ALDA, the European Association for Local Democracy, celebrated 30 years of Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) at its General Assembly meeting and events, which were held in Brussels from 6 June to 9 June.
Congress President Leendert Verbeek addressed the Assembly to mark the occasion and highlight the longstanding successful cooperation with ALDA. He pointed out that “the Congress and ALDA share the same values of active citizenship and democratic and responsible governance at local and regional level“ and it was the Congress who supported the creation of the first LDA in Subotica, Serbia in 1993, and the subsequent creation of ALDA in 1999, whose successful network now stretches far beyond the Balkans into Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Southern Mediterranean.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion “30 Years Local Democracy Agencies in Balkans”, Congress Member Dusica Davidovic (Serbia, SOC/G/PD) congratulated ALDA on the 30th anniversary of LDAs, recalled the history and origins of LDA development, and noted that “it is through citizen participation that we achieve peace and stability, and Local Democracy Agencies are key in galvanising citizen involvement to advance principles of democracy in our daily lives.“
The ALDA festival “Local Democracy will Save Democracy” was held in Etterbeek, Brussels on June 6-9 and included General Assembly, meeting of the ALDA governing board, which includes a Congress representative, workshops and various celebrations.
