On the second day of the 45th session, the presidents of the Chamber of Local Authorities, Bernd Vöhringer, and the Chamber of Regions, Harald Sonderegger, opened the sessions of the Chambers highlighting the election of the new presidents and their vice-presidents.
The current President of the Chamber of Local Authorities Bernd Vöhringer (EPP/CCE) was reelected for another a two-and-a-half year mandate and the Chamber of Regions elected a new President Tunç Soyer (SOC/G/PD).
The Congress adopted reports on the application of the European Charter of Local Self- Government in Estonia and Ireland. The rapporteurs of the report on Estonia, Harald Bergmann, the Netherlands (L, ILDG) and Sören Schumacher, Germany (R, SOC/G/PD) declared that the country’s system of local self-government works well and that the obligations of the Charter are generally fulfilled, but the report points out a few issues that deserve special attention. The report on Ireland was presented by Vladimir Prebilič, Slovenia (L, SOC/V/DP) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen, Norvège (R, PPE/CCE) and was followed by a statement by Kieran O’Donnell, Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Ireland.
The Congress rapporteur Stewart Dickson, United Kingdom, (R, ILDG) presented the report on the observation of local elections in Albania (14 May 2023) and the rapporteur Carla Dejonghe, Belgium (R, ILDG) delivered the report on the observation of the elections to the Council of Elders, City of Yerevan, Armenia (17 September 2023) pointing out that the Congress delegation noted areas for improvements which still need to be addressed.
During a thematic debate on “The role of regions in energy transition”, George Alexakis, Vice-Governor for European and International Affairs Crete, Greece, and Vice-President in charge of Energy and Climate of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), presented the work of the Region of Crete that undertakes to deliver the energy transition. He underlined that “A just transition and territorial cohesion must be a guiding principle when it comes to the energy transition. We must make sure that every citizen, in every territory, can grasp the benefits of the transition”. The Congress members also debated on “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: regional experience and lessons learned”, discussing the role of regions in energy transition and presenting examples of best practice by regional policy makers.
During the plenary sitting Inga Berzina, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development on behalf of the Latvian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers made a statement and thanked local and regional authorities for the work they have done for their citizens, and especially for their support in times of crisis, such as the war in Ukraine and COVID pandemic. “I am convinced that the importance and role of local and regional authorities at European level will continue to grow, and therefore they need to be strengthened”, she underlined.
The Congress members debated the report on “Local and regional media: watchdogs of democracy, guardians of community cohesion” presented by the co-rapporteurs Cecilia Dalman Eek, Sweden (R, SOC/G/PD) and Mélanie Lepoultier, France (L, ILDG). The report aimed at combating media desertification and ensuring the existence of strong, independent local and regional media in their communities.
Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), made a statement that “ALDA has been actively part of the elaboration of the Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process”.
Mediabox interview with Harald Bergmann and Sören Schumacher
Mediabox interview with Vladimir Prebilič and Gunn Marit Helgesen
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45th Session
Agenda – Web file – Multimedia (Live webcasts, interviews, videos and photo)
