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Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, took part in the Board meeting of Civicus in New York. ALDA joined Civicus – the world alliance for Citizens Participation in 2011 and in 2012, it became part of the Board.

The strategic plan were adopted and it is now time to put it in place to support Civic space for civil society around the world. The Association of the Local Democracy Agencies is bringing its added value in terms of local governance and dialogue between local authorities and civil society.
The new Secretary General, Danny Sriskandarajah, confirmed the interest of Civicus to work with ALDA on this topics.
This week, the Director of Outreach of ALDA, M. Henri Valot, will be key speaker at the workshop of ALDA at the Assises of International Decentralised Cooperation in Brussels.

For Civicus : www.civicus.org
Join Civicus : http://civicus.org/get-involved-128/join-civicus/join-civicus-now

In the photo, from the left:
Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General of Civicus
Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda (Vice Chair) of Civicus, World YWCA, Geneva

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Final conference of the project “The European and Our Affairs”, called “Youth in Action for EU” was held Thursday, the 4th April 2013, starting at 11.00am, in the Town hall Zavidovici.
This conference will mark the completion of activities that have lasted a year, in the Zenica region and local communities Zavidovici and Zepce, whose goal was to increase awareness about the EU enlargement and pre-accession aid, with special emphasis on the role of local governments and civil society in reform processes.

Activities of the project were to strengthen local capacity, public promotion, exchange of knowledge that included various aspects of local society, and among priority target groups are local governments, businesses, nongovernmental organisations, local media and youth. The proposed trainings, public promotion activities, exchange of best practice included in the programme served as a learning opportunity for stakeholders, but also as a way to dispel the myths and stereotypes related to EU integration.
Present at the conference, among whom there was a lot of young people, were first addressed by Stanka Parać Damjanović, Regional Programmes Coordinator of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies. This was followed by a brief presentation of the project, implemented activities and the results achieved, prepared by Jasna Zvekić from LDA Zavidovici.
The guest speaker at the conference was Ms. Juliana Tesija, from the Center for Peace and Nonviolence in Osijek, Croatia. She has prepared a short presentation on the challenges and experiences of civil society and local self-governments regarding the forthcoming accession of Croatia to the European Union.
During the morning hours, before the final conference, at the same location, the finals of the “EU quiz” for high school students was held. To remind ourselves, the first phase of this project activity was held on 25 and 26 March 2013, in the three schools in the area of Zavidovići and Žepče.
18 students who have shown the best knowledge had the opportunity to take part in the EU quiz and win valuable prizes: a laptop, a digital camera, and a gift package of computer equipment were prizes for the top three places.
The final event of the project “European and our work” was concluded by the proclamation of the winners of the „EU quiz”, while the prizes were awarded by Mr. Suad Omerasevic the Mayor of Zavidovići, who greeted the participants and congratulated the organisers of the conference.

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Stemming from the kind invitation of the Euro Mediterranean Scientific and Biomedical Institute (ISBEM), Marco Boaria, ALDA Resource and Development Union Coordinator, and Aldo Xhani, ALDA Project Manager, travelled to Brindisi to meet with Prof. Alessandro Distante and Dr. Prisco Piscitelli in order to coordinate the activities of the joint project COHEIRS.

The meeting took place at ISBEM’s headquarters in Mesagne on 27-28 March 2013 and was an important occasion to discuss the methodology and the action plan of the project whose kick-off is foreseen for April, 15 as well as all relevant details for launching the first activity.

The project brings together 17 partners from 12 different countries in wider Europe and aims at supporting active participation of citizens in the EU democratic life and more specifically in the implementation of the precautionary principles, as detailed in Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (EU), through the establishment of citizens panels focused on health and environment. These groups of “civic observers”, duly supported and guided, will monitor the condition of the environment by paying special attention to those violations and misconducts directly or collaterally threatening the public health. At the same time, they will be progressively inscribed and involved in an international network, which will support their efforts, advocate on their behalf at the EU level and coordinate the drafting of recommendations to be addressed to the relevant local, national and European decision makers.

