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“12 Star Cities” ceremony

Strasbourg, 23 March 2011, 20^th Session of the Congress

Speech by President Keith Whitmore

Dear Mayors, dear colleagues,

In 2010, ELDW raised its profile and numbers. Most of this success is linked to a new concept which was launched last year and was very successful.

Local authorities wishing to give special prominence to their participation in the European Local Democracy Week organised the Week as a “12 Star city”. It was a serious engagement.

Five conditions were to be respected: devoting a specific budget to the ELDW activities; making a promotion campaign using the graphic visuals provided by the Council of Europe; carrying out a number of specific activities linked to the theme of “climate change”; involving different groups of citizens in the initiatives, in particular young people through municipal youth councils, schools and colleges, and organising an event with a European or pan-European dimension.

The 17 “12 Star cities” organised a huge number of activities, mainly on environmental issues as “climate change” was the leading theme of the 2010 edition of the Week,  but also related to the participation of the citizens in the decision making processes and in public life to a larger extent.

I just want to recall some figures: the “12 Star cities”, in all, involved:

450 mayors and local councillors

26.400 citizens

250 different events

40 primary schools and several high schools

20 Youth Councils

4 Universities

42 local communities concerned, including Brussels with 19 municipalities and Unione Terre di Po with its 9 municipalities

They organised:

20 conferences on European issues

8 art exhibitions

10 visits to industrial environmental plants

8 marathons and bicycle rides

80 public meetings and workshops on environmental and eco-friendly innovation activities

10 demonstrations on aspects of agricultural economics

Short films on environmental protection made by young people

Your efforts are really impressive! You really made great Weeks!

Dear mayors, dear colleagues,

Most of you recognized that your participation in the ELDW was a very helpful participatory exercise that got people closer to the local governments and increased the interest of different categories, especially young people, in interacting with councillors and local politicians.

The Congress is proud of your commitment and of the performances you achieved. You improved the democracy in your communities; you contributed to highlight the name of the Council of Europe and of its Congress of local and regional authorities.

We do hope you shall continue to co-operate with us in preserving and promoting human rights at local level, by organising again an outmost European Local Democracy Week 2011. 

I am really grateful to you!

I am very glad to award you with a certificate for your special co-operation with the Congress in this pan-European initiative, which seeks to strengthen the values of local authority accountability to citizens, transparency in decision-making and citizen participation in local life.