Ministerial Conference on Local and Regional Government

[17/11/2009] Meeting in Utrecht (Netherlands) on 16 and 17 November at the invitation of the Dutch authorities, the Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government of the Council of Europe countries concluded their proceedings with the adoption of the Utrecht Declaration. This document emphasises the leading role to be performed by local and regional authorities in ending the economic and financial crisis. In this context, the Ministers drew particular attention to the respective roles of local authorities and central governments, stressing the responsibility of the latter for guaranteeing the resources of local authorities..

Focus

Thorbjørn Jagland meets Jean-Claude Juncker The Secretary General met, on 27 October, with Luxembourg Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Asselborn.

Thorbjørn Jagland: European Union is Council of Europe’s most important institutional partner Secretary General met Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the European Commission, on 19 October in Brussels, during his first official mission since his election. The meeting focused on the review of the partnership between the two institutions, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2007, which recognised the Council of Europe as ''the benchmark for human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Europe.''

Russia ratifies Revised European Social Charter Tatiana Golikova, Russian Minister of Health and Social Development, ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 16 October in Strasbourg. The Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland welcomed the ratification which reaffirms Russia's commitment to the core values of the Council of Europe. ''The Council of Europe will be working closely with Russia in order to help with concrete and effective implementation of the rights enshrined in this key human rights treaty'', he said.

Jagland and Gorbachev on 20 years of history Thorbjørn Jagland and Mikhail Gorbachev met on 1 October in Strasbourg on the occasion of the celebration the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe. They discussed the historical changes since the fall of the Berlin wall, the place of the Council of Europe in the European institutional structure, the role of Russia in Europe and its relations with the Council of Europe.

Jagland and Turk evoke the constructive role of the Slovenian Chairmanship Thorbjørn Jagland met with Danilo Turk, President of Slovenia, in Strasbourg on 1 October following his election to the post of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. They reviewed the achievements of the Slovenian chairmanship, and discussed current affairs and prospects for future development of the role of the Council of Europe on the European continent.

Jagland and Lellouche: joint work to strengthen the organisation Thorbjørn Jagland and Pierre Lellouche, Secretary of State for European Affairs of France, discussed relations with France as the country hosting the Organisation and the prospects of accession of the European Union to the European Convention of Human Rights and to the Council of Europe. They also discussed the need to strengthen and revitalise the organisation.