On 5 April in Krakow (Poland) the 2nd European Congress of Local Governments opened its doors for the participants. In the event which lasts for two days about 1500 representatives from more than 20 European countries will participate.

Ukraine is represented at the Congress by the numerous delegation. Almost 200 Ukrainian professionals, heads of local self-government bodies and experts will take active part in its activity, and among them is the delegation of the winners and finalists of the Contest “Best practices of local self-government” in 2015 conducted by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipal Economy of Ukraine with the support of the Council of Europe Programme “Decentralisation and Territorial Consolidation in Ukraine”.

Hosts of the event call it “Congress of new ideas and best practices”. “Europe requires new priorities and tools for local self-government”, - ex-Prime Minister of Romania, mayor of city of Cluj-Napoca       Mr Emil Boc admitted during opening ceremony. Three key priorities for the local self-government are: the development of “smart” municipalities (where inhabitants could benefit from implementing of IT technologies into all spheres of life), development of participative democracy (which foresees active involvement of citizens into decision-making) and improvement of quality of life at local level.

The participants of the European Congress of Local Government will have an opportunity to discuss these and many other issues on 5 and 6 April during 36 discussion panels on different topics essential for the development of local self-governance in Europe.

On 7-8 April the delegation of the winners and finalists of the Contest “Best practices of local self-government” lead by representatives of the Minregion and the Council of Europe Programme will continue its exchange with local self-government leaders from Poland (Rzeszów and Lublin) and experts of the Foundation in Support of Local Democracy.