The meeting was also an opportunity to introduce ALDA to a broad range of local actors such as local authorities and civil society organisations committed on active citizenship and environmental issues and to showcase the Europe for Citizens programme. The presentation gave the input for exchanging with the participants on concrete ideas and tools enabling an efficient and effective implementation of the project as well as on several other environmental issues and potential future project ideas. As coordinators of the project, ALDA and ISBEM agreed on a detailed action plan to be submitted later on to the whole partnership for further feedbacks.

ALDA delegation was particularly pleased of being informed of the relevant role that ISBEM plays at the local level in endorsing the local youth and in providing them with a fecund environment for unleashing their potential. Indeed, it is within this context that local youngsters find the tools in terms of knowledge, experience, support and networks for developing a professional life and tackling phenomena of strong impact in the region such as youth unemployment and migration. The two days’ coordination meeting was further enriched by a guided visit of Mesagne’s city centre and accompanied by concrete features of the depopulation issue strongly affecting the area.

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As part of its strategy towards the Eastern Partnership countries, ALDA decided to establish a Local Democracy Agency (LDA) in Ukraine, aiming at furthering local self-governance and citizen participation collaboration with local authorities in the region.

Following the 24th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, a partner meeting for the forthcoming opening of the LDA Dnipropetrovsk in the south western part of Ukraine was held on March 21.
More than twenty participants gathered, among which large number of Ukrainian local authorities representatives, and the region of Lower Silesia (Poland) certified as a lead partner. Enrico Vannucci, Head of the External Relations and Thematic Priorities Division at the Congress, opened the meeting reiterating the full support of the Congress to this initiative and to the LDAs network. A roundtable provided the opportunity to exchange views, best practices and knowledge, and above all to reflect on more future steps for the establishment of the LDA Dnipropetrovsk.
Speakers included Bartlomiej Ostrowski, Director of the International cooperation and projects Unit for the Lower Silesia Brussels-based office, who shared Lower Silesia’s past and current activities in Ukraine. Also, Dobrica Milovanovic, Deputy Mayor of the city of Kragujevac (Serbia) and Governing Board member of ALDA who could provide an insight on the experience of setting up local democracy agencies and their functioning. Eugen Udod, President of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Parliament, told via a video intervention about Dnipropetrovsk’s strong commitment to the LDA and the work already conducted by Dnipropetrovsk to improve citizen participation and local democracy. Sergiy Malikov, President of the State Foundation for Local Self Government in Ukraine, stressed the importance of Ukraine’s integration to Europe, and the challenges and opportunities which are triggered by this process in general and for the LDA.

LDA Dnipropetrovsk is expected to open this autumn. The opening of an LDA in Ukraine by the end of this year would be particularly meaningful as the potential signing of the Association Agreement between EU-Ukraine is expected to take place in November.

Despite the strong commitment of the current confirmed partners, there is still a need to find more partners and this will be decisive for the speed of the process of opening the LDA. Future initiatives could include the opening of more LDAs in Ukraine especially as it is the most populated of the EaP countries. Additional partners would thus open the doors for future additional cooperation.
In late April Dnipropetrovsk will host a conference on Eastern Partnership organised by the Assembly of European Regions, and this event will also be the opportunity to involve additional partners and discuss operational aspect for the LDA in Dnipropetrovsk.

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Within the framework of the project Un-conventional constitution, led by the Directorate of Youth Policy of the Municipality of Vicenza and focused on a comparative analysis of constitutional charters, a group of 36 young Italians aged 16-30 met with ALDA’s staff of the Strasbourg office on Monday, 18 March.

The meeting took place in conjunction with the plenary session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and was an occasion of visiting ALDA’s stand and being informed on the activities of the organisation.

The Un-conventional constitution project, funded by Regione Veneto (Italy), aimed at fostering the engagement, the social inclusion and active citizenship of young people. It was an opportunity for all the students of the Vicenza high schools to debate and share views on the constitutional texts of Italy, USA, China and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union by applying creative and artistic approaches. The authors of the best analysis were granted the opportunity of a 4 days’ visit to Strasbourg, capital of Europe.

