and regional government systems, promote good governance and provide citizens with more efficient services.

Other major priorities are to develop cooperation between local and regional authorities of our respective countries, improve confidence and trust of our citizens in local elected representatives and foster greater transparency of the policies run at local level. The Congress and the Committee of the regions are already working together on the role and responsibilities of local elected representatives, public ethics and on counteracting corruption in local and regional administrations. Their cooperation in these fields can be brought forward and extended to Eastern Partnership countries. The experiences acquired could be put at the disposal of local and regional authorities interested in these issues. 

I believe that the European Union should give its support to programmes aiming to improve the efficiency and transparency of local and regional administrations and help the latter to offer  the citizens the support they need.

As President of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress and as citizen of Central Europe, I am particularly proud to contribute to this conference and I expect that our decisions will result in concrete and operational programmes of cooperation for the sake of our citizens both in European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries.