Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 September (BelTA) - Belarus shows great interest in improving the system of local self-government, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom told the media in Minsk on 12 September, BelTA has learned.

The roundtable organized jointly by the Council of the Republic and the Congress of Local And Regional Authorities (CLRA) was held in Minsk on 12 September. Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom shared her impressions of the event and her stay in the country. According to her, Belarus shows great interest in improving all areas related to local self-government.

Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom also noted that the CLRA includes 324 representatives of about 200,000 administrative and territorial entities of 47 countries - the Council of Europe members. The Congress has considerable experience and is ready to share it with Belarus. But we are here not only to teach but also to learn from Belarus. The country has well-developed local self-government. We will be happy to continue to cooperate in this area and develop common approaches," the president of the congress said.

The roundtable highlighted the 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 also reviewed the ways to improve the system of training, retraining and enhancing the qualifications of local authorities. Experts talked over the prospects for the development of associations of local councils of deputies. Particular attention was on strengthening twinning relations as a tool for developing border areas. Attending the event were representatives of the congress from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, and Romania. The delegation was led by President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom.