MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – It will take Belarus some two years to establish the National Association of Local Councils, Alexander Popkov, Chairman of the Council of the Republic's Permanent Commission on Regional Policy and Local Government co-chairing the Bureau of the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP), said at the meeting of members of the CORLEAP Bureau, representatives of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Minsk City Council of Deputes in Minsk on 22 May, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Popkov believes that the credibility of any council depends on how consistent it is in drafting and implementing programs of social and economic development and ensuring adequate control. “Sometimes the regions suffer a lack of resources, as problems pile up. In accordance with the law on local self-government, two associations have been set up, one in Grodno and the other in Mogilev. The economic activities of these associations should help find a financial approach necessary for this or that region. The work will continue this year, and such associations will be established in all the regions of Belarus. The state is set to create prerequisites and conditions for earning the necessary funds,” Alexander Popkov said.
The MP informed the participants of the meeting about the work to set up the National Association of Local Councils. “To establish such an association, we will need a year or two. Certain agreements have already been reached. Tentatively speaking, this is a ‘ministry' and ‘a minister without portfolio' who are not part of the government, but they protect the interests of certain areas,” Alexander Popkov explained. In this regard, Belarus is interested in Europe's experience. Belarus is studying the best European and global practices to improve local self-government and expand the range of issues handled at this level. Alexander Popkov is confident that this work will help strengthen citizens' trust in deputes and local authorities.
The meeting touched upon various aspects of local self-government. For instance, Vasily Panasyuk, Chairman of the Minsk City Council of Deputes, informed the participants about the functions, structure, powers, and activities of the council of deputes of the Belarusian capital. For his part, CoR President Markku Markkula (Finland) noted, that over the past year CORLEAP has considerably enhanced its understanding of the regions of Belarus. It established close ties with them, as well as with the other countries participating in the Eastern Partnership program. “The committee has developed a list of priorities for the next five years. One of them is sustainable economic development and creation of jobs,” Markku Markkula emphasized.
CORLEAP has been facilitating cooperation between the Eastern Partnership countries and the European Committee of the Regions in the field of local self-government since 2011. Belarus is represented in CORLEAP by the Council for Cooperation of Local Self-Government Bodies at the Council of the Republic.
CORLEAP is co-chaired by the President of the Committee of the Regions and a representative from the EaP countries elected by CORLEAP members each year. Belarus is co-chairing the body from October 2016 to September 2017. CORLEAP comprises 18 representatives from the EaP countries (three from each country) and 18 representatives of the European Committee of the Regions.
