On 2 May 2011 the host city of LDA Georgia, Kutaisi, celebrated its annual Day of the City. On this occasion ALDA was represented by the President, Per Vinther, accompanied by Ioseb Khakhaleishvili, Director of LDA Georgia.

“There is no democracy without local democracy”. It is what said Ambassador Constantin Yerocostopoulos, Head of the Council of Europe office in Azerbaijan, opening the workshop held by ALDA in Baku

In the framework of the Programme for decentralised cooperation between the Region Lower Normandy and Republic of North Macedonia, stakeholders from Lower Normandy met with the head of department for decentralised cooperation and human rights in Regional Council of Lower Normandy.

It was launched in Sacile (IT), with the first of three planned international meetings, the project WELCOME, “Water: Linking Cities Element, Merging Opportunity for Europe”.

The LDA Albania has a new Delegate, after the departure of Mr Franco Menga. The responsibility is assigned to Mr Francesco Fiera, who has been leading the office of Cooperation and Active Citizenship of the the City of Brindisi.

In the framework of the Programme for decentralised cooperation between the Region Lower Normandy and Republic of North Macedonia, Macedonian stakeholders met with the Project Officer for the decentralised cooperation from Lower Normandy in Prilep on April 21, 2011.

To ensure the progress of development of local self-government in Georgia and Bulgaria decisions and new laws must be turned into reality, because reforms don’t only remain de jure changes but also produce de facto changes.

To share best practices of good governance in European local administration for strengthening the development of the local government in South Caucasus.

Sicilian Region and ALDA promote a meeting with the mayors in Sicily on “Active citizenship and participation for local governance in the Mediterranean ” – Palermo 19th of April 2011

The aim of this visit was to study the system and functioning of the Youth Information Centers in this part of France, representatives of the municipalities Shtip and Strumica in order to get familiar with the model of Youth Information Center.

he Association of Local Democracy Agencies strongly supports the demand for democracy and respect for human rights in the Southern Mediterranean countries and condemns in particular the violence in Libya.

The Association of Local Democracy Agencies was present for the second time this year to the 2011 South-East Europe School for Local Democracy in Sarajevo, from April 7 to 11.

The co-operation of civil society with local authorities is an important prerequisite of democratic governance that could contribute to further stability and sustainable development in the Western Balkan region.

The director of ALDA, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, presented the Code of Good Practices for Civil Participation, promoted by the Conference of the INGOs of the Council of Europe, at the Association of Municipalities of Sweden (SALAR) on the 31st of May.

In cooperation with the French Cultural Center Nis and the Office for European Affairs of the City of Nis, with the support from the French Embassy in Belgrade, LDA CSS realised a series of screenings of films and debates on globalisation.

The Centre for New Initiatives in Arts and Culture Lokomotiva and The Regional Centre for Ethnology Culture and Techniques from Lower Normandy – CRCET are organising an Analysis and Strategic planning workshop for cultural development in the Pelagonija region.

The role of Local Democracy Agencies in the process of democratization in the Balkans and in the South Caucasus was underlined by Philippe Richert in his allocution to the 20th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

ALDA will participate to the second Assises of Decentralised Cooperation for development that will take place in Brussels on 29th and 30th of March, promoted by the Committee of the Region.