Mese: Ottobre2014

More than 50 partners both from Macedonia and from Lower Normandy joined the first day of meetings in Caen (France), for the Annual Steering Committee in the framework of the Decentralised Cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia. Before launching the next year of the cooperation, October is dedicated to reflections, discussions and debates on the cooperation program, and the successful continuation of work in all areas. After the Strategic Orientation Committee between the institutional partners of the cooperation on October 17, 2014, the dates from October 21 to 23 were reserved for all the partners from the cooperation.

Around 30 partners and local authorities from Macedonia met their French colleagues, to discuss their work in the call for projects 2013-2014, the town twinning and the new branches of cooperation, such as memorial tourism, a new component in the cooperation born of the theme of memory and reconciliation.

The three days of dynamic work covered: the steering committee for partners and local authorities, trainings and workshops on different points of interest (UNESCO and EU Projects), as well as tailor-made missions and research visits for participants. As mentioned, these meetings were useful to make a review on all the activities for the 2013-2014 period, but also to determine a plan of action for the middle year of the three year program of decentralized cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia (for the period 2013-2016).

One of the core events in this mission was the visit to the major memorial sites in Normandy related to the Second World War and the meetings with local experts working on topics related to heritage and memory. Accompanied by the expertise of Lower Normandy in terms of valuation of the memorial heritage, one of the objectives of this mission was to encourage reflections on local development policy in Macedonia, especially around the theme of the First World War and enhancement of the historic sites of the same period.

The key meeting, held on October 17, 2014, in Caen, which preceded the Steering Committee, was the Strategic Orientation Meeting, held between the institutional partners of the cooperation. Chaired by the Regional Council of Lower Normandy, the Strategic Orientation Committee is an advisory body that aims to track the progress of cooperation, to identify the demands of the partnerships, and to meet the needs of the international politics of both territories.

Composed by the representatives of the Ministry of Local Self-governance of Macedonia, represented by the Minister Lirim Shabani, the Embassy of France in Macedonia, the Ambassador Laurence Auer, the Secretary General and Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, this meeting was coordinated by the Director of European Affairs and International Relations at the Lower Normandy Regional Council, Alexander Follot and Sabine Guichet-Lebailly, Head of international Cooperation and Mobility in the Region. At the meeting also assisted Sébastien Botreau-Bonneterre, Responsible for the institutional and technical cooperation in the Embassy of France in Macedonia and Ivana Dimitrovska, Manager of the Cooperation LN/MK Office in Skopje.

The members of the SOC reviewed and analyzed the key points of the past year, with an emphasis on the call for projects 2015-2016, which will be launched for the second time in the framework of the cooperation. The momentum that has been established by the new partnerships as a result of the previous call for project remains a priority for the future.

The annual meetings of partners have become something of a tradition for the participants. The obvious commitment and interest on both territories shows that the cooperation meets the global political and social interest and aims. We great the new partners and we continue our dynamic work with the old ones. After several years of working together a real bond of friendship has developed between the actors of the both territories. Following this, the October 2014 will be the month of professional and personal success for the Decentralised Cooperation LN/MK. You can also visit our day-to-day gallery of the event qui.

The Programme for Decentralized cooperation is coordinated by the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA). For further information please contact Ivana Dimitrovska

ivana.dimitrovska@aldaintranet.org

or visit the sito web of the Decentralized Cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia.

The Secretary General of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, met the Governing Board member, Maison de l’Europe de Caen, France. It was a good opportunity to meet the new Board and to identify together future steps of cooperation.

“Maison de l’Europe” de Caen has been for a long time involved in the Decentralised Cooperation programme Lower-Normandy/Macedonia, on the promotion of youth policies, and it has been partner of ALDA in many projects Europe for Citizens. The capacities of mobilizing citizens on the European values and to promote european identity are at the heart of their action. Maison de l’Europe is also chairing the Working group on Active Citizenship of ALDA.

Il 4 novembre 2014 parte il corso in Euro-progettazione 2014-2020 di ALDA dedicato a coloro che desiderano apprendere e/o migliorare le proprie competenze in tema di finanziamenti comunitari, al fine di accrescere le capacità di utilizzo dei Programmi Europei.
Durante il corso, i partecipanti impareranno a conoscere i programmi comunitari, reperire le informazioni necessarie e impostare una proposta progettuale.

Il corso si svolgerà in sette incontri (uno alla settimana) per un totale di 20 ore di formazione ( sei incontri di tre ore e l’ultimo di due).Gli incontri settimanali si terranno ogni martedì fino al 16 dicembre, presso la sede ALDA di Vicenza, Viale Milano 66, dalle ore 17.00 alle 20.00. Le iscrizioni sono aperte fino al 1 Novembre 2014.

Per ulteriori dettagli visitate la nostra pagina web dedicata, dove troverete maggiori informazioni sul programma, modalità di iscrizione e costi.

ALDA participated in the activities of Karşıyaka Municipality, in Turkey, in the framework of the European Local Democracy Week. Karşıyaka decided to give a strong focus on local democracy and citizen participation also by registering to the “12 Star City” initiative.

On the 13th and 14th of October, ALDA was present at the Policy Forum and Annual Planning for the 2015 activities of CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working with relief and development. Our organisation in an associated member of CONCORD and assumed a particular role in heading towards the European Year for Development 2015.The Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida, is the chair of the EPAN group – Enlargement, Pre Accession and Neighbourhood and Marco Boaria is in the Steering Committee preparing the EYD 2015.

This year, the presence of ALDA at the Congress Plenary Session in Strasbourg was particularly dedicated to introduce the new Delegate of the LDA Georgia to the different European stakeholders.

Nino Tvaltvadze, from our LDA in Kutaisi-Georgia, attended the three day sessions and had the opportunity to meet the representative of the city of Strasbourg, Nawel Rafik Elmrini, in charge of International Relations. The city of Strasbourg is partner leader of the LDA. The LDA Georgia has therefore been invited to attend the upcoming event of the Club de Strasbourg, in November, during the Forum for Democracy, which is one of the major event organised by the Council of Europe. Nino had the chance to meet other members of the European delegations present at the Congress, together with the Secretary General of ALDA and the head of the Strasbourg office, Mrs. Biljana Zasova.

Il Congress Session this time was dedicate to youth and their involvement in the life of the city.

Three years since Gianfranco Martini passed away.
I met him for the first time in the late 90’s, during a meeting of AICCRE, the Italian Association of Local Authorities. In that occasion, he told me about his decision to create ALDA, the Association that would connect the Local Democracy Agencies that were established in ex-Yugoslavia in the late ‘80s. Although we had different political views, an immediate feeling of mutual understanding rose between us, resulting from a shared certainty and commitment in promoting the democratic values that were- and are – at the base of Europe. Gianfranco was a convinced Europeist and he witnessed the gradual growth of Europe, through his roles as manager and president.

The 13 years at the head of ALDA were demanding but also stimulating, as our association grew and started to establish itself at an international level. He was a role model and a mentor for all of us. I would like to remember two qualities of his character that contribute to strengthen his image, a part from his deep commitment and the goals he achieved. First of all, his calmness. During the troubled meetings in our association, he was able to temper with his placidity all the difficult and critical situations, also the most unpleasant ones. He never lost his patience and this was probably facilitated by the respect his collaborators showed him.
Secondly, his irony: he had the ability and the intelligence to look at events and people, always finding a playful side; this allowed him to face adequately all the situations, including the most difficult ones. His jokes were never vulgar and they often closed his speeches in order to make them easier to be understood.
Those years were unforgettable, Gianfranco. And you are always with us.

Alessandro Perelli, ALDA Vice President.