CEMR POLICY COMMITTEE BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 2011

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1 A In partnership with CEMR POLICY COMMITTEE BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 2011 Monday, 12 th December h00 17h45 Thematic exchange of views: Consequences of the crisis for local and regional authorities Meeting place: Committee of the Regions, room JDE-51, 5 th floor This thematic session aims to debate the latest developments related to the financial and economic crisis and its impact at local and regional levels as well as policy responses aiming to address the consequences of the crisis and the economic recovery. Since the onset of the financial downturn, CEMR was monitoring the impact of the financial and economic crisis upon Europe's local and regional authorities, conducting independent surveys and participating in a Europe-wide monitoring of the financial data on local budgets and on policy responses to the crisis and starting recovery in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the Open Society Foundations. As confirmed by the latest report on the monitoring, the effects of the crisis impact the local and regional budgets with a delay of one to two years with respect to the global economic indicators,. Many local and regional authorities still find themselves in a squeeze between decreasing budgets and increased demands for crisis-related services and expenses and the outcomes of the anti-crisis measures are still uncertain. Members of the Policy Committee are invited to share their experience with the impact and mitigation of the crisis and debate policy tools aimed to provide economic recovery, such as stabilising local revenue bases, making the most of limited resources, improving accountability and efficiency, combating social deprivation, developing partnerships in delivering public services, enhancing local flexibility and discretion and promoting economic recovery. Organisation of the debate: Introduction and moderation: Ms Annemarie Jorritsma, Mayor of Almere (Netherlands), CEMR Co-President, President of VNG Interventions: Mr Kenneth Davey, OBE, representing the editorial group of experts of the Council of Europe Mr Antonio Costa, Mayor of Lisbon (Portugal), CEMR Executive President, member of the Committee of Regions Mr Philippe Laurent, Mayor of Sceaux (France), Member of the Council of the Department Hauts-de-Seine, Executive President of the French section of CEMR (AFCCRE) Mr Vladimir Moskov, Mayor of Gotse Delchev (Bulgaria), President of NALAS 1

2 Members of the Policy Committee will be invited to participate in the exchange following the interventions of the panellists. During the session, the following questions could be addressed: What measures can be used at the local level to stabilise the revenue base, especially as regards own sources of income? What is the experience with cost cutting or increasing operational and service provision efficiency in local and regional authorities? What innovation has been triggered by the crisis, such as new types of services, use of virtual or electronic services, novel types of partnerships, etc.? Is the budget crisis an opportunity to develop local democracy and good local governance e.g. by increasing transparency and accountability, using participative or neighbourhood budgeting, etc.? (Interpretation provided in English, French, German) 2

3 B In partnership with CEMR POLICY COMMITTEE BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 2011 Monday, 12 th December h00 17h45 Thematic exchange of views: Future of the EU Cohesion Policy Meeting place: Committee of the Regions, room JDE-52, 5 th floor The European Commission has adopted its proposals for the future Cohesion Policy in October The legislative proposals cover all structural policy funding instruments. The first part of the proposal sets out common rules governing the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). It will increase coherence amongst the instruments for better synergies and greater impact. The second part sets out common rules governing the three main funds delivering the objectives of cohesion policy: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF). This thematic debate aims to facilitate the exchange of views of CEMR member associations, representatives of our partner organisations and the European Commission on the future EU cohesion policy. The objective is to have an interactive and constructive debate among the panellists, the audience and the European Commission. Please see the annexed background document for more detailed information on the Commission proposal. Organisation of the debate: Presentation of the Commission s proposal: Mr Nicholas Martyn, Deputy Director General - Development, Coordination and Communication of Cohesion Policy - DG Regional Policy, European Commission Interventions: Ms Carola Gunnarsson, Member of Sala Municipal Council, Vice-President of SALAR, CEMR Rapporteur on Cohesion and Territorial Policy Mr Bernard Soulage, Member of the Committee of the Regions, Vice-President of the Rhône-Alpes Regio Mr Claudio Martini, former President of Tuscany Region Mr Andrei Chiliman, Mayor of Bucharest 1st Sector, Romanian Municipalities Association Moderation: Ms Angelika Poth-Mögele, CEMR Director of Policy Members of the Policy Committee will be invited to participate in the exchange following the interventions of the panellists. 3

