"Dialogue and cooperation with the institutions of the Council of Europe is essential for the work of the Congress", said the acting Secretary General of the Congress, Andreas Kiefer, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) of the Council of Europe, organised on 25 November 2020 by videoconference. “The Congress supports the German Chairmanship priorities on human rights, democracy and the environment and will contribute to the World Forum of Democracy 2020/2021 on ”Can democracy save the environment” and co-operate with intergovernmental bodies on the concept of accountability of political representatives”, Andreas Kiefer said.
"We must join forces at all levels to overcome the serious crisis caused by COVID-19" he stressed, presenting the recent activities carried out by the Congress to respond to the challenges posed by this pandemic. This inter-institutional approach will also guide the discussions of Congress members with Marija Pejčinović-Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Alternative Minister for European Affairs of Greece and Michael Roth, Minister of State and Special Representative of the Federal Government for the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to be held on 7 December 2020. The findings of this event will feed into the preparation of the Congress priorities 2021 – 2026. Mr. Kiefer invited the members of the CDDG to follow this exchange online.
Earlier this year, the Congress had organised a series of thematic debates in its three Committees on various aspects of multi-governance and co-operation in the management of the pandemic by territorial authorities and on the functioning of local and regional democracy in times of crisis and prepared a report on "Local and regional elections in times of crisis". In addition, it gathered inspiring examples of field actions also carried out by cities, regions and institutional partners in an online platform to facilitate the sharing of experience.
"On the basis of the information received, the good practices identified and the lessons learned from this crisis, the Congress will prepare a new comprehensive report on "Ensuring respect for the European Charter of Local Self-Government in times of major crisis" to be discussed in February 2021 and adopted at its next session," said Andreas Kiefer. "Through this work, the Congress supports municipalities, cities and regions, which are in the front line in tackling the health crisis," he said, recalling that on the occasion of the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 47 Council of Europe member States on 4 November 2020, under the Greek chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the Congress reaffirmed this key role of local and regional authorities by calling on States to rely more on territorial democracy to overcome the crisis. Indeed, in a contribution sent to the Ministers on this occasion, the Congress stressed that the pandemic has highlighted the need for more multilateral co-operation and multi-level governance, which will enable policies to be better adapted to the needs and particularities of the field.
"In times of crisis, the European Charter of Local Self-Government, on which the work of the Congress is based, provides the legal basis for member States to defend the principles of local democracy and self-government and to develop responses to ensure the functioning of democratic institutions at all levels," said Andreas Kiefer, recalling that a new "Contemporary Commentary on the Explanatory Report to the Charter" will be adopted by the Congress on 7 December. This commentary offers a modern and up-to-date understanding of the Charter and takes into account the recommendations and resolutions adopted by the Committee of Ministers, the Congress, the Parliamentary Assembly and the opinions of the Venice Commission.
The European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) is the intergovernmental structure of the Council of Europe in which senior officials meet to exchange information on policies and best practices, and to develop or update standards, in areas such as the modernisation of democratic institutions, public administration reform, citizen participation and democratic governance at all levels.
