The Rulebook sets out the rules for organising the Mostar Citizens’ Assembly. It was developed in the framework of the project “Building democratic participation in the City of Mostar“, implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2021. The Rulebook introduces general provisions on the Citizens’ Assembly, and on its implementation, participants and course.
This Information sheet on the Mostar Citizens’ Assembly aims at providing basic disclosure of the goals and main details of the organisation of this Citizens’ Assembly. It introduces its main rules, the procedures, the importance of citizenship participation, and the relevance of the recommendations adopted.
Handbook on Open Local Government and Public Ethics
This handbook aims to support local and regional authorities in their efforts to make communities more open, ethical and citizen-oriented. It provides practical guidance on transparency policies and citizen participation mechanisms, includes a concise assessment of the most prevalent corruption risks in the country and incorporates actual examples of best practices. The Handbook is also available on the be-Open tool.
The purpose of the European Code of Conduct for all Persons Involved in Local and Regional Governance is to set out at European level the ethical principles and standards. The Code performs multiple functions, and the focus is on the relations among different actors, duties and responsibilities, individual and group behaviour, financial interests, and the use of official information. The purpose of drawing up a code of conduct is to enhance the integrity of public governance.
This booklet is to help you understand the misuse of administrative resources in elections. Candidates who misuse administrative resources in electoral processes are not only behaving unfairly towards their competitors, they are also undermining the foundation of our democratic culture. This practical guide contains a number of practical examples of such unfair behaviour and it explains why this problem must be taken seriously, especially at the grassroots level. Promoting the fair play principle in elections is one of the most urgent tasks to restore the credibility of politicians.
Conflicts of interest at local and regional levels
This Congress Resolution analyses conflicts of interest, especially at local and regional level, as their authorities are particularly at risk, by virtue of their proximity and closer contacts with citizens and local entrepreneurs. It is suggested to adopt a value-based approach on the adoption of regulation on this issue, focusing on education, training, and transparency. Integrity policies should be implemented, including both organisational ethics management and external integrity guardians. Moreover, investment in soft instruments should be fostered, such as ethical leadership.
Fighting nepotism with local and regional authorities
This report sets out standards for good practice and presents strategies for preventing corruption in the recruitment procedures of local and regional governments. Nepotism and favouritism at local and regional level can hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of local public service delivery and diminish public trust. It is recommended to enhance transparent, impartial and merit-based human resource management systems.
Making public procurement transparent at local and regional levels
This report examines the systemic problems in local and regional government procurement which create corruption risks, and suggests practical steps that local and regional authorities can take to reduce their exposure to such corruption. Local and regional authorities are invited to set up internal controls evaluation mechanisms and to comply with transparency policies by publishing data and procurement details at all stages of the process, in order to encourage public scrutiny and involve civil society.
The protection of whistleblowers. Challenges and opportunities for local and regional government
This report provides an overview of the issues regarding whistleblowing, outlines the legal protection of them and highlights challenges and opportunities for the local and regional protection of whistleblowing. It is recommended to establish and disseminate a whistleblowing policy, with appropriate internal and anonymous reporting channels, ensuring that independent designated institutions exist to oversee and process the disclosure of information
This report highlights the potential of open governance to improve democracy at local and regional levels. It explores the concept of ‘Open government’ and identifies local government activities to which it can apply, such as budgeting, law making, policy making, contracting and service delivery. It is recommended to introduce training courses in local and regional administrations, as well as to promote the participation of citizens in local public life.
Booklet for Children – How to make your town a better place
This Booklet goal is to raise children’s awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The aim is to encourage 6- to 11-year-olds to get involved in the implementation of SDGs in their own communities, for which it provides guidelines for local and regional authorities. It was produced with the help of the advisory group of children, and the Booklet is presented by children from the pilot project towns and cities in a YouTube video.
