Europe and its Next Steps - ALDA for the Conference on the Future of Europe
Since the very beginning, ALDA has taken an active part in the process for the Conference on the Future of Europe, by mobilising its members and partners and joining the Civil Society Convention for the Future of Europe, with the aim to stimulate civil society participation in such a unique bottom-up process and take forward all inputs to European Institutions.
This brochure summarises all actions ALDA and its partners carried out during this unprecendent exercise.
Since the very beginning, ALDA has taken an active part in the process for the Conference on the Future of Europe, by mobilising its members and partners and joining the Civil Society Convention for the Future of Europe, with the aim to stimulate civil society participation in such a unique bottom-up process and take forward all inputs to European Institutions.
This brochure summarises all actions ALDA and its partners carried out during this unprecendent exercise.
Entrer dans la nouvelle année avec une énergie et un espoir renouvelés : ensemble avec les membres et les partenaires pour sauvegarder la démocratie locale
"La guerre inhumaine et injuste, que le peuple ukrainien combat actuellement, me pousse à réitérer l'engagement sans fin de l'ALDA pour la paix et la reconstruction." C'est par ces mots que Oriano Otočan, président de l'ALDA, s'est adressé aux membres, partenaires et amis dans sa lettre.
Comme d'habitude, chaque mois de décembre, M. Otočan dédie son temps à rappeler les réalisations de l'Association, les défis posés à l'échelle mondiale et l'engagement de l'ALDA à surmonter ces difficultés, aux côtés des personnes, des communautés locales et des institutions.
2022 a marqué une année de chagrin et de douleur. Mais c'était aussi une année de courage et d'unité : Le peuple ukrainien a montré au monde à quel point les valeurs peuvent être puissantes : leur cause pour la sauvegarde des libertés et de la démocratie est aussi une cause européenne. "L'Ukraine a besoin de nous"a été la campagne qui a uni toutes les initiatives de l'ALDA en collaboration avec, et pour, le peuple ukrainien. En étant constamment en contact avec les délégués des Agences de la Démocratie Locale, l'Association a prouvé son rôle de bâtisseur de paix, avec d'autres acteurs et institutions.
Ainsi, la nécessité de mettre en œuvre des actions locales, avec les communautés locales, s'est avérée être, une fois de plus, la clé de voûte de la diffusion de la bonne gouvernance: "L'ALDA a consolidé son rôle, elle a démontré son service à la démocratie, à la paix et à l'humanité. En particulier, 2023 marquera le 30th anniversaire de la création de la première Agence de la Démocratie Locale dans les Balkans : une étape importante qui nous invitera à réfléchir à trois décennies de travail dans la région des Balkans, au cours desquelles nous avons agi sans relâche en faveur de la société civile et de l'élargissement de l'Europe. Mais surtout, elle nous motivera à poursuivre avec une énergie renouvelée et de nouvelles stratégies notre travail "avec" et "pour" le réseau toujours plus large des ADL présentes aujourd'hui dans tout le voisinage européen. C'est sur cette base solide que nous entrerons dans l'année 2023, avec un esprit de collaboration et de croissance mutuelle". - a souligné Mon. Otočan
Vœux du Président et de la Secrétaire Général de l'ALDA aux membres et partenaires
De même, Antonella Valmorbida, la Secrétaire Générale de l'ALDA "souhaite que l'année à venir soit une année de paix, de renaissance et d'énergie rénovée [...] en collaboration avec les membres, les partenaires et chacun d'entre vous en Europe et au-delà".
Regardez la vidéo suivante pour écouter l'intégralité du message.
