Seminar on good democratic
governance, 17-18 June [13/06/13] This seminar
is aimed at identifying how principles of good democratic
governance can be promoted and applied in local and regional
authorities. Participants will hear about conceptual approaches
to good governance,
practical examples in good governance and initiatives to develop citizen and civil
society participation at local level.
Programme
Local and regional
authorities are key [03/06/13] The report “Local
Government in critical times: policies for crisis, recovery and
a sustainable future” and the new “Finance Benchmarking
Programme” initiated by the Centre of Expertise in Greece,
Portugal, Spain to support local authorities in severe financial
difficulties, were presented by Gabriela Matei at the recent
high level conference, organised on 13 May by the Committee of
the Regions and the European Investment Bank, with the support
of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
During the conference, President of the Committee of the
Regions, Mr. Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, issued a stark warning
arguing that only by overhauling the financing of Europe’s local
and regional authorities will the ambitious goals set out in the
EU’s growth strategy – Europe 2020 – ever be achieved.
EIB President Werner Hoyer recognised that Local and regional
authorities are key partners in their activities.
The
conference was attended by CoR President Valcárcel, EIB
President Hoyer, Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker, European
Commissioner Barnier and the Irish Minister for Public
Expenditure and Reform Howlin.
Closing Conference of the Programme
to Strengthen Local Democracy in Ukraine, Kyiv, 27 March
[27/03/13]The
Council of Europe held a Closing Conference in Kyiv today and
looked back at the results of the last 3 years of its Programme
to Strengthen Local Democracy and Support Local Government Reform
in Ukraine. The programme was financed by the Swedish government
and focused on giving expert and legal support to preparation
of the decentralization reform. Among the participants were
A Zardi, M Stavnijchuk from the presidential administration,
D Zhvania from the Parliament, O Alipov, First Deputy Minister
of Regional Development, N Romanova, President of the Chamber
of Regions of the CiE Congress, as well as representatives from
the Cabinet of Ministers, associations, donors, and local and
international experts.
Launch of a co-operation programme
to strengthen local and regional government in Albania
[01/03/13]
"Strengthening Local Government Structures and Co-operation
of Local Elected Representatives in Albania" was launched in
Tirana, on 27 February 2013, on the basis of a joint partnership
between the Swiss Government, the Albanian Ministry of the Interior
and the Council of Europe. This co-operation programme will
address several issues related to local governance in Albania,
such as co-operation between municipalities, human resources
management, and the representation of local government structures,
in order to improve the current situation in line with the principles
enshrined in the European Charter of Local Self-Government and
European best practices. Within the Council of Europe, this
initiative is jointly conducted by the Centre of Expertise for
Local Government Reform and the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities.
Entry into force of Protocol
No 3 on 1 March [28/02/13]
Protocol No. 3 offers a solution to a number of factors
hampering transfrontier co-operation, such as the differences
in the administrative systems, functions and powers of territorial
communities or authorities, rules on public procurement, etc.
through the provision of “hard core” rules for the establishment,
membership, operations and responsibilities of transfrontier
co-operation groupings (ECGs) made principally but not exclusively
of territorial communities or authorities such as regions, counties
or municipalities. ECGs will be subject to the law of
the headquarter state and have nevertheless in common a “harmonised”
set of governing rules. This can only enhance the legal security
of the entities establishing these groupings and of any party
entering into any legal relationship with it.
Video release: 12 Principles
of Good Governance at Local Level[29/01/13] The 12 principles
form one of the three pillars of "The Strategy for Innovation
and Good Governance at Local Level", launched during the
Ministerial Conference in Valencia, Spain, by European Ministers
responsible for Local and Regional Government. In Council of
Europe member States having subscribed to the Strategy, European
local authorities who fully comply with the 12 principles can
be awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE)
-- represented by a 12-sided polyhedron - the dodecahedron.
Currently Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary,
Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Ukraine
are working on the Strategy.
The video was produced by the Council of Europe's Centre
of Expertise for Local Government Reform as part of its Programme
Strengthening the Capacity of Local Authorities in Ukraine funded
by the Swiss and Danish governments.
France approves Protocol No.
3 to the Madrid Outline Convention[29/01/13]Protocol No. 3 will
enter into force for France as from 1 May 2013, following its
deposit of the instrument of approval with the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe on 29 January.
Monaco becomes the 46th member
State to ratify the Charter [11/01/13] By simultaneously
signing and ratifying the the European Charter on Local Self-Government
yesterday, the text will enter into force for Monaco on 1 May
2013. “[...] the Principality of Monaco is joining the
family of European nations committed to the implementation of
this treaty’s principles”, said the President of the Chamber
of Local Authorities of the Congress, Jean-Claude Frécon (France,
SOC).
The European Charter of Local Self-Government
was opened as a Convention for signature by Council of Europe
member states 28 years ago, on 15 October 1985, and came into
force on 1 September 1988. The text, which affirms the role
of local authorities as the first tier for the exercise of democracy,
has become a unique international reference instrument in this
field. The Charter requires compliance with a minimum set of
rights, which thus constitutes the first European foundation
stone of local self-government. Full article by the Congress
