Cooperation for better results stressed in the international conference on development cooperation
On 26 June the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG) and PLATFORMA hosted the conference “Innovative Decentralised Cooperation for the Eastern Partnership” in Riga, Latvia.
(This article was initially published on LPS-LALRG website)
Representatives from three Eastern Partnership countries – Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, – reported the results of decentralisation and administrative reforms implemented, as well as revealed the steps to be taken further. The statement has been repeated several times that the basis for successful changes is mutual communication and understanding between both sides – the government and municipalities.
During the conference there was opportunity to exchange on innovative decentralised cooperation activities and funding opportunities in the perspective of the Multiannual Financial Framework post 2020 discussions.
The Chairman of the LALRG Mr Gints Kaminskis claimed in opening speech: “We are pleased that the Council of European Municipalities and Regions decided to hold the conference in Riga, thus assessing the contribution of the LALRG and municipalities in the field of development cooperation. Cooperation with the Eastern Partnership and Central Asian countries is the priority of the Latvian government, as well as the LALRG. We have given contribution, worked hard and promoted cooperation between the associations of municipalities of Latvia and Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan and their members.”
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Ms Zanda Kalni?a emphasized in her opening speech, that the Eastern Partnership is and will be one of the priority regions in the development cooperation policy of Latvia in the foreseeable future. She has also admitted the growing role of development cooperation. Support for the strengthening of local and regional governance is essential for the success of decentralization and increased democratic participation and prosperity.
In the conclusion of the conference the Secretary General of the LALRG, Mrs Mud?te Priede, has stressed both the importance of adequate funding and the cooperation: “It is essential to form the dialogue among different partners, as only all together we can achieve more successful cooperation and better results.” The conference brought together representatives of the European Commission, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), local government representatives from the EU Member States and Eastern Partnership countries, as well as representatives of state institutions.
The conference was organised in the framework of PLATFORMA Eastern neighbourhood programme.
