CoE
Conference on Management of Capital Cities
The Council of Europe Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) organized, in co-operation
with the City of Kyiv, a conference on the "Management
of Capital Cities in Europe" that was held 3-4 October
2002 in Kyiv.
The conference constituted a follow up to
the CLRAE survey on the management of capital cities and
the meeting of mayors of capital cities of Council of Europe
Member Countries, held in Helsinki on 29 September 2001.
The speakers at the conference, representing
a range of European capital cities, elaborated on capital
cities' relations with national authorities, surrounding
regions, districts, their own population, and the dimension
of capital cities' international relations.
It was established that capital cities must
act as a model for the rest of the country. The capital
is often an engine for economic development and usually
the seat for major institutions. Therefore it is particularly
important to achieve an exemplary level of management in
capital cities. Legislative clarity is a prerequisite for
a well functioning administration.
Next comes the question of the relations
between the capital cities, the districts and surrounding
regions. As a rule of thumb, there must be a system for
financial solidarity, fairness, coherence, efficiency and,
most important of all - common sense. However, the most
efficient solutions regarding the division of responsibilities
between the capitals and other levels of administration
depend on the unique circumstances of each city.
Nevertheless, one certainty is the necessity
for local authorities to manage their own fiscal resources.
Another certainty is that the guidelines provided in the
European Charter of Local Self-Government offer guidance
for all local authorities in capital cities and elsewhere
and that it thus constitutes an invaluable tool for implementing
efficient local democracy.
Community engagement is naturally a basic
element in implementing local democracy. The speakers at
the conference provided different examples of how it can
best be assured. If the level of technological development
permits, e-governance with online contacts between the citizen
and the administration, where the advancement of any matter
through the administrative process can be monitored electronically,
brings a world of new possibilities to further contacts
between administration and population. In some administrative
cultures, such as in Switzerland's, there is a long tradition
of referenda on important local community matters.
A report summarizing the findings of the
above CLRAE survey and the results of the conference in
Kyiv will be presented to the Plenary Session of the CLRAE
Chamber of Local Authorities in May 2003, accompanied by
concrete policy proposals for strengthening local democracy
in capital cities in the 44 member countries of the Council
of Europe.
Mr Mats Lindberg
CLRAE
e-mail: mats.lindberg@coe.int
www.coe.int
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