Aldo Xhani, ALDA project manager, welcomed the participants at ALDA’s headquarters in the Council of Europe and provided them with a general overview of the organisation’s main traits and of its role of renowned European stakeholder in the promotion of good governance and citizen participation at the local level. Focus was put on ALDA’s distinctiveness of bringing together local authorities and CSOs and on the wide geographical area covered by its activities such as wider Europe, the Caucasus and Northern Africa.

The introduction was followed by a questions and answers session in which the participants required further information on the possibilities of a major impact as regards the development of democracy in Northern Africa as well as on concrete examples of European projects. As for the latter, the interest focused in particular on European programmes such as Youth in Action and Europe for Citizens, with special attention on the project management cycle. POPEYE, granted by the European Commission in 2012 and whose implementation phase has been launched this March, was showcased as a concrete ALDA project in the youth field, coping with a topic of strong impact such as youth employment in rural areas.

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ALDA, in cooperation with European Federalist Movement – Vicenza and the local organisation InsiemEuropa, organises the event “From the Treaty of Rome to the European Citizenship”, taking place at Vicenza City Hall.
The event, organised with the patronage of the Municipality of Vicenza and Veneto Region, wants to celebrate the 56th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, on the 25th March 1957, instituting the European Economic Community and the EURATOM, and launching the European integration’s proces

The main goal of the events is to raise awareness on the European integration process, till nowadays. In particular, great importance will be given to the theme of citizenship, through the presence during the conference of Ms Costanza Margiotta, Professor at the University of Padua.
ALDA Director, Mrs Antonella Valmorbida, will open the conference, presenting the initiative and the commitment of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies in the promotion of the European integration and in the spread of European values. Also the mayor of Vicenza, Mr Achille Variati, will be one of the speakers of the conference.
The conference foresees also a public debate, in order to exchange opinions and ideas, related to European integration.
To the conference all municipalities of the Province of Vicenza, several local authorities of Veneto Region, the new elected Parliamentarian from the province of Vicenza, representatives of the Veneto Region’s Council, the representatives of trade organisations.
The event will be organised in the framework of the initiatives promoted by the Italian Alliance of the European Year of Citizens 2013.

ALDA Director among the speakers of the Conference “From the Treaty of Rome to the European Citizenship”

The Conference “From the Treaty of Rome to the European Citizenship” was held in the “Sala Stucchi” of Vicenza City-Hall. The event, which obtained the patronage of Veneto Region and of Vicenza Municipality, was organised thanks to the collaboration between ALDA, European Federalist Movement – Vicenza, and the Association InsiemEuropa, and it was one of the initiatives, promoted in the framework of the Italian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens.

To the event, two Regional Council Members, Mr Stefano Fracasso and Mr Giuseppe Berlato Sella, the mayor of Torri di Quartesolo Mr Diego Marchioro, the mayor of Lonigo Mr Giuseppe Boschetto, some delegates of the Municipality of Vicenza, and several representatives of local CSOs participated to the initiative.

The event began with the presence of the Mayor of Vicenza, Mr Achille Variati, who affirmed that the Treaty of Rome launched the European integration, and that we have witnessed to the passage from an “Economic Europe” to a “Europe of Citizenship”, in view of the creation of the United States of Europe.

Besides he stressed that nowadays young people are European, hence the institutions have to believe in Europe. Today the problem is that governments and Member States continue to keep much power and the return to nation-state is a mistake.

Finally he affirmed that the concept of citizenship implies the dialogue, the inclusion and the future: that is why politics and political parties have to reflect and talk about that.

ALDA Director, Mrs Antonella Valmorbida, stated that it is a great error do not debate the issue of the European citizenship, a project that has not been consolidated in Europe yet: if the European integration and the creation of the European Union has been a success, the obstacle is institutional, namely there is a citizenship, but there is not a federation.

