On January 27th, 1945, 67 years ago, the German concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by the Russian Army, giving name to the International Holocaust Memorial Day on that date every year

The France-Balkans network held its annual steering committee in Brussels, in the Committee of the Regions on 24 January 2012. The French partners had the opportunity to discuss the recent decision by the Auvergne Regional Council to transfer the leadership to the Pays Vichy Auvergne.

LDAs Mostar and Central and Southern Serbia – Niš signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Fenomena from Kraljevo (Serbia) for the implementation of a project.

The positive results of the referendum in Croatia were expected. 66% of the voters supported the process of integration to the European Union that should take place in July 2013. Croatia will be the 28th member of the European Union.

ALDA and the Croatian LDAs, in the context of the EU referendum, encourage all the citizens in Croatia to take an active role and vote, thus bringing Croatia closer to the European Union than ever before.

A ELDW general meeting was held the 19th of January at the Council of Europe bureau in Paris. The aim was to assess the recent 2011 edition of the Week and to prepare the new 2012 edition.

LDA Osijek together with 13 associations from Osijek-Baranja County on the 18th January has organised a press conference on occasion of EU referendum in Croatia.

The Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs in Malta, Mr Carmelo Misfud Bonnici, attended to the final event of the project “STAND.UP: Strengthening Twinning and Networking for Development Agreements. United in Partnership” that has been held in Malta (16-17 January 2012).

Ms. Dzenana Dedic LDA Mostar) has been appointed as the new representative of the Delegates in the Governing Board of ALDA.

From 4th to 7th January 2012 Italian delegation composed of representatives of Montenero Di Bisaccia Municipality and their Pro Loco Association visited now already 5th Live Nativity manifestation in Aljmaš village in Eastern Croatia

The Delegates of the Western Balkans LDAs strongly call upon the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia who have formally expressed interest in participating, to speed up the procedure of joining the Europe for Citizens Programme.

ALDA has been nominated for the 5th Active Citizens of Europe (ACE) Awards, for his outstanding efforts on volunteering and active citizenship programmes.

The final event of the project “STAND.UP: Strengthening Twinning and Networking for Development Agreements. United in Partnership” will be held in Malta, on 16-17 of January 2012.

With a view to constant efforts of ALDA to improve its network performances, the first SEE LDA-s coordination and partnership building meeting was held in Nis – Serbia, 9/10 January 2012, hosted by the LDA Central Serbia team members.

The Governing Board of ALDA, which was held in Brussels on the 3rd of February, launched the programme 2012.
Despite the difficulties for local authorities and civil society (ALDA main partners), the organisation continues its positive trend in terms of activities and memberships.

The year 2011 is drawing to a close and we can again say that it has been an extremely busy and successful one for our Association.

Europe is much different now than at the beginning of the passed year. One could hardly say how much it will change in 2012. The financial crisis, which hit the economies of all the European States, and then afflicted so much the Eurozone, is now setting the agenda of all the European summits.