The „European Local Democracy Week“ is an annual event with national and local events organized by participating local authorities in the Council of Europe . The purpose is to foster the knowledge of local democracy and promote the idea of democratic participation at a local level. While the week is overseen by the Council of Europe, it is each local and regional environment that organizes events centered on the selected theme.
Background
The week of October 15 is chosen every year for the European Local Democracy Week, the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the date is considered symbolic for European Local Democracy. In recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities (the predecessor to today’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities , the first European Local Democracy Week took place in 2007.
Each year has had a unique and important theme for each community with which it is important to work with others. The theme for the European Local Democracy Week in 2011 was at the local level. While the themes are universal for each of the local and regional communities, each community is subject to a specific interpretation. Events and activities organized to include poster campaigns, interactive websites, public meetings, exchanges, Open Days and other targeted events for different groups of people like children.
The leading theme in 2012 In 2012, some 150 partners from 29 countries joined the ELDW. For the first time, municipalities in Morocco and Tunisia also registered as ELDW partners, in order to strengthen local democracy. A total of 342 activities and events were organized by towns, cities, regions, national and international associations. Motivating citizens to take part in decision-making processes at the grassroots level of the 2013 edition of the European Local Democracy Week, under the leading theme „active citizenship: voting, sharing, participating“. ELDW Political Co-ordinator, Congress Vice-President and member of the Municipal Council of Dubrovnik (Croatia), Dubravka Suica,
Since 2013, the European Parliament has held the European Parliaments under the title „European Parliamentary Week“. [1] [2] [3]
Purpose and main messages
While there are many goals and objectives behind the European Local Democracy Week, the primary ones are as follows (as listed in the Council of Europe literature):
- to strengthen links between elected representatives and their communities
- to boost participation in the democratic process
- to involve citizens in community affairs
- to increase their knowledge of local democratic institutions and processes
- to have local authorities that understand and understand the needs and expectations of their citizens
- to facilitate co-operation and the exchange of good practices between communities
The overriding messages to the annual event include:
- to raise awareness of European citizens of the workings of democracy in their communities
- to raise awareness of local councilors and their staff of citizens‘ needs and concerns
- to stress that local democracy is one of the major components for a united and democratic Europe
See also
- Democracy Day in other countries
- Parliament Week (United Kingdom)
References
- Jump up^ „European Parliamentary Week“ . European Parliament . Retrieved 15 May 2016 .
- Jump up^ Hefftler, Claudia; Neuhold, Christine; Rozenberg, Olivier; Smith, Julie, eds. (2015). The Palgrave Handbook of National Parliaments and the European Union . Palgrave Macmillan. p. 99. ISBN 9781137289131 .
- Jump up^ „European Parliamentary Week: MPs in Brussels to debate economy, jobs and budget“ (Press release). European Parliament. February 12, 2016 . Retrieved 15 May 2016 .