Besides, another problem affects the lack of European identity: as ALDA Director argued “When we talk about European identity, we want to base the notion on the EU, whereas the concept is more wide-spreading. How can we exclude the Balkans from Europe? Indeed, the citizenship is related to an institutional level, but the identity concerns other levels”

As the matter of fact, Mrs Valmorbida dwells that since the end of the IIWW we have created the European identity, as a common destiny, the same Weltanschaung. In particular, the European have never approached to continental diversity as a problem: Europe is the area of respect and protection of human rights. Therefore the dimensions of equity, of social-welfare, of mobility, of communication and knowledge of foreign languages is typically European.

Today, at institutional level we do not have a democratic process: indeed we urge a democratisation of the EU Institutions, in particular the role of European Parliament needs to be reinforced and the European Commission should be reformed. As everyone can notice, the EU is a laboratory, which has successfully subdued states’ competencies.

Finally, ALDA Director mentioned the Chart of European Identity: society and education systems should launch a path, in order to put into effect the “Union in the diversity”, as Mr Jacques Delors wished for.

In the last part of the conference there was a public debate, where the attendees insisted on the necessity of promoting the common European identity, creating a common path, on the example of the process of national identity building.

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In the framework of the Grundtvig In Service Training Programme of the European Commission, ALDA organised the training course for participants coming from 6 different countries working on citizen participation and local democracy.

The course was aimed to provide for all candidates a deeper knowledge about the concept of active citizenship and civil dialogues in the European context and increase awareness of the role they can play in improving governance and relationships between citizens and governments at all levels.
The training last 5 days and the participants received practical information on the existing funding opportunities and mainly on the Europe for Citizens Programme. They have focused also on project cycle management and the development of joint project proposals. The training included a visit to the Conference of NGOs in the Council of Europe, the intervention of an expert on the Code of Practice and the contribution of an expert on Strasbourg policies on participatory democracy.
The training was also the opportunity to analyse the main issues of citizen participation and the importance of reducing the gap between institutions and civil society.

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ALDA, as initiator of the Italian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens and member of the Steering Committee of the European Alliance, was invited to participate to the three-day event “Proposta 2013”, organised by the Italian National Youth Forum. Alfonso Aliberti, ALDA Project Manager and recently appointed as board member of the Advisory Youth Council at Civicus took part to the round table on European Citizenship.

About 150 young people, coming from 5 different countries debated on European topics, headed by some national and international experts. The main topic of this annual event was “Citizenship”, according to EC’s decision to declare 2013, the European Year of Citizens.

The main intention was to focus on three issues, which was discussed in three round-tables:

  • Youth Citizens and Participation;
  • Immigration, Citizenship and Participation;
  • European Citizenship.

The three round-tables offered to participants the possibility of debating, confronting, and exchanging ideas on Citizenship’s matters. Moreover, the promoters decided to add an additional round-table, focusing on “Civil Service for everyone “.

In particular, the event represented the opportunity to discuss the theme of immigrants’ naturalisation, which is strongly related to European citizenship. Indeed, according to EUROSTAT data 2011, the organisers showed that about one third of immigrants, living and working in EU’s member States have obtained the citizenship in their respective destination country.

Besides the event offered the opportunity to analyse the issue of European sense of ownership, which is very high among the population of some countries, such as Luxembourg, Finland and Germany, and lower in other ones.

Local experience and practices presented in the seminars have shown the importance and need for more structured regional co-operation and exchange among the legislators, policy/decision makers and respective institutions, while particular attention is needed to further institutional and organisational capacity building in the field of managing and administering the confiscated property. Follow-up co-operation and communication between the SAPUCCA partners and local stakeholders were strongly supported by the participants.

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A series of three seminars were held gathering more than one hundred local participants tackling a wide range of issues related with the legislation and practice in confiscating and administering property acquired from criminal activity in selected Western Balkan countries – Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro.

Comparative experience and local practices were presented by the institutional representatives from respective countries including Prosecutors’ Offices for organised crime, Police Departments for organised crime investigation, Government Offices for administering the confiscated property, Tax Administration offices, Anticorruption Agencies, Research institutes, civil society organisations and local media.

