Local democracy in response to global challenges – an alliance between local authorities and civil society at the heart of the Europe of rights: Strasbourg

On August 23, 2023, ALDA Secretary General, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida met with Ms. Irène Weiss, Regional councillor in charge of cyber security for the Grand Est Region, and with Mr. Philippe Lacoste, diplomatic councillor to the Bas-Rhin Prefecture. During this meeting at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, ALDA officially presented and announced the activities of the project “Local democracy responding to global challenges – an alliance between local authorities and civil society at the heart of a Europe of rights: Strasbourg”, as part of the three-year contract “Strasbourg, European Capital 2021-2023”.

The project is financed by five institutions: the Bas-Rhin Prefecture, the Grand Est Region, the European Community of Alsace, the City of Strasbourg and the Strasbourg Eurometropole. Institutions whose daily work is aimed at strengthening democracy, stimulating citizen participation in the social and political life of the city and promoting good governance.

The idea behind the project stems from ALDA’s mission to promote good governance at the local level through capacity building of key actors

The idea behind the project stems from ALDA’s mission to promote good governance at the local level through capacity building of key actors such as local authorities and civil society organisations (CSOs), supporting dialogue between these actors and promoting active citizenship. Based in Strasbourg, within the Council of Europe. and created 22 years ago under the auspices of the Congress of Regional and Local Authorities of the CoE, ALDA is willing to make the most of the city’s role as European Capital of Democracy and to capitalise on existing innovative practices and policies in the area.

The partnership among ALDA and the institutions will be focused on helping to strengthen European principles and values such as democracy and active citizenship at local level; and contributing to strengthening Strasbourg’s role as a true European capital of democracy and as an open forum for democratic debate on the major challenges in Europe and the world.

Thanks to the support of regional and local authorities, ALDA is honoured to manage this project and carry out its initiatives until December 2023, drawing attention to the city of Strasbourg as a European and international centre for the promotion of democracy in the world.