Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13028 | 24 September 2012

The strengthening of national democracy through local European levels

Signatories: Alexander (The Earl of) DUNDEE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Pedro AGRAMUNT, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Miloš ALIGRUDIĆ, Serbia, EDG ; Lord Donald ANDERSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Joe BENTON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Deborah BERGAMINI, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Brian BINLEY, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Turkey, EDG ; Mr Christopher CHOPE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA, Spain, SOC ; Mr Jim DOBBIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Baroness Diana ECCLES, United Kingdom, EDG ; Sir Roger GALE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Oliver HEALD, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Ramón JÁUREGUI, Spain, SOC ; Mr Charles KENNEDY, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Edward LEIGH, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Pietro MARCENARO, Italy, SOC ; Sir Alan MEALE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Ms Ingjerd SCHOU, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Luca VOLONTÈ, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Robert WALTER, United Kingdom, EDG

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The direct involvement of people in how money is spent in their communities improves efficiency and reduces costs. If within the European economy a balance is called for between austerity and growth, not least should such economic measures apply at local levels.

The Council of Europe supports direct citizen participation and people’s responsibility for their local communities (Res. 1874 (2012) on the promotion of active citizenship in Europe). It also encourages best practice in its 47 member States and their towns and regions particularly through initiatives promoted by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. And through its own improved co-ordination, the Council of Europe is already taking steps to assist delivery of local democracy (Outlook to the Future, Report to the Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government in agreement with the Congress).

The Council of Europe’s support for enhanced local democracy accords with the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the “Twelve Principles of Good Governance at Local Level”.

In Europe, the stronger democracy becomes at local levels, the more its citizens will regain confidence in national and international democracy.

Therefore, to achieve this aim, the Parliamentary Assembly calls on all parties to work together to strengthen local democracy in Europe.