The key note speakers in introductory panels were the project partners led by the Province of Caserta, Department for Community Programmes represented by Mr. Francesco Paolo De Felice, and Mr. Mario Battello, General manager of TECLA Association, while an important contribution to promoting the achievements through bilateral and regional co-operation programmes in this field was made by the Ambassadors: Mr. Armando Varricchio, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Serbia, Mr. Fabio Cristiani, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Macedonia, Mr. Sergio Barbanti, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Montenegro, Mrs Maja Nikolova Dobreva, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Montenegro, Mr. Aleksandar Jordanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Macedonia.

Local experience and practices presented in the seminars have shown the importance and need for more structured regional co-operation and exchange among the legislators, policy/decision makers and respective institutions, while particular attention is needed to further institutional and organisational capacity building in the field of managing and administering the confiscated property. Follow-up co-operation and communication between the SAPUCCA partners and local stakeholders were strongly supported by the participants.

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The project Youth Employment and Participation (YEP) gathered 42 young people coming from France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Croatia. It aimed at linking young people unemployment challenge and the crucial role of their participation to make things move and find solutions.

From 18th to 22nd February, ALDA held a transnational seminar in Strasbourg about Youth Employment and Participation within the framework of its YEP project. This project was co-funded by the European Commission under the Youth in Action Programme.
The main subject of this seminar was the discussion of the situation of youth employment in participants’ countries and alternative ways to tackle this issue such as youth collective actions defending young people’s right to find a job. Therefore, the project also consisted in exchanges of good practices, transmission of tools enabling young people to become more active in public sphere and aimed at facilitating the creation of new contacts between participants for future cooperations. In addition, the project had as cross-cutting features the understanding of the importance of the main European values, such as promotion of multiculturalism and tolerance. As a result participants had the possibility to practice their intercultural skills, to extend their network and to acquire tools to develop a structured and efficient dialogue with stakeholders related to youth policy. Being active shapers of the future of their own communities and of Europe, the participants got all necessary tools to contribute to the development of their societies and struggle against unemployment. The whole project helped the participants to develop skills and competences that they would be able to use during all their life.

Icebreakers, energisers, intercultural activities, working groups (in-door activities) and excursions at the Council of Europe and in Strasbourg city center (out-door activities) allowed the active involvement of the participants during this week. In addition, daily inputs from participants and trainers, a presentation about the European programme Youth in Action and exercises in transnational group about ways to encourage young people to participate in the social and political life and to plan collective action to defend the right of youth to employment provided participants with necessary knowledge to draft recommendations and action plan for initiatives at local, national and European levels aiming at increasing the youth’ opportunities to find a job.

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On 18 February, the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) plenary session took place in Brussels at the Committee of the Regions. ARLEM’s commitment is supported by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the European Investment Bank and the European Commission. Together with representatives of those bodies, the plenary gathered local and regional politicians. Peter Sondergaard, ALDA Senior Policy Officer, represented ALDA as observer.

The focus was put on regional cooperation and local democracy as keys to secure the transition process in the Mediterranean. Participants agreed that a pragmatic approach was necessary to launch concrete action in the perspective of the strengthening of the institutional capacity of local and regional actors.

ARLEM’s objectives for 2013 were approved by the plenary with the adoption of the report on the territorial dimension of the UfM, focusing on three priorities: consolidating decentralisation and regionalisation; acting to ensure that UfM’s priorities include a territorial dimension; and contributing to the development of a macro-regional strategy and cohesion policy in the Euromed area. All members expressed a clear interest in developing ARLEM’s objectives, and continued to highlight various further issues such as employment, human capital and labour mobility, notably in the context of the EU’s external relations policy.

The ARLEM plenary session confirmed that ALDA has a very relevant role to play in the Mediterranean area and ALDA will propose a closer cooperation with ARLEM in the future, especially with an aim to support the establishment of Local Democracy Agencies in the Mediterranean area at a later stage.

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The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) has decided to set up an annual scholarship in memory of its Honorary President, Gianfranco Martini, who passed away in October 2012. Gianfranco Martini was among the initiators of the concept of Local Democracy Agencies and became the first President of ALDA when it was founded in 1999.

Throughout his active life Gianfranco Martini remained passionate about the promotion of local democracy, the engagement of civil society and the encouragement of interethnic dialogue in Europe with a particular focus on the Western Balkans.

