On the occasion of the International Conference ‘’Cross-Border in Europe: Decentralisation, legal frameworks, and practice’’ in Dubrovnik, on 25 May 2018, Vladimir PREBILIČ (Slovenia, SOC), Mayor of Kocevje, Congress member, participated in the panel ‘’Cross-Border Cooperation in the Context of Decentralisation: The added value of Council of Europe legal instruments.’’
He presented as a case study the annual sports competition “Pioneer Sports Games”, launched in 1961, between the municipality of Kočevje and the municipality of Delnice, in Slovenia. The aim is to involve primary school children living on either bank of the Kolpa river which divides both countries. ‘’We consider the Kolpa River as an opportunity for friendship instead as a natural division,’’ he stressed.
“These Sports Games represent a platform for closer mutual cooperation on three levels: municipal level, between public institutions and for promoting youth children exchanges,” he said. ‘’This case study is a very good starting point for further development in the area of building true and long lasting friendship between Slovenia and Croatia’’ he concluded.
The European Charter of Local Self-Government recognises that reinforcing local self-government across Council of Europe member States is an important contribution to the construction of a Europe based on the principles of democracy and decentralisation of powers and functions. Effective decentralisation enables citizens to engage in democracy at local level and local authorities to exercise their powers efficiently. In border areas, cooperation by local authorities on both sides of a common frontier helps overcome difficulties due to borders and promote dialogue and cooperation.