4 During the session, the following questions could be addressed: The European Commission s proposal of a thematic concentration and a limited selection of priorities for the interventions, which are aligned to the Europe 2020 objectives; The proposal in relation to the Performance framework, which consists of incentives and conditionalities; The Common Strategic Framework and integrated approach; New instruments: Joint action plans, community led local development, territorial integrated investments; Urban development and ring-fence of 5% Capping and absorption rate Interpretation provided in English, French, Italian 4

5 C In partnership with CEMR Policy Committee BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 2011 Monday, 12 December h00 17h45 Committee of the Regions, JDE 5 th floor Thematic Debate: Following the Arab Spring, what is the role of local and regional authorities in the transition toward democracy? Objective and structure of the session The objective of this session is to take note of the political situation in southern Mediterranean countries following the Arab Spring. The session will also exchange on the initiatives taken by the European Union and the role of local and regional authorities and their associations in supporting the transition to democracy. 1) Political context The various uprisings in Arab countries demonstrate the aspirations of these people for liberty and a return to the heart of the decision making process. The substantial participation of the Tunisian people in the first free elections since independence in 1956 (around 54% of citizens were mobilised), and of the Moroccan people during the elections on 25 th November, confirm that these people wish to actively take part and be actors in this change. Today, on the wake of Ben Ali s fall in Tunisia, Kaddafi in Lybia, as President Saleh has signed an agreement foreseeing the transfer of power in Yemen, as people continue to rise up in Syria against Assad and in Egypt against the military seizing power and as institutional reforms take place in Morocco, are the demands of these people throughout the Arab world being heard? What model will be developed for governance in these countries? What role will local governance play in the process launched in Tunisia, Lybia, Morocco, Egypt etc? In a transforming political climate, everyone is awaiting the advent of democracy, but what type of democracy? The abovementioned countries have different cultures, political traditions and histories. It would therefore be inaccurate to apply the same model throughout the entire region. 2) European initiatives The European Union, in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, has taken several initiatives to respond to the fundamental changes that have recently taken 5

6 place in the Mediterranean, such as the SPRING programme for civil society and the special measures taken for the poorest regions in Tunisia. The overall objective of EU action is to promote democracy; new measures aimed foremost at civil society seek to reinforce its capacity to participate in the political dialogue and have its voice heard. Very few initiatives include or mention local authorities however a report by EMP Mario David on European Neighbourhood Policy, underlines the important role played by local authorities in the development of democracy, this report should be voted by the Parliament on 12 th December. The EU foresees the creation of a fund for democracy in order to support the transition to democracy in oriental and southern neighbour countries. It would entail creating an autonomous structure that distributes grants, funded by EU funds, member States funds as well as non-eu State funds. The first ministerial meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean on urban development took place in Strasbourg on 10 th November: ministers expressed the wish to develop a sustainable urban strategy and to see the emergence of urban development projects whose actions could contribute to increase general access to drinking water and sanitation systems, modes of transport and urban planning. 3) The role of Local and Regional Authorities and their associations? During the 2 nd Euro-Arab Forum that took place in Malaga from February 2011, representatives from European and Arab towns/cities and representatives from institutions and associations involved in this issue, declared themselves, ready to build a new model of participation for citizens to achieve the best possible development for the regions. (see final declaration attached). They also affirmed that they are, ready to engage with (our) national governments and with international organisations in a dialogue supporting better representation of citizens and supporting change our towns and cities. European local and regional authorities and their national, European and international associations have a major role to play in accompanying decentralisation and the reform of local governance in these countries. Certain national associations of CEMR have extensive knowledge and experience in this sector (SALAR, VNG, etc.) CEMR and other associations active in international cooperation wish to carry this voice and this experience vis-à-vis the appropriate Institutions through PLATFORMA, which brings together representatives of associations of local and regional authorities active in development cooperation. PLATFORMA is supported by the European Commission in the framework of the NDA/LA; its Secretariat is hosted by CEMR. Interpretation provided in English, French, Spanish 6