Following a widely disseminated call for applications within Europe, ALDA will once a year award a scholarship to a student or researcher proposing a study or work project dealing with the topics local democracy, engagement of civil society and/or interethnic dialogue.

The objective is to receive high-quality academic research and analysis for ALDA’s fields of activity in order to develop strategies on how to further promote local democracy, engage civil society and strengthen interethnic dialogue.

To know more about the scholarship please see the document at the following LINK .

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On 29 January, ALDA held a meeting at the Committee of the Regions together with the Region of Lower Silesia (PL) and the Region of Dnipropetrovsk (UA) to discuss the opening of a Local Democracy Agency (LDA) in Ukraine. An LDA in Ukraine would operate as a locally registered NGO and would function as a coordinating and stimulating agency for the local society with the support of civil society and local authorities from Europe.

The meeting opened with presentations from all three sides. Lower Silesia is one of the richest regions of Poland and has a twinning arrangement with among others the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in Ukraine. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast is also one of the most developed, industrialised regions in Ukraine and is very interested in establishing an LDA in their region as this would fit to other initiatives they have taken to promote the development of local government and citizen participation in the region.

ALDA presented best practice examples of other Local Democracy Agencies and details of how an LDA operates. The Dnipropetrovsk region was identified as a good place to set up an LDA in order to boost the development of local communities, local democracy and citizen participation in the region.

All partners showed a very strong interest in the project and agreed to work further on it in order to aim at opening an LDA in Dnipropetrovsk before the end of 2013. Lower Silesia offered to be the lead partner of the LDA. Furthermore, the NGO Eastern Europe Foundation was identified as a good local partner.

A working group with ALDA, Lower Silesia and Dnipropetrovsk was set up to move on with the project and as a first step the group will be to actively search for more partners to ensure further support. The following meeting is expected to take place in April in Dnipropetrovsk.

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On December 13, 2012 ALDA together with the Congress of the Council of Europe organised a hearing on Local democracy in Azerbaijan, held at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. It was a follow-up to the monitoring report on local and regional democracy in Azerbaijan that was adopted by the Congress of the Council of Europe on October 17, 2012.

Key experts such as representatives from the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Committee of the Regions and BINA – NGO Alliance for municipality development in Azerbaijan as well as one of the Rapporteurs of the Congress monitoring report contributed to the event together with Brussels based stakeholders.

At the hearing the main problems that limit the development of local democracy in Azerbaijan were identified as well as general recommendations and specific suggestions to the European institutions on how to develop local democracy in the country were given. The conclusions and a description of the follow-up after the hearing can be found here.

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M. Danny Sriskandarajah, new Secretary General of CIVICUS – The world Alliance for Citizens’ Participation – visited the office of ALDA in Brussels on the 31th of January and met the Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, and the Policy officer, Peter Sondergaard.

Danny was accompanied by Mark Mark Nowottny, working in Civicus for the Board members. The visit of Civicus representatives was important to identify a common approach towards the European Institutions in terms of lobbying and funding. For ALDA, member of the Board of Civicus since 2012 with the participation of Antonella Valmorbida, the focus is to raise the issue of local governance and local democracy within the priorities of Civicus, which is operating around the globe. As for Civicus, they could find in our organisation a reliable and strong part in Europe and the Neighbouring countries. The meeting paved the way for a good cooperation.
Recently, Alfonso Aliberti, staff member of ALDA, has been appointed in the Youth Advisory Council of Civicus.

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The international conference “Migration and politics”, first international event of the project “My EU: young, equal, inclusive”, will be held in Brescia (Italy) from 1 to 3 February 2013.
This three-days event aims to analyse and develop the relation between migrants and politics in Italy.

A set of activities is foreseen: meeting with groups of refugees and asylum seekers, watching documentary on Italian national politics about migrants and borders and their repercussions at European level, meeting with local associations dealing with the defence of migrants rights, etc.
This event is organised by the LDA Zavidovici as partner of the project gathering 14 Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities coming from Albania, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Macedonia and Malta. The project led by Local Council Association of Malta and in which ALDA is partner, aims at providing a well structured dialogue among twinned or keen-to-cooperate towns, with specific reference to active participation in political life of specific target groups: women, youngsters and immigrants.

