On 14 November 2024 in Tirana (Albania), the Congress established a Community of Practice on deliberative democracy, made up of 18 local authorities and 7 associations of local authorities from Western Balkans, to further promote citizen deliberations and innovative participatory approaches.
Addressing the launch event, Congress Director Claudia Luciani emphasised the role of deliberative processes as an effective approach to strengthen representative democracy and deliver better policies. The Congress guide for local authorities on “How to organise a deliberative process at local level?” was published at this first meeting (available in English and Bosnian).
Coordinated by the Network of National Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), the Community will serve as a platform of exchange and peer learning for its members from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
In bilateral meetings with Albania’s Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni, Deputy Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Megi Fino and Deputy Mayor of Tirana Frida Pashako, the Congress Director discussed co-operation priorities to strengthen local self-government in the country. She reaffirmed the Congress support to the public administration reform in Albania in its path towards EU membership.
During an exchange of views at the Albanian School of Political Studies, the Director debated with 20 young political leaders, activists and municipal councillors on how Council of Europe initiatives to fight democratic backsliding can be applied at the local level in Albania.
The projects “Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe” and “Supporting Public Administration Reform at Local Level in Albania” are implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, with the financial support of Germany. The projects aim to strengthen democratic processes in the South-East of Europe, enhance the skills and capacities of local authorities and their associations, strengthen institutional framework for the training of local officials and elected representatives and effective management of human resources, and foster meaningful participation of citizens. The project on deliberative democracy promotes innovative forms of citizen participation as complements to representative democracy in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
_________
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
