MINSK, 30 April (BelTA) – The Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus will work out proposals to expand local government tasks and consider their possible inclusion to the draft amendments to the Constitution and the Law on Local Government and Self Governance in Belarus, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said at a meeting of the Council for Cooperation of Local Self-Government Bodies at the upper chamber of parliament on 30 April, BelTA has learned.
Local government issues were thoroughly discussed during the meeting of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko with President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Anders Knape, the speaker said.
“Following the exchange of views, the head of state instructed the Council of the Republic to work out proposals to expand and systematize the tasks of local governments and consider their possible inclusion to the draft amendments to the Constitution and the Law on Local Government and Self Governance in Belarus,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.
The Council of the Republic believes that Belarus needs to develop a draft concept to improve the local governance system, which will envisage organizational measures and the adoption of necessary legislative acts to develop legislation in the area.
According to the chairman of the Council of the Republic, Article 124 of the Constitution and the president's instructions allow for addressing these tasks. The participants of the meeting were offered an action plan, a so-called roadmap to improve laws regulating local government and self governance for sustainable development. Mikhail Myasnikovich expressed hope that all Belarusian and foreign experts, present at the meeting, would express their opinion on the draft document and make their proposals.
The Council of the Republic is hosting a meeting of the Council for Cooperation of Local Self-Government Bodies with the participation of representatives of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The parties are discussing the ways to improve Belarus' legislation that regulates the issues of local governance for sustainable development. A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe led by President Anders Knape is in Belarus on a visit on 29-30 April.
