Newsletter – n°16 – November 2012

The world at a glance

During the first CORLEAP meeting (Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership) organised outside the EU, in Chisinau (Moldova) the assembly called for effective decentralisation and fiscal autonomy for cities and regions in Eastern Partnership countries.

In his opening address, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, President of the Committee of the Regions and CORLEAP co-chair stressed that, “greater political and fiscal autonomy for regional and local authorities is an important factor enabling multi-level governance to function effectively. Considerable attention should be paid to the need for fiscal decentralisation in the Eastern neighbourhood countries as a lack of financial autonomy may hinder their cities and regions to fully exercise their potential.”

Underlying that central governments fondness for keeping the lion’s share of EU support prevents local authorities from getting access to funds, Dorin Chirtoaca, mayor of Chisinau and co-chair of the CORLEAP, pleaded in favour of direct access to EU aid.

This meeting also gave the opportunity to PLATFORMA, represented by Romeo Stavarache, mayor of Bacau (Romania), to promote the local and regional authorities’ views in the field of development in the Eastern neighbourhood.

Advocating for the strong enforcement of the “more for more principle”, at the core of the European neighbourhood policy, CEMR vice-president and member of the Romanian Municipalities Association Steering Committee,stressed thatdecentralised cooperation provides an excellent framework to support the EU partner countries in their efforts to reform democratic system, to enforce the rule of law and to promote sustainable territorial development.

Finally Mr. Stavarache, highlighting the importance to adopt a result oriented approach, encouraged to bring out clear priorities in country strategy papers and to include key sectors where local authorities have specific competences.

More information can be found on the Committee of the Regions website.