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Play the video and listen Mrs. Valmorbida’s winter greetings in Italian or French
👀 To read the full new years’ message by ALDA President, click on the languages below
In English – In French – In Italian – In Russian – In Serbo/Croatian – In Arabic – In Armenian – In Georgian – In Romanian – In Ukrainian
EuSave - Activity Report Template
Take a look at the Activity Report of «#EuSAVE- EU Citizens’ Action for Smart Historic Villages» project, funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme “Europe for Citizens”
Public services for efficient and responsible management in Prijedor
Within the framework of the “LINK4 Cooperation" project funded by the European Union, the second Forum for sharing best practices of CSOs and LAs cooperation was held in Prijedor on 9 December 2022, gathering over 60 participants.
In addition to representatives of the international community the Forum was attended by representatives of local authorities and CSOs from:
- Berkovici, Jablanica, Kostajnica, Maglaj, Mostar, Nevesinje, Novi Grad, Prijedor, Ravno, Trebinje, Zavidovici and Zepce
who jointly identified specific challenges of cooperation and expressed readiness to find optimal solutions to strengthen cooperation. Moreover, as the key tools in the context of joining the European Union an assessment of the impact and importance of the ELoGE process and the Leadership Academy (LAP) program of Council of Europe was also carried out.
Slobodan Javor, Mayor of the City of Prijedor and one of the hosts of the Forum, emphasized the importance of commitment to continuous improvement of public services and achieving more efficient and responsible management:
”The very fact that we are part of such an important project testifies how important it is to us to strengthen local participation and cooperation with the non-governmental sector. Also, through the segments and opportunities provided by the project, we strive to take into account the recommendations, all with the aim of improving local self-government, openness and transparency towards citizens.”
"The reform of local government in Bosnia and Herzegovina must achieve a high degree of direct participation of citizens" Dzenana Dedic at the second forum in Prijedor
Referring to the importance of participatory processes as a key factor in the development and stability of local democracy, Dženana Dedić, director of the Local Democracy Agency Mostar, emphasized: “The reform of local government in Bosnia and Herzegovina must achieve a high degree of direct participation of citizens, which is in accordance with current strategies and recommendations of international organizations“
Bearing in mind ALDA’s experience in launching the ELoGE program in Croatia, North Macedonia and Kosovo*, Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General, addressed the participants of the Forum, saying: “Good governance is the foundation of a functional and lasting democratic system. ALDA is honored to receive accreditation for the ELoGE – European Label of Excellence in Governance. An important program that, thanks to the partnership with the Council of Europe, contributes to the strengthening of democracy around the world and the establishment of a closer relationship between local authorities, civil society organizations and European institutions.”
A detailed presentation of the ELoGE process in BiH was conducted by the project partners. The findings from the benchmarking process were used as a base to detect most recurring weaknesses in municipalities that finalized the ELoGE process and were evaluated. The findings were presented by Ivana Velkova, project manager from ALDA Skopje, during the Zero document session and the participants were then asked to propose ideas on how to overcome those weaknesses during the World Cafe session “Moj grad, moja ulica”.
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“LINK 4 Cooperation” project aims to strengthen the capacity of local authorities and civil society organizations in conducting participatory processes in order to jointly identify specific problems of communities and, thanks to a participatory approach, find the best solutions. The project consortium consists of the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Mostar, the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Zavidovici, the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Prijedor, the Center for the Development of Herzegovina (CRH), the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), and associate partner ALDA Skopje. Implementation began on January 1, 2021 and will last until December 31, 2023. Its value is over 540,000 EUR, of which the European Union provided over 490,000 EUR in grants.
Renforcement des capacités de 24 OSC pour une responsabilité sociale accrue en Moldavie
24 organisations de la société civile des districts de Cimișlia, Florești, Străseni, Ștefan Vodă et Telenești, ont reçu les contrats de subvention dans le cadre du projet "EU4Accountability". L'événement a été organisé par l'ALDA, au Café Europe - Centre d'information sur l'UE, à Chisinau.
Le projet "EU4Accountability" est financé par l'Union européenne et vise à améliorer la responsabilité sociale au niveau local et à créer des mécanismes de coopération durables entre les autorités publiques locales de la République de Moldavie et les organisations de la société civile (OSC), afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des communautés locales.
"Le soutien financier offert aujourd'hui par l'Union européenne permettra aux OSC de renforcer leurs efforts pour améliorer la participation démocratique et répondre aux besoins concrets des citoyens dans les districts de Cimișlia , Florești, Strășeni, Ștefan Vodă et Telenesti" a déclaré Jānis Mažeiks, l'ambassadeur de l'Union européenne en République de Moldavie, invité à l'événement
"Je voudrais féliciter les organisations de la société civile qui ont reçu des subventions dans le cadre de l'action EU4Accountability et les remercier pour leur dévouement à la promotion de la responsabilité sociale en République de Moldavie" Jānis Mažeiks
"Cela comprendra des campagnes publiques de sensibilisation au processus budgétaire, un engagement civique pour surveiller les dépenses publiques et l'élaboration des politiques, et des consultations budgétaires participatives - tout cela pour amener les citoyens et les autorités locales à choisir ensemble les investissements les plus nécessaires dans leurs communautés" a poursuivi l'ambassadeur "Je voudrais féliciter les organisations de la société civile qui ont reçu des subventions dans le cadre de l'action EU4Accountability et les remercier pour leur dévouement à la promotion de la responsabilité sociale en République de Moldavie. Avec le nouveau rôle de candidat à l'UE de votre pays, l'importance de la société civile pour avancer sur la voie de l'adhésion est encore plus évidente."
De même, Alexandru Coica, collègue de l'ALDA, a remercié l'Union européenne pour son soutien continu à la République de Moldavie sur son chemin européen et le développement des communautés par la participation et une approche inclusive. En outre, il a souligné l'amélioration attendue de la responsabilité sociale dans les zones cibles et l'impact positif des subventions aux petits projets sur près de 140 000 citoyens de 50 localités à travers le pays.
À noter que les 24 projets sélectionnés pour le financement visent à renforcer la responsabilité sociale des groupes et organisations d'initiative locale et à améliorer l'engagement civique des différents groupes cibles. Les projets soumis par les OSC locales sont particulièrement destinés aux jeunes, aux femmes et aux personnes issues de groupes vulnérables et prévoient : (1) le développement de groupes d'initiative, de campagnes de plaidoyer et la consolidation de coalitions locales, (2) le renforcement des capacités des OSC dans les régions et la mise en œuvre du mécanisme de budgétisation participative, (3) le développement d'organisations civiques et de jeunesse et la création de centres d'information pour les citoyens.
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Le projet " EU4Accountability ", qui s'étend sur la période 2022-2024, est mis en œuvre par un consortium de trois organisations : l'Association européenne pour la démocratie locale - ALDA, le Partenariat européen pour la démocratie - EPD et l'organisation non gouvernementale tchèque People in Need - PIN, s'étend sur 10 districts (Cahul, Comrat, Cimișlia, Fălești, Florești, Glodeni, Rîșcani, Străseni, Ștefan Vodă, Telenești), et prévoit un budget total de 1.5 millions d'euros.
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The importance of water: an Erasmus+ project to train students to become water experts
Les Erasmus+ Water’s Experts project represents a valuable opportunity to underline the importance of water resources and raise awareness among young people and citizens on their role on the planet.
Climate change has a huge impact on water resources, causing droughts, floods and rivers’ transformation, then endangering the ecosystems and human life. Hence the need to create suitable methods to monitor the main issues of rivers, especially in hydro-rich areas where agriculture and nature-based tourism are highly dependent on climate.
The project aims to create a new professional profile, the Water Expert, capable of understanding the geographic and biological specificities of the watercourses and able to identify and handle the critical issues. Thanks to a 4-month training course, students attending the last year of vocational schools will acquire specific knowledge and professional skills in water resources management.
