Europe

Home page

Europe

Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to hold next session on March 3-5 in Strasbourg

19 February 2009 10:37 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanovaâ€“APA. The Congress of Local and Regional authorities of the Council of Europe will hold its 16th plenary session in Strasbourg on March 3-5, 2009, Azerbaijani representation to the Council of Europe told APA. During the 16th Plenary Session of the Congress, several debates will be held in plenary sittings, in particular on the Euro-Mediterranean co-operation: the role of local and regional authorities, public water and sewer services for sustainable development, combating domestic violence against women, the 2009 Congress budget and budgetary perspectives for 2010, the situation of local and regional democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and transfrontier co-operation. On Tuesday 4 March, Congress members will hold a debate on the international financial crisis and its consequences for European territorial authorities.
The Chamber of Local Authorities will organize a round-table on intercultural cities, as well as debates on equality and diversity in local authorities’ employment and service provision, local democracy in Malta, and citizen participation. The Chamber of Regions will discuss the digital divide and e-inclusion in the regions, the observation of elections to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (Georgia - 3 November 2008), good governance as a key factor for the sustainable economic development of regions, the future of cultural tourism - towards a sustainable model, and the activities of the Black Sea Euroregion. As part of the Congress contribution to the Council of Europe’s Dosta! campaign, the ’’Dosta! - Congress Prize for Municipalities’’ for 2008 has been awarded to four cities. The winners of the second edition are the cities of: Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Prijedor (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for the Joint First Prize, Volos (Greece) for the Second Prize and Lom (Bulgaria) for the Third Prize. The Prize rewards municipalities which are distinguished for their participatory and innovative work in combating anti-Gypsyism and promoting the inclusion of Roma in political and social life. The winning municipalities will receive the Prize at the ceremony which will take place on 4 March 2009, on the occasion of the Congress Plenary Session.
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Luis Maria de Puig, Chairman of the EU Committee of Regions Luk van den Brande and other officials will attend the session.
Executive Chairman of the Congress Jan Micallef will hold press conference before the session.