Reply to Recommendation 23 (1996) on the first east/west economic forum of the regions of Europe and to Recommendation 27 (1996).... - Council of Europe. Committee of Ministers, Ministers'Deputies - Decision 601/9.2 Appendix 11 (September 1997)

601st meeting – 17 September 1997

APPENDIX 11

(item 9.2)

REPLY

TO RECOMMENDATION 23 (1996)

ON THE FIRST EAST/WEST ECONOMIC FORUM OF THE REGIONS OF EUROPE AND

TO RECOMMENDATION 27 (1996)

ON THE 2ND ECONOMIC FORUM OF THE REGIONS OF EUROPE OF THE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF EUROPE (CLRAE)

The Committee of Ministers has studied Recommendation 23 (1996) on the First East/West Forum of the Regions of Europe and Recommendation 27 (1996) on the 2nd Economic Forum of the Regions of Europe by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE).

Regarding Recommendation 23 (1996), the Committee of Ministers has taken note of the proposal by the Congress to organise in 1998 a European Year for the establishment of pan-European partnerships between local and regional authorities and communities. Nevertheless, the Committee of Ministers does not consider itself in a position at this stage to commit itself to the organisation of such a year for mainly two reasons:

(i) given that the Committee of Ministers has already received proposals to run several campaigns, at the same time or in sequence, on different subjects, including the Plan of Action to be fulfilled following the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government in October 1997, the public might be confused by such a multiple message of the Council of Europe, and thus the effect of any campaign will be lost;

(ii) the budgetary restraints.

The Committee of Ministers hopes to finish the work on the draft Additional Protocole to the Framework Convention dealing with inter-territorial co-operation this Autumn which could be open for signature to member States during the next plenary session of the Congress. Once it has been ratified, this Convention will provide a legal framework for such co-operation, in the economic field as well. The Committee of Ministers would highly appreciate that the CLRAE support such awareness-raising effort through any appropriate means, which could take the form of such a "Year" on the occasion of its entry into force.

The Committee of Ministers also wishes to inform the Congress that Recommendation 23 (1996) was transmitted to Governments, to the Steering Committee on Local and Regional Authorities (CDLR) and the Conference of Specialised Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT). The Committee has instructed its Rapporteur Group on the Relations with countries of Central and Eastern Europe to bear in mind point paragraph VIII.h on the resources made available to the Local Democracy Embassies.

As regards the request of the Congress to equip its Secretariat with the computer hardware, this request was duly taken into consideration when the Secretariat was given additional equipment during 1996-1997.

Regarding Recommendation 27 (1996), the Committee of Ministers is of the same opinion as the Congress, that greater importance should be attached to the problems of the socio-economic disparities between European regions, and to policies for socio-economic cohesion within regions.

The Committee of Ministers wishes to inform the Congress that this Recommendation together with the Dortmund Declaration has been transmitted to Governments, to the Steering Committee on Local and Regional Authorities (CDLR) and to the Conference of Specialised Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT).