Mjesec: listopad2011

A delegation from the Municipality of Sciacca, consisting of the Deputy-Mayor, Carmelo Brunetto, the manager of the Economic Development Sector, Nando Rapisardi, accompanied by Paolo La Bella, entrepreneur, Diego Santaliana, ALDA, Ferhat Emil and Oya Otman, United Nations, went to Turkey to strengthen the friendship relationship with the Municipalities of Kirşehir and Mustafakemalpaşa.
This was the third step of an initiative launched at the beginning of the year in Turkey, which has also provided an exploratory mission of the Turkish authorities in Sciacca in early summer 2011.

The spa tourism, the use of the thermal sources to produce geothermal energy, cultural exchanges and trade were the main points of interest identified by Sciacca, Kirşehir and Mustafakemalpaşa Municipalities.
“We have laid the foundation – said the Deputy-Mayor Carmelo Brunetto – to build a bridge between our city and a friendly country, growing, attracted by our land, which has became a model of development to which Europe looks with great interest” .
Specifically, the partnership with the Turkish cities was formalized with a memorandum of cooperation in four areas.
Local economic development, with the aim to transform the economies of the cities from agriculture to services sector; to exchange information and technical expertise in the area of geothermal energy including illness treatments, wellness treatments and heating systems; to develop trade relations to foster and to promote the Municipalities’ respective leading sectors including, but not limited, to the area of food (dairy products, frozen food), agro-technology; dairy products technologies; vineyard technologies; textile; furniture; automotive spare parts; to build projects concerning environment and nature conservation.
Culture and Tourism, with the aim of the touristic promotion in the areas such as sea, ski-resorts, thermal tourism and history in the respective towns; the preservation of historical sites; the development of festival organisation skills; the promotion of local gastronomy; the development of joint participations to festivals in Italy and Turkey including exchange of artists and folkloristic groups, the exchange of students and mutual school visits, activities to promote civil society dialogue; youth related activities through the EACEA’s programmes (Lifelong Learning Programme, Eurydice, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Media, Culture, Europe for Citizens andYouth in Action).
EU Funds and Project Management, with the ultimate aim of contributing to further developing cooperation between Italy and Turkey (even through specific future twinning programmes Italy-Turkey).
Other areas, as municipal services: exchange of staff and best practices.
The Municipality of Sciacca, Kirşehir and Mustafakemalpaşa have identified the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (UMT) and ALDA as supervising organizations of the cooperation actions.
This initiative was made possible thanks to the project LAR II (Support for the further implementation of the Local Government Reform Programme in Turkey – Phase II) run by the United Nations, the Union of Municipalities of Turkey and the Ministry of Interior Turkey.
In the coming weeks (7th-9th October and 24th-29th October) the project LAR II foresees new meetings in Turkey with the signing of a further partnership agreement between the municipalities of Brindisi, Monfalcone, Karadeniz Eregli and Zonguldak.

“The reforms that the Croatian government will finalize in the next twenty months to prepare
the country to the European appointment in July 2013 should be shared with civil society,
and European institutions will continue to monitor the situation, which is essential for the
completion of the process act”.
The warning came without metaphor from Ambassador Paul Vandoren, Head of EU
Delegation in Zagreb, during the ceremony organized to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary
of the establishment, in Sisak, of the Local Democracy Agency.
Ambassador Vandoren has praised the work done by the ADL during these difficult years
and noted the level of cooperation with the municipal administration, which has led to
significant results, including the award of “12 star label” given by Congress of Local and
regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to the city of Sisak for his commitment to the
growth of local democracy.
“But the dialogue that exists today, especially at local level – stressed the Head of EU
delegation in Croatia – should evolve in a partnership, a prerequisite for social cohesion and
sharing of responsibility. We know that the Croatian government adopted new laws and
amended its constitution to not miss the opportunity of entry into the European Community,
but often the civil society is not consulted, and the Croatian the governors must remedy in
the coming months”.
It is not entirely a surprise, this position. It is known that for its entry in 2013, Zagreb will be
subject to close supervision because he has to finish the reforms demanded by Europe.
There is no doubt that the future accession of Croatia opens a new chapter for the countries
of Western Balkans with a European vocation, and that despite some “Euro skepticism” or
“Euro realism” as some call it, there is a high expectation in the completion of this process,
especially among the population.
The progress made by Croatia is evident. Sisak, the tenth city in Croatia with more than 55
000 inhabitants, capital of the Sisak Moslavina County, which borders with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, is an example of the progress reached in recent years and its image is very
different from the one of fifteen years ago when it was established the ADL.
The ruin of the conflict, particularly intense towards the borders with Slavonia, where the
Serbian troops created the Republic of Krajina, and Bosnia, are a distant memory and the
process of pacification and democratization has reached optimum levels.
“I am proud of the success of this ADL – stressed during the ceremony the Mayor of Sisak

Dinko Pintaric – and recognition of the 12 stars label to our city, despite being a small step
for European democracy, is a great step for our beautiful Sisak”.
At the official ceremony held on November 4, organized by the ADL, in cooperation with
ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, the Congress and the City, also
attended Barbara Toce, member of the Congress and Deputy Mayor of Pedaso (I), the
Ambassador of Belgium to Croatia, Nancy Adeline Marie Rossignol, the Ambassador of
Norway to Croatia, Henrik Ofstad, Per Vinther, President of ALDA and Antonella Valmorbida,
Director of ALDA, as well as Diego Bottacin, Councilor of the Veneto Region, for many years
Mayor of Mogliano Veneto, at the time city lead partners of the LDA.
“During these fifteen years the LDA of Sisak has developed more than one hundred projects,
promoting values of tolerance, human rights, multiculturalism, cooperation, active citizenship
and combating discrimination, involving directly more than fifteen thousand people and
establishing itself as one of the key actors of the civil society in the democratic development
of the city and the Sisak Moslavina County” said Paula Rauzan President of the LDA.
The conference was also an occasion for thinking about the future of the three LDA now
active in Croatia (apart from Sisak, Osijek and Verteneglio-Brtonigla).
“With the accession of Croatia to Europe in 2013 – said Antonella Valmorbida, Director of
ALDA – the LDA of this country will no longer exist as they are now structured, and will
assume a new role. The experience will certainly be available for further growth of local
democracy and European values. “
The reflection on their future has been launched and there is time to define together with all
their partners form and content of the activity that they will develop once materialized the
entry into the EU.
In addition to the international conference, Sisak was selected by ALDA to host the Annual
LDAs Delegates meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Lead Partners Representatives of
the LDAs (3 – 5 November).

Mrs. Barbara Toce speech (public/allegati/20-LDA-SISAK-15- ANNIVERSARY- MRS-
BARBARA-TOCE-SPEECH.pdf)

Photogallery

LDA SISAK 15TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY (http://www.alda-
europe.eu/newSite/photogallery_dett.php?id=30)

LDA SISAK CONFERENCE (https://www.alda-europe.eu/newSite/photogallery_dett.php?
id=31)
SISAK CITY 12 STAR LABEL (https://www.alda-europe.eu/newSite/photogallery_dett.php?
id=32)

SISAK LDAS DELEGATES MEETING (http://www.alda-
europe.eu/newSite/photogallery_dett.php?id=33)

Video
Mr. Per Vinther, President of ALDA (http://youtu.be/yCgJs7mceUw)
Mr. Dinko Pintaric, Mayor of Sisak (http://youtu.be/LpYhPyLVYaI)

Mrs. Barbara Toce Member of the Congress (http://youtu.be/JE1CkeWIQqI)
Mr. Diego Bottacin, Veneto Region Councillor (http://youtu.be/0WRXBZJqVbo)
Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA (http://youtu.be/GptUzRJYqtc)

ALDA will take part in the First World Forum of Local Development Agencies “Territory, Economy and Governance: New Glances in Changing Times” on 5-7 October 2011 in Seville, Spain. The event, organised by the Andalusian Employment Service (Junta de Andalucía), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-ART Initiative and the Andalusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidarity, in co-operation with the Seville County Council and City of Seville, will bring together Local Development Agencies from around the world.

This Forum aims at creating a space for reflection for local development actors and facilitate new perspectives, with a view to promoting networking and strategies tailored to the current global context with a human solidarity and sustainable development approach. Particularly, ALDA will participate, in the person of Mr. Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager of the Association, to the workshops “Public Policies for Territorial Development” and “Local Development, Decentralisation and Governance. The Role of International Co-operation”.
In this way, ALDA will contribute to prepare an agreed set of local development ideas and contents to be explored in a theoretical framework and will take part in producing training materials that shall be the basis for building the capacity of local development professionals. In this framework ALDA will promote the role and the experience of LDAs as Local Development Agencies active in the Balkans and in Caucasus.

For any further information visit
http://www.foromundialadel.org

“Twinnings between Municipalities have paved the way to concept of decentralised cooperation and local government engagement at the international level. They need to become operational in a political and general framework”, stated Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director, in her intervention at the general meeting on Twinning between municipalities.
The Congress was organised in Rybnik, Poland, (29 September – 1 October) by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), in partnership with the Association of Polish Cities, a CEMR member association, and the City of Rybnik, with the financial support of the European Commission and under the patronage of the Polish EU presidency.

The event was attended by more than 300 participants from 31 countries all over Europe. It focused on the methods of Twinning in building the european  citizenship and further enlargement.
The Association of the Local Democracy Agencies was associated to this event and participated in the workshop on Europe XXL. The workshop was moderated by M. Tansel Kaya, member of the Municipality Assembly of Istanbul.
In her speech the Director of ALDA, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida also stated that “there is no shared development and democratic processes without a process of decentralisation based on functioning local authorities and participative and strong civil society. It is a process sine qua  non, because peace, stability and growth need this element. A centralised and monolithic state does not have a chance. Even in the centralised countries (China), forms of autonomy and decentralisation (called in a different way) are necessary”.
Twinning between Municipalities make it possible to obtain an improvement of the capacity of public services, the development of cross-border cooperation projects and new forms of territorial cooperation upon which are based the majority of European policies, including those on social cohesion and development, and support administrative reform in transitional countries.
“The role of local and regional authorities –said Mrs. Valmobrida- is fundamental in transitional (east and now south) countries (like all the former CIS countries) and the practice of twinning/city to city cooperation is an additional element for institutional building. Many countries and areas are trying to find figure out their way : we need to strongly support democratic process, local democracy and civil society. It is for the benefit for us all, not only for stabilising our borders but also for strengthening our values – in Europe – and what we believe in”.

ALDA ALL’ASSEMBLEA GENERALE SUI GEMELLAGGI TRA CITTA’. 29 Settembre-1 Ottobre 2011, Rybnik (PL)

“I gemellaggi tra Comuni hanno spianato la strada alla cooperazione decentrata e all’impegno delle amministrazioni locali a livello internazionale. Ora hanno bisogno di diventare operativi in un quadro politico generale”, ha dichiarato Antonella Valmorbida, Direttrice di ALDA, nel suo intervento all’Assemblea generale dei gemellaggi tra i comuni.
L’evento è stato organizzato a Rybnik, Polonia, (29 settembre – 1 ottobre) dal Consiglio dei Comuni e delle Regioni d’Europa (CCRE), in collaborazione con l’Associazione delle Città polacche, associata al CCRE, e con la città di Rybnik, con il sostegno finanziario della Commissione europea e sotto il patrocinio della presidenza polacca dell’UE.

L’Assemblea ha visto la presenza di oltre 300 partecipanti provenienti da 31 paesi in tutta Europa. Si è concentrata sui metodi di gemellaggio nella costruzione della cittadinanza europea e in vista di un ulteriore allargamento.
ALDA ha partecipato all’evento, e in particolare al seminario sull’Europa XXL. Il workshop è stato moderato da M. Tansel Kaya, membro dell’Assemblea Comune di Istanbul.
Nel suo discorso, la Direttrice di ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, ha anche affermato che “non ci possono essere sviluppo condiviso e processi democratici senza che sia avviato un processo di decentramento basato sul buon funzionamento degli enti locali e su una forte partecipazione della società civile. Si tratta di un processo sine qua non, perché la pace, la stabilità e la crescita hanno bisogno di questo elemento. Uno stato centralizzato e monolitico non ha alcuna possibilità di contribuire ad esso. Anche nei paesi centralizzati, come la Cina, forme di autonomia e decentramento, anche chiamate in modo diverso, sono necessarie”.
I gemellaggi tra Comuni consentono di ottenere un miglioramento della capacità dei servizi pubblici, lo sviluppo di progetti transfrontalieri di cooperazione e nuove forme di cooperazione territoriale su cui si basano la maggior parte delle politiche europee, comprese quelle in materia di coesione sociale e sviluppo, ed il sostegno alla riforma amministrativa nei paesi di transizione.
“Il ruolo delle autorità locali e regionali- ha detto Antonella Valmorbida- è fondamentale nei paesi in fase di transizione (come tutti i paesi ex CSI) e la pratica del gemellaggio e della cooperazione tra città è un ulteriore elemento per la costruzione istituzionale. Molti paesi e aree stanno cercando di trovare la propria strada: dobbiamo sostenere con forza questo processo democratico, la democrazia locale e la società civile. Dobbiamo farlo per creare un vantaggio a tutti noi, non solo per stabilizzare i nostri confini, e anche per rafforzare i valori europei, ciò in cui crediamo “.

DU 29 SEPTEMBRE AU 1 OCTOBRE 2011, L’AADL A LA REUNION GENERALE DE RYBNIK (EN POLOGNE) SUR LE JUMELAGE DE VILLES

« Le jumelage de villes a préparé les esprits pour un débat au niveau international sur le concept de coopération décentralisée et sur la gouvernance locale. Les jumelages doivent être activés d’un point de vue politique et plus général » affirme Mme Antonella Valmorbida, Directrice de l’AADL, dans son discours à la réunion générale sur le « jumelage de villes ». Le Congrès a été organisé à Rybnik, en Pologne (du 29 septembre au 1 octobre), par le Conseil des communes et régions d’Europe (le CCRE), en collaboration avec l’Association des villes polonaises (association membre du CCRE) et la Ville de Rybnik. L’événement a été financé par la Commission européenne et il a été placé sous le patronage de la Présidence polonaise

Plus de 300 personnes de 31 pays européens ont participé à l’événement. Il s’est concentré sur les ressources du jumelage pour la construction de la citoyenneté européenne et des élargissements à venir. L’Association des agences de la démocratie locale a été un des associés et elle a participé à l’atelier sur « l’Europe XXL ». Le modérateur de l’atelier a été M. Tansel Kaya, membre de l’Assemblée des municipalités d’Istanbul.
Dans son discours, la Directrice de l’AADL, Mme A. Valmorbida, a affirmé « qu’on ne peut pas parler du développement général et du processus démocratique dans l’absence du processus de décentralisation, qui suppose des autorités locales opératives et une société civile puissante et participative. C’est un processus sine qua non car la paix, la stabilité et le développement ont besoin de la décentralisation. Un Etat centralisé et monolithique ne peut pas réussir. Même dans des pays centralisés comme la Chine, des formes d’autonomie et de décentralisation (appelées d’une autre manière) sont tout à fait nécessaires ». Le jumelage de villes permet l’amélioration des services publics, le développement des projets de coopération transfrontalière et des formes nouvelles de coopération, sur lesquels sont construites les politiques européennes (y compris les politiques de la cohésion sociale et du développement) et qui soutiennent la réforme administrative dans les pays en voie de transition. Mme Valmorbida a souligné « le rôle significatif des pouvoirs locaux et régionaux dans les pays (de l’Est et du Sud) en voie de transition (comme les pays de la CEI) et du jumelage (coopération entre les villes) pour la construction d’un environnement institutionnel stable. Un grand nombre de pays et de zones se trouvent à la recherche de solutions, raison pour laquelle nous devons soutenir le processus démocratique, la démocratie locale et la société civile. C’est pour notre bien, pour la stabilité de nos frontières et le renforcement de nos valeurs et convictions ».

29 сентября -1 октября 2011, Рыбник (Польша)

«Побратимство между муниципалитетами подготовило почву для концепции децентрализованного сотрудничества и деятельного участия местных органов самоуправления на международном уровне. Они должны начать функционировать в политическом и общем контексте», – заявила г-жа Антонелла Вальморбида, Директор Ассоциации ALDA, в своем незапланированном выступлении на общем собрании по побратимству между муниципалитетами.
Конгресс был организован в г. Рыбник, Польша (29 сентября – 1 октября), Советом  европейских муниципалитетов и регионов (CEMR) с участием Ассоциации польских городов, члена CEMR, и города Рыбник при финансовой поддержке Европейской комиссии и под патронажем председательства Польши в ЕС.

Более 300 участников со всей Европы посетило данное мероприятие. Оно было сфокусировано на методах побратимства при строительстве европейского гражданства и дальнейшего расширения.
Ассоциация агентств местной демократии присоединилась к этому мероприятию и приняла  участие в работе семинара о Европе XXL. Семинаром руководил г-н Тансел Кая (Tansel Kaya), член Ассамблеи муниципалитетов Стамбула.
В своей речи г-жа Антонелла Вальморбида, Директор Ассоциации ALDA, также сказала, что «нет общего развития и демократических процессов без процесса децентрализации, основанного на функционировании органов местного самоуправления с участием сильного гражданского общества. Это процесс sinequanon, поскольку мир, стабильность и рост нуждаются в этом элементе. У централизованного и монолитного государства нет шанса. Даже для централизованных стран (Китай) необходимы формы автономии и децентрализации (называемых по-другому)».
Побратимство между муниципалитетами позволяет добиться улучшения потенциала правительственных служб, развития проектов по сотрудничеству в приграничных областях и новых форм территориальной кооперации, на которой основана большая часть европейских доктрин, включая доктрину о социальном сплочении и развитии, и поддержать административные реформы в переходных странах.
«Местные и региональные органы власти, – сказала г-жа Антонелла Вальморбида, – играют очень важную роль в переходных (восточных, а теперь и южных) странах (таких как все бывшие страны СНГ), и практика сотрудничества городов-побратимов является еще одной составляющей в деле институционного строительства. Многие страны и регионы стараются найти выход: мы должны решительно поддержать демократический процесс, местную демократию и гражданское общество. Это в интересах всех нас, не только для стабилизации наших границ, но также и для укрепления наших ценностей – в Европе – и того, во что мы верим».