On 22 October 2022, Congress Thematic Spokesperson on the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD) participated in the launch of the ELDW in Malta, including a place-making workshop and a series of events and presentations, organised by the Malta Local Councils’ Association, in collaboration with NGOs, regional councils, the Senglea Local Council and academics.
“Democratic institutions need to be reinvented with citizens’ involvement – with youth involvement in particular – to make sure that citizens have constant access to governance and that no one feels excluded from decision-making”, stressed the Congress Spokesperson.
Ms Rudkin drew attention to challenges facing democratic participation, such as the polarisation of society and extremism, emphasising the need to “re-engage dialogue and civic debate within society to make sure that the extreme stops being the mainstream”. She also highlighted the need for a grassroots response to the climate crisis, in line with this year's ELDW theme, "Protecting the environment: local communities take action", underlining the role of cities and citizens as the “front line” in the face of the climate emergency. Ms Rudkin also emphasized the importance of ensuring that local authorities and regions are better equipped with the necessary competences and resources and are more resilient in order to prevent, resist, adapt and recover quickly from multiple crises.
The Spokesperson reaffirmed the Congress’ commitment to supporting local and regional authorities in organising ELDW events and raising awareness of local democracy in their own countries. ELDW flagship events are held every year during the week of 15 October – a date chosen as a tribute to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which opened for signature on this date in 1985.
The European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) is a pan-European initiative co-ordinated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe since 2007. Throughout the year, municipalities and their national associations are invited to organise initiatives all over Europe aimed at promoting citizen participation, fostering dialogue between the community and public authorities, strengthening trust in elected representatives and institutions and providing a European dimension to local initiatives.
