“We all need to recognise that issues like transparency, accountability and citizen participation need our full attention, involvement and timely reaction. Although our situations may differ and we may have differing expectations, we have largely benefited from the discussions with our peers during these three days”, affirmed one of the local elected representatives involved in the second regional seminar “Local public ethics: from vision to action”.

Held in Kyiv, Ukraine, the seminar has gathered together more than 90 participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and other European countries - local elected representatives, associations of local and regional authorities, members of Congress Delegations, and experts. Through a combination of interactive plenary and working group session, involving Congress members Robert Biedron and Saša Paunović, extensive exchanges of experience and in-depth discussions have been carried out on how to enhance transparency and develop local public policies with higher ethical standards.

The work carried out has highlighted the effective regional and bilateral approaches taken by the thematic programme “Strengthening institutional frameworks for local governance”, implemented in the CoE/EU Programmatic Co-operation Framework 2015-2017, in surpassing the administrative borders and in integrating national policies into a regional perspective.

The results of the group discussions prove the determination of mayors to lead the change in their communities and the clear intention to promote higher ethical standards in their communities. Reflections made by all participants on the common needs to be addressed in their communities, provide the incentive for stronger support and higher involvement .

The seminar is organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the thematic programme “Strengthening institutional frameworks for local governance”, implemented jointly with the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform, Directorate General of Democracy. This programme is funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, through the Programmatic Co-operation Framework for 2015-2017 for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus.

Contact:

Marité Moras, Head of the Co-operation Activities Unit, Secretariat of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, + 33 6 50 39 29 07

Ion Beschieru, Programme Manager, Council of Europe programme “Strengthening institutional frameworks for local governance, +373 22 88 88 94