Administrative Reforms and Local Self-government in Kyrgyzstan
On January 23, the EastWest Institute (EWI) Brussels office and Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSS) hosted a large delegation from Kyrgyzstan on administrative reforms and local self-government in Kyrgyzstan. Boris Tonhauser, Senior Project Officer at PLATFORMA, was there to give an overview of the structure of municipalities in Europe.
EastWest Institute (EWI) is a global network of influential stakeholders committed to and engaged in building trust and preventing conflict around the world.
EWI Vice President Wolfgang Klapper and HSS’s Dr. Markus Ehm welcomed the Kyrgyz delegation, along with several other speakers and participants. Mirlan Bakirov, Vice Speaker of the National Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic gave a keynote speech on “Administrative Reforms in Kyrgyzstan: Past, Present and Future.” Pierre Amilhat, DG Devco Director from the European Commission reflected on the cooperation between the EU and Kyrgyzstan.
In addition, Boris Tonhauser, Senior Project Officer at PLATFORMA, gave an overview of the structure of municipalities in Europe. Decentralization, local services, taxes and funding of municipalities were addressed.
Throughout the debate, multiple interlinking issues such as the equalization of revenues between municipalities and challenges for self-government were discussed. The conference followed on from a similar event EWI held last year, where a delegation from Kyrgyzstan presented and discussed investment opportunities in the country.
(Read the news on EWI website)
Image Credit: Charles Elkins
