28 to 30 March 2017 - Strasbourg, France

In her communication at the opening of the 32nd Session of the Congress of local and regional authorities, President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström recalled that “local and regional authorities are responsible for carrying out a considerable share of public action in their States”. She expressed concern upon the situation in member States and in particular the situation of local and regional democracy and underlined that “the Europe of democracy and the Europe of values are in danger”. “When I see elected mayors arrested and replaced by civil servants, when I see powers transferred to central governments, when the wind of recentralisation blows, I feel that the great ambition that is ours is undermined” she said, adding that there was no inescapable fate in these trends. She invited local and regional elected representatives and the Congress to mobilise against any form of retreat of local government. “We must invest ourselves in order to convince our capitals that the crises we are going through can be overcome by collective, concerted and concrete action to which we, elected representatives and the Congress, can and must contribute,” she concluded, stressing that progress towards local and regional self-government will represent an important contribution to the democratic stability of the continent.  

Communication by the President of the Chamber of local authorities
Anders Knape : "Political dialogue is an essential part of the work of the Chamber of Local Authorities"

Communication by the President of the Chamber of regions
Gunn Marit Helgesen: "Regional self-government is a way to enhance democracy"

Назад 10th anniversary of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW)

10th anniversary of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW)
In the context of its 32nd Session, the Congress held an exchange of views on European Local Democracy Week (ELDW). The Week celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2017 and the theme is: “Citizen participation, consultation and commitment for a thriving local democracy” – Since it was first launched in 2007, ELDW has helped to bring citizens and local elected representatives closer. “The ELDW has become a truly pan-European event that presents an opportunity to promote participatory democracy at the closest level to citizens”, stated Gaye Doganoglu (Turkey, EPP/CCE), Vice-President of the Congress and ELDW Spokesperson. She praised the ELDW partner cities’ commitment and in particular the cities of Katowice (Poland) and Stockton on Tees (United Kingdom,) which were at the session to share their experience. Katarzyna Borkowska, Director of the Administration Department of the City of Katowice, ELDW partner since 2009, said that the citizens of Katowice took a keen interest in the Week and a growing number of people took part from year to year.  

Press release
Statement by Gaye Doganoglu
Presentation by Ann McCoy
Presentation by Katarzyna Borkowska
Photo Gallery
ELDW website
Video of the debate
Video clip '10 years of ELDW'
Interview with Ms. Gaye Doganoglu
Interview with Ms. Ann McCoy
File 32nd Session          
SEDL Strasbourg 29 March 2017
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