Furthermore, an open conference will be organised on Saturday 2 February in the palace of Università Cattolica di Brescia. It will gather professors from different realities working with migrants, such as Pietro Cingiolani from Centro Fieri of Torino, Maddalena Colombo from CIRMIB, Franco Valenti from Foundation for Human Rights Guido Piccini, Maria Perino from University of Piemonte Orientale, Lorenzo Trucco from ASGI (Association of juridical Studies about Migrations), Camillo Boano from University of London. Discussions will start with an overview about migration flows and at national level and continue with an analysis of the relation between migrants and urban spaces and the rights of migrants in work field, with a specific focus on women and new generations. During the afternoon there will be the contribution from different migrants associations active at local and national level such as Yalla Italia, Forum Marocchino and Association of Malians in Italy.

The last dinner will see the participation of 16 students from the University College of London, who will share the results of their study realised in Brescia and analysing 4 different cases where the presence of migrants affects somehow the urban space.

For more information and for registering, please contact Maddalena Alberti, LDA Zavidovici, maddalena.alberti@lda-zavidovici.org

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The local event VIT in Vicenza took place on the 18th and 19th of January 2013. It was, for the whole community, full and intense days on the topics of twinning and cooperation between communities and cities.
“The twinnings between cities in Europe were an essential part of the Development of Europe, based on the commitment of local authorities and citizens.

Today, this instrument is a strong element to build the European citizenship and city to city cooperation”, said the Director of ALDA, Mrs Antonella Valmorbida. The participants to the international conference that took place in the Council Room of Vicenza on the 19th of January, brought the best practices and difficulties. In particular, were introduced the experiences of the city of Vicenza (Councillor Mr Federico Formisano), hosting the event, and the twinned cities, like Pforzheim – with the Mayor Gert Hager – and Annecy – with the Deputy Mayor, Mr Jean Claude Fabbian. Vicenza has also a friendship with Osijek (Croatia) but they could not participate.

Mr Roger Lawrence, Leader of Wolverhampton City Council and member of ALDA Bureau, represented ALDA.

The recommendations issued by the conference were very concrete. In particular, it was agreed to write a common letter to the Italian authorities to make sure that the costs for twinning are not considered as public relations costs but cultural investments (and therefore not easily cut). A committee for the support of twinning will be soon set up soon, within the umbrella of ALDA and its office in Vicenza.

For the general recommendations that will be presented in the final international event of VIT (on the 18th and 19th of April in Pula), will also include the need a) to support the twinning committees b) to create a link between twinning and communities of foreigners in our own countries c) to identify the possibility to support twinnings with oversees municipalities.

The work started on the 18th on very practical basis with the training for local authorities and Association at the Association of Craftsmen, where the Development officer of ALDA, Mr Boaria presented all the opportunities offered by the programme Europe for Citizens. The training gathered more than 30 participants and many from the area.

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The Governing Board that took place in Vicenza (Italy) on the 17th and 18th of January 2013 was of particular importance for ALDA since it adopted the Strategic Paper 2013/2016. In particular, the strategy is confirming the role of ALDA as a membership based organisation, focusing on local governance and citizens participation in Europe and in the Neighbourhood.

It addresses the role of the Local Democracy Agencies in South Eastern Europe and in the Eastern Partnership. Following the Statute, the LDAs could be opened also in other areas, in particular in the Mediterranean area, when useful and when the conditions are met.
As for the LDAs are concerned, the future step will be towards East with activities in Azerbaijan and in Ukraine.

The programme of 2013 was also adopted with an ambitious list of activities. “In the present times, it is difficult for all the local authorities and associations to find the necessary resources to be engaged, but we confirm that ALDA and the Local Democracy Agencies represent a resources for the communities that needs support rather than a cost”, states the President of ALDA, Oriano Otočan. “We could secure our members a list of services that will help them to be better informed on all the policies and opportunities. We are also a very big source of networking and contacts”.