The European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) Annual Coordination Meeting was held in Strasbourg, France. The meeting brought together representatives from municipalities who took an active role in the European Local Democracy Week last year.
The opening speeches of the meeting were made by Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Secretary General Mori conveyed his condolences for the earthquake disaster in Türkiye. Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Mori spoke of the importance of more durable, sustainable cities after war and disasters. Mori thanked 64 local government and association organizing more than 276 events within the scope of ELDW, emphasized that ELDW is a real pan-European initiative aimed at increasing the participation of all citizens without any discrimination.
In the first part of the meeting, 2022 ELDW events were presented under the theme of "Protecting the Environment: Local Communities take action". Büyükçekmece, Beşiktaş, Buca, Çiğli and Nilüfer municipalities from Türkiye made their good practices presentations. Lüleburgaz and Ahmetbey municipalities and Ukrainian municipalities participated via video conference.
Another agenda of the meeting was to identify a theme for ELDW's 2023-2024 years. In this context, Congress thematic spokesman on the ELDW Bryony Rudkin led discussions on suggestions for the new theme to focus on creating democratic resistance at the local level.
At the last part of the meeting, awards were presented to the participants who received the status of “Partner”. Municipalities and municipal unions from Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye, Malta and Ukraine was given the title of "2022 Democracy Week Partner Establishment Certificate" due to their commitment to ELDW and their efforts to support local democracy.
The European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) is a pan-European initiative co-ordinated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe since 2007. Throughout the year, municipalities and their national associations are invited to organise initiatives all over Europe aimed at promoting citizen participation, fostering dialogue between the community and public authorities, strengthening trust in elected representatives and institutions and providing a European dimension to local initiatives. A flagship event takes place during the week of 15 October, the date of the signature of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1985.
The opening speeches of the meeting were made by Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Secretary General Mori conveyed his condolences for the earthquake disaster in Türkiye. Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Mori spoke of the importance of more durable, sustainable cities after war and disasters. Mori thanked 64 local government and association organizing more than 276 events within the scope of ELDW, emphasized that ELDW is a real pan-European initiative aimed at increasing the participation of all citizens without any discrimination.
In the first part of the meeting, 2022 ELDW events were presented under the theme of "Protecting the Environment: Local Communities take action". Büyükçekmece, Beşiktaş, Buca, Çiğli and Nilüfer municipalities from Türkiye made their good practices presentations. Lüleburgaz and Ahmetbey municipalities and Ukrainian municipalities participated via video conference.
Another agenda of the meeting was to identify a theme for ELDW's 2023-2024 years. In this context, Congress thematic spokesman on the ELDW Bryony Rudkin led discussions on suggestions for the new theme to focus on creating democratic resistance at the local level.
At the last part of the meeting, awards were presented to the participants who received the status of “Partner”. Municipalities and municipal unions from Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye, Malta and Ukraine was given the title of "2022 Democracy Week Partner Establishment Certificate" due to their commitment to ELDW and their efforts to support local democracy.
The European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) is a pan-European initiative co-ordinated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe since 2007. Throughout the year, municipalities and their national associations are invited to organise initiatives all over Europe aimed at promoting citizen participation, fostering dialogue between the community and public authorities, strengthening trust in elected representatives and institutions and providing a European dimension to local initiatives. A flagship event takes place during the week of 15 October, the date of the signature of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1985.