Students will acquire specific knowledge and professional skills in water resources management
Together with ALDA, four partners are involved in the project, and the activities have been taking place in four European countries (Italy, Portugal, North Macedonia and France). The project partners met on the occasion of the Kick-off Meeting in Portugal on 3 and 4 September 2022, that has been an essential moment to coordinate and set the following step in the project activities.
In the last few months, the project partners have been in touch with schools to present the project and identify the students who will attend the training course. Many schools have shown interest in the project and are already onboard. In the meanwhile, they have been working to finalise the training course contents and identify the experts who will train the students in each country.
ALDA is enthusiastic to contribute to such an interesting project, and is looking forward to sharing the upcoming news on the training courses.
Europe and its next steps: ALDA for the Conference on the Future of Europe
As emerged from all the initiatives, ALDA is strongly advocating not only for a closer collaboration between CSOs and institutions but also for a greater citizens’ involvement. Hence, the Association will further stress the importance of participatory democracy; while urging for an electoral reform as well as accountability assurance as resulted from the surveys undertaken within the CSOCoFoE.
ALDA is very much in favour of this bottom-up democratic approach, and it congratulates all the institutions, organisations, partners and members which also actively participated in the CoFoE
ALDA is very much in favour of this bottom-up democratic approach developed within the CoFoE
ELoGE Award Ceremony: a success of good governance and democracy together with our members
November 22, 2022, marked a milestone for the the implementation of the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) in Croatia, North Macedonia and Kosovo*.
On this date the Award Ceremony of ELoGE took place in Skopje (North Macedonia), and with all the activities and evaluations finalised, ALDA presented the label to the achieving municipalities on behalf of the Council of Europe.
The crystal dodecahedron engraved with the 12 principles of Good Democratic Governance was presented to 9 municipalities from North Macedonia, 6 from Kosovo, and 3 from Croatia who earned the label and will hold it for one year.
65 mayors and representatives from the various participating municipalities attended the event. The ceremony was opened by a speech from Risto Penov, the Minister of Local Self-Government of North Macedonia, Elbert Krasniqi, the Minister of Local Self-Government of Kosovo, Oriano Otocan, President of ALDA, and Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General.
The event continued with an in-depth discussion on the importance of the European Label of Governance Excellence, led by Niall Sheerin of the Center of Expertise for Good Governance. It was followed by brief interventions on the ELoGE experience from the representatives of each participating country and it concluded with the handover of the awards.
The success of the ELoGE implementation is mostly due to the fundamental cooperation and partnership between ALDA and its members
The success of the ELoGE implementation is mostly due to the fundamental cooperation and partnership between ALDA and its members.
Les Municipality of Novaci, a long-term partner and member of ALDA, took part in the project and successfully finalised the ELoGE process. The municipality showed a high level of good governance and Stevce Stevanovski, Mayor of Novaci, received the crystal dodecahedron during the award ceremony. ALDA’s partnership with Novaci stays strong, and will continue to further nourish in the future.
Another member which was directly involved in the project was the Association of financial officers (AFO) from Veles. Their director, Zoran Jankulovski, was a valuable member of the Evaluation Committee and assessed the dossiers of Macedonian municipalities. AFO’s experience in cooperation with local authorities proved to be fundamental in the process.
En outre, le Municipality of Gjilan took part in the implementation of the European Label of Governance Excellence in Kosovo. After showing a strong level of good governance it was awarded with the label. The Mayor of Gjilan, Alban Hyseni, received the crystal dodecahedron during the ceremony.
The ELoGE project represented a great opportunity to further enhance the cooperation between ALDA and its members and contributed to the strengthening of democracy et par good governance in all cities involved in the process.
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"Impariamo il Domani": environment and technology; courses for the over 65s
“Impariamo il Domani” aims to propose and promote inter- or intra-generational training with the participation of the over-65s in the role of teachers or learners through the involvement of teachers and training interventions to be implemented at schools or in local training courses. The project, by means of specific courses, made it possible to learn more about the world of new technologies, bridging the intergenerational digital divide.
