Irish Regions Office Website

November 30, 2009

Ministers agree to strengthen local autonomy and democracy

Ministers from across Europe with responsibility for local and regional government have agreed to strengthen local autonomy despite economic pressures to achieve savings across the public sector. At a Council of Europe summit entitled 'Good local and regional governance in turbulent times: the challenge of change', held in Utrecht in November, the ministers signed a declaration recognising the importance of municipal and regional governments and the need for national governments to undertake to guarantee their future financial stability, especially when faced with the challenge of dwindling public finances in the coming years.

The ministers also signed a new protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government giving citizens a legal ''Right to Participate in the Affairs of a Local Authority'' including to be consulted on matters of local policy. This is especially aimed at those facing particular obstacles to participating in democratic procedures. The Charter, which was signed by the Irish Government in 1998 and ratified in 2002, commits signatories to the principle of subsidiarity whereby decisions are taken at the appropriate level closest to the citizen.

Declaration

Posted by iroronan at November 30, 2009 07:02 PM