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Democracy in action – local governance discussed between Armenian mayors

What are the key principles of leadership and local democracy, how to enhance trust in local authorities and how to engage citizens in ethical decision-making processes, are only few of the many questions discussed during the workshop “Mayors, leaders for change”, organised in Yerevan (Armenia) on 8-10 December 2015.

A group of 21 mayors, all members of the Republican Council of the Communities Association of Armenia (CAA), exchanged views on the practical aspects of their role as mayors and responsibilities. The aim of the workshop was to give an account of elected leaders’ views of how local democracy works in Armenia and what can be improved on local level. “Current reforms are fully aligned and are based on the recommendations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe”, emphasised Mr Emin Yeritsyan, Head of the Armenian Delegation to the Congress and the President of the CAA.

Discussions between mayors, Congress member Mr Saša Paunović (Serbia), experts and trainers provided a platform for exchange of experience on local democracy and on challenges mayors are facing in their daily work. They will meet again in March 2016 to continue the peer-to-peer work.

This workshop is the first country-based event organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Communities Association of Armenia (CAA), within the framework of the thematic programme “Strengthening institutional frameworks for local governance”. The programme is funded jointly by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, through the Programmatic Co-operation Framework (PCF) for 2015-2017 for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. Targeted co-operation activities aim at reinforcing the capacity of Eastern Partnership countries to put domestic reforms into effect in the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Background

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European Union. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 47 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 648 elected officials representing more than 200 000 local and regional authorities.

Armenia became a member of the Council of Europe in 2001 and ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2002 with entry into force on 1 May 2002. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter imposes compliance with a minimum number of rights, which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures respect for these principles.

Yerevan 9 December 2015
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