Antonella Valmorbida – ALDA Secretary General at the ELoGE award ceremony

Dear Ministers, dear Mayors, dear participants,
I am pleased to be here today with all of you, as Secretary General of ALDA, the European Association for Local Democracy, but also having a significant experience working with local authorities in Croatia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.

ALDA, the European Association for Local Democracy, in its over 20 years of existence, has the mission of promoting local democracy, citizen participation, and cooperation through work with local and regional authorities alongside civil society actors. It was created in 1998 by the Council of Europe. It is a global alliance that has undertaken many projects and initiatives, primarily on the local level, and is a key European player, particularly in the Balkans. It has developed a network of local institutions and civil society organisations that includes over 350 members from over 42 European and neighbouring countries.

ALDA cooperates with authorities on the European and local levels and provides support for them with these projects. We represent a unique organisation in the working for and governed by local and regional authorities and civil society groups.
ALDA acts as a coordinator and supporter for a network of 15 Local Democracy Agencies. The coordination of this network of LDAs was the original purpose for its creation in 1998. We celebrate 30 years of activities in the region.