Newsletter – n°23 – September 2013

Headlines

A delegation of PLATFORMA elected representatives had an exchange of views with the European Commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs, on the EU support to local authorities in partner countries.

The Commissioner explained that following the adoption of the communication “Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes” and according to the conclusions of the Council, the Commission was working on an action plan for the implementation of the principles detailed in the communication.

The PLATFORMA representatives welcomed this approach, and underlined the expertise that European local authorities and their associations could offer in view of capacity building of local and regional governments in partner countries. They also underlined the strategic need for the EU delegations and local authorities to work closer together. 

The meeting was held in the wings of the UCLG world congress in Rabat.

Earlier on, during the introductory plenary session, the Commissioner reminded the audience that, in 2007-2013, the European Union spent 250 million euros in support of local authorities and their associations. During the next period, an important effort is going to be made in order to make sure that the European aid given to central governments under sector budget support would also benefit local and regional authorities, wherever they are legally competent in the sectors concerned.

The delegation was composed of Pierre Schapira, Deputy Mayor of Paris (France) and PLATFORMA spokesperson, Annemarie Jorritsma, Mayor of Almere (Netherlands), President of VNG International and Co-president of the CEMR and Adolf Mwesigye, Minister of local government of Uganda and Vice President of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.