MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) - Belarus is interested in larger-scale projects with Europe in local self-government, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said at the opening of a seminar on the development of associations of local councils of deputies on 11 December, BelTA has learned.
In local self-government the cooperation between Belarus and the Council of Europe is developing in two areas: with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Democratic Governance Department at the Directorate General of Democracy. “However, I believe this is not enough to ensure that cooperation is systemic and indeed highly effective. It is good that Belarus participates in the regional program of the Council of Europe for the Eastern Partnership member states. But while regional and country activities in the formats of seminars, training courses and roundtables are important, we suggest working on larger programs and projects. Belarus is ready for this,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.
The matter was discussed at the thematic roundtable in Minsk and during the meeting between Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and head of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom, Mikhail Myasnikovich recalled. He suggested the seminar should focus on these arrangements, work on new projects.
Belarus attaches great importance to enhancing cooperation with the Council of Europe and the European Union, Mikhail Myasnikovich underlined. He expressed the hope that today's exchange of views will be fruitful and will contribute to achieving this goal. The country is not part of the united Europe but is respectful to pan-European values. The theme of this seminar testifies to the fact that the parties have a lot of common ground and common interests. Belarus is a member of 15 treaties of the Council of Europe. the Council for cooperation of local self-government bodies at the council for cooperation of local self-government bodies at the Council of the Republic and the Lev Sapieha Foundation have the status of invited observers at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
“Strong and independent self-government and full-fledged legislation in the area are the basis for the formation of an effective civil society and one of the main elements of social and economic stability in the state,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.
Daniel Popescu, Head of the Democratic Governance Department of the Council of Europe, told reporters that the Council of Europe is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with Belarus in the development of local self-government. He expressed the hope that the country will do its best in the future to fully tap into the potential of local self-government. CoE is interested in supporting the development of a roadmap to improve local self-government in Belarus. Daniel Popescu added that the CoE experts come to Minsk not for monitoring and evaluation. Their task is to present the best practices and get familiar with the Belarusian development.
The Council of the Republic is hosting a seminar on the development of associations of local councils of deputies. It is attended by members of the Council of the Republic, senators and lawmakers, local authorities.
By agreement with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament invited the best experts on local government issues, including the development of associations of local councils. Experts will present the European experience of local government in the countries of the Council of Europe, update on the environment of associations of local authorities on the example of Denmark, England, Bulgaria, Serbia and other countries. Recommendations on the development of associations of local governments in Belarus will be presented as well.
Following the discussions, proposals will be developed to improve the effectiveness of such associations in Belarus. There are two of them in the country: in Mogilev Oblast and Grodno Oblast. Cooperation in this format is aimed at coordinating the activities of local councils of deputies in the development of the territorial, financial, economic, organizational and legal foundations for local self government. This helps them to address local issues, taking into account the interests and needs of the population of a particular region.
The event has been organized as part of the work of the council on interaction of local self-government bodies under the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.