“Impariamo il Domani” has been a great success; and now the project partners have the pleasure of sharing with you the stages of this 2022…
1️⃣ The first meeting: the greenhouse
“But how is it possible to create a greenhouse with digital tools?” “But how can a computer design a greenhouse?” There were many questions from participants at the first meeting on building a greenhouse, but gradually, thanks to professionals and lecturers, each question was answered. Using new technologies to unite two worlds that at first seemed so distant: the environment and the digital.
From the basics of electronics to the use of the open source Arduino board, these were two of the topics addressed during the course, which was held at Megahub’s fablab.
"Impariamo il Domani" has been a great success; and now the project partners have the pleasure of sharing with you the stages of this 2022...
2️⃣ The second meeting: “digital garden”
They are increasingly taking shape: digital greenhouses are now something real and tangible. It seems impossible, yet it is true: look at this orchid how lush it is!
The course on 3D printing and electronics for people over 65, the project’s target audience, attracted a lot of interest among the participants, who smiled and were amazed at how environment and technology are not so distant worlds.
3️⃣ The third meeting: smarphone
“Turn off the Bluetooth, and turn on the Wi-FI”.
“I don’t understand why this app doesn’t give me notifications”
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, App… so many new terms but what do they mean. Now entering the common vocabulary, these neologisms are the order of the day. How to use them, and what their function is, is not always so straightforward, which is why targeted training on the subject of smartphones was organised as part of the “Impariamo il Domani” project.
Thanks to the lecturer’s explanations and advice, the participants were able to find out more about the different functions possible within their mobile phones and thus optimise their use.
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“Impariamo il Domani” saw the five partners (ALDA+, Fabcube, Verona fablab, Megahub Association, Marano solidarity) engaged in various activities aimed at promoting inter- or intra-generational training for the over-65s. This year’s events focused on two major themes: green and digital, through interactive and participatory courses; from the creation of ‘digital greenhouses’ to the use of smartphones.
The activities organised at MegaHub in Schio, are free training opportunities, organised in collaboration with Samarcanda Cooperativa Sociale Onlus et de Veneto Region
Advisory Board de l'ALDA : postulez et devenez notre expert interne
Depuis 1999, l'ALDA s'efforce de promouvoir et d'encourager l'engagement civique en tant que clé de la création d'une réalité démocratique et participative. Elle est guidée par son Governing Board, dont le rôle est de définir les étapes et la voie futures de l'association.
Au vu de son grand engagement tant au niveau local qu'international, l'ALDA a lancé un appel à manifestation d'intérêt, adressé aux membres, partenaires et experts externes. Cet appel consiste à identifier et sélectionner cinq candidats pour former le Advisory Board. Le rôle de ces derniers est de soutenir directement le Governing Board, en donnant des conseils techniques et en partageant des connaissances professionnelles.
Le Advisory Board se concentrera sur les domaines spécifiques suivants, conformément aux thèmes principaux de l'ALDA :
- Engagement des citoyens
- Environnement et climat
- Genre, inclusion et droits de l'homme
- Autonomisation des jeunes et éducation
- Migration
- Numérique et innovation
- Développement territorial et local
Le comité consultatif sera approuvé par le conseil de direction lors de sa session début mars 2023 et d'éventuels entretiens et échanges pourraient avoir lieu à cette occasion. Les candidats seront sélectionnés sur la base de leur expérience et de leur domaine d'intérêt. Ils seront considérés à titre personnel. Leur participation est pro bono et leurs frais seront remboursés en cas de réunions et de déplacements. Les réunions du comité consultatif se dérouleront en anglais ou en français uniquement.
Veuillez noter que l'appel ne s'adresse pas uniquement aux membres de l'ALDA, mais qu'il est ouvert à toute personne intéressée par le poste et par une contribution à la mission de l'ALDA.
To get more information, read the call for Interest and apply by March 31st, 2023.
Pour toute autre demande, veuillez écrire à : alda@alda-europe.eu.
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