17/10/2012 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Strasbourg, 17.10.2012 – “Member states must set up robust procedures to enable local and regional authorities to take part in consultation processes,” confirmed Sir Alan Meale (United Kingdom, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on Local and Regional Authorities, in a plenary debate during the 23rd session of the Congress held in Strasbourg today. He also agreed that “the right of local authorities to be consulted constitutes one of the core principles of local democracy,” as recalled by the Congress in a recommendation to be adopted on 18 October.
“In order to ensure that local and regional authorities are involved in decision-making processes by their central governments, associations of local and regional authorities should regularly exchange with each other good practice on consultation issues,” he said. “It is by uniting their voices that their governments’ authorities will hear them.” Sir Alan also stressed the importance for member states of getting local and regional authorities involved in specific matters and in crisis situations, such as the current economic crisis.
In addition, Sir Alan underlined how important it was that all Council of Europe bodies co-operate closely on issues of common interest, according to a more or less formalised “agenda in common”, which includes some of the most urgent challenges in the area of local and regional democracy. “The Parliamentary Assembly is committed to developing closer work relationships with the Congress, as well as the intergovernmental sector of the Council of Europe,” he said.