Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in further intensification of cooperation with Europe, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom on 11 September, BelTA informs.

According to the chairman of the Council of the Republic, Belarus’ cooperation with the Council of Europe, the EU and the united Europe in general has recently intensified. “We welcome this and will do everything possible to strengthen and further develop these positions,” he said.

The speaker added that the parties have made good progress in cooperation in local self-government matters.

Mikhail Myasnikovich expressed confidence in the successful round table on topical local self-government issues, which the upper house of the Belarusian parliament will co-host with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Minsk. The speaker is convinced that the parties will succeed in achieving their goals and the event will be mutually beneficial.

Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom thanked the Belarusian side for the organization of the event. According to her, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe expects not only to exchange experience in the development of local self-government but also study Belarus’ best practices in the area.

As BelTA reported, taking part in the event will be representatives of the Congress from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, and Romania. The delegation will be headed by President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom.

The round table will highlight issues related to the approximation of the Belarusian legislation on local government and self-government and the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Participants will also discuss way to improve the system of training, retraining and enhancing the qualifications of local authorities. Experts will talk over prospects for the development of associations of local councils of deputies. Particular attention will be on strengthening twinning relations as a tool for developing border areas.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe that represents local and regional authorities of European states. The Congress is made up of two chambers: the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions. The Council on Local Self-Government Cooperation at the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus has a status of an invited observer in the Congress. The Congress has 324 representatives of over 200,000 local and regional authorities in the Council of Europe’s 47 member states.