Participation in the Second Workshop of the CoR Lisbon Monitoring Platform – 12/01/2007

/in

The Union of Cyprus Municipalities has participated in the Second Workshop of the Lisbon Monitoring Platform on the “Preparation of the Territorial Dialogue 2007”, that took place on 12 January 2007 at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

In September 2005, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) carried out a European-wide survey on the involvement of Regions and Cities in preparing the National Reform Programmes (NRPs) and in December 2005 it made an analysis of the NRPs, comparing their content against the survey findings.

Both the survey and the conclusions reached in the NRPs report raised considerable concern regarding the level of consultation and involvement of local and regional authorities in a number of Member States.

For that reason, the CoR launched -at the first Territorial Dialogue on 1 March 2006- the Lisbon Monitoring Platform (LMP) project. The LMP provides information on the local and regional dimensions of the strategy, gives an overview on the development of these local and regional dimension through an interactive scoreboard and offers a public space for discussion.

But first and foremost it aims to create a community, a community among local and regional authorities who are working on the implementation of the growth and jobs strategy and those who would like to learn more about it.

At the very beginning of the LMP, 140 Local and Regional Authorities had declared their interest to participate in the project. The Union of Cyprus Municipalities has been one of 65 such Authorities that were finally chosen to be part of the 1st wave of participants to the project with access to the platform this year.

Further information on the LMP is available on the website: http://lisbon.cor.europa.eu/

Town Twinning Conference: 10 to 12 May 2007, Rhodes, Greece – 23/01/2007

/in

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), in collaboration with the union of cities and communities of Greece (KEDKE) and the municipality of Rhodes, will organise a conference on twinning, from 10 to 12 May 2007, in Rhodes.

The Twinning for tomorrow’s world conference will bring together hundreds of representatives of European municipalities and institutions to debate issues such as the “Europe for citizens” EU programme, twinning and social inclusion, twinning and youth, the future of twinning…

For the programme, registration form and additional information, please click here.

NEW PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE UNION OF CYPRUS MUNICIPALITIES – 22/02/2007

/in

The General Assembly of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities for the election of a new President and Executive Committee of our Association took place on February 22, 2007.

Mr Andreas Christou, Mayor of Limassol was unanimously elected as the new President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities. Regarding the Executive Committee, which, according to our Statute has eleven members (including the President), the following members were elected by consensus for the municipal period 2007-2011:

1. Savvas Vergas – Mayor of Pafos
2. Athos Eleftheriou – Mayor of Lapithos
3. Savvas Eliofotou – Mayor of Strovolos
4. Loucas Iatrou – Mayor of Lakatamia
5. Eleni Loucaidou – Mun. Councillor of Nicosia
6. Eleni Mavrou – Mayor of Nicosia
7. Christos Messis – Mayor of Mesa Yitonia
8. Andreas Moiseos – Mayor of Larnaca
9. Charalambos Pittas – Mayor of Morphou
10. Kostakis Hadjikakou – Municipal Councillor of Famagusta

The new Executive Committee held its first meeting immediately after its election and elected Mr Christos Messis, Mayor of Mesa Yitonia (who held this rank during the previous municipal period) as its Vice-President.

During that first meeting, the Executive Committee decided to meet again soon a second time to define the main objectives and priorities of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities for the new municipal period.

UCM Brussels Office: OPEN DAYS – European week of Regions and Cities PARTNER OFFICE – 30/03/2007

/in

The Brussels Office of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities has now been officially declared as the Head Office of one of the biggest conglomerates (Network of Eastern External Border Regions) participating in this year’s edition of the Open Days – the European Week of Regions and Cities.

The 5th OPEN DAYS-European Week of Regions and Cities will be held between 8 and 11 October 2007 in Brussels for about 3,000 expected regional policy experts and practitioners.

Organised by the Committee of the Regions, the European Commission’s Regional Policy Directorate General and a great number of regions, cities and other institutions and private partners from all over Europe, this year’s headline is: “Making it happen: regions deliver growth and jobs”.

About 100 workshops and sessions will focus on the new generation of cohesion policy programmes, which will be implemented in the course of 2007 in all European regions.

New premises for the Brussels office of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities – 02/04/2007

/in

Two years after its initial opening, the Brussels Office of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, has now moved to its new location.

As of April 2, our Brussels Office, along with the Offices of National Associations of local authorities from the majority of EU Member States, the association Eurocities and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions have a new common address, in the House of Cities Municipalities and Regions.

This new common effort will facilitate collaboration among all its participants, while strengthening the presence of Local Authorities from the participating National and European Associations in Brussels.

Just like our previous premises, our new Office is located in the centre of Brussels (Square de Meeûs 1, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium), close to the European Parliament and the so called “European Triangle”.

The House of Cities, Municipalities and Regions opens its doors – 07/06/2007

/in

The House of cities, municipalities and Regions was officially inaugurated on 6 June in Brussels by Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of institutional relations and communication strategy, and Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy. The house, located at the heart of the EU quarter, is home to the widest range of organisations* representing local and regional interests at European level.

Some 400 guests, including Members of the European Parliament, Members of the Committee of the Regions, ministers, mayors and representatives from the European Commission attended the opening event of the house.

“I have to thank you for the fact that you, so many associations of cities, municipalities and regions, have agreed to work here, together, under the same roof”, said the European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström. “You are an inspiration for us all, because of your capacity to innovate and to make a difference on the ground”.

EU Commissioner Danuta Hübner also spoke to the guests. “This House is a unique place which mirrors the experience I have gained as an EU Commissioner travelling across Europe’s cities, municipalities and regions. This experience has helped me realise that Europe is not only about economic and institutional issues – it is also about feelings, passion and compassion”.

“The opening of the House of cities, municipalities and regions in Brussels is a massive step forward for Europe’s local and regional governments”, said Wim Deetman, Mayor of The Hague and representing the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and G4. “It is a clear political message: Europe’s cities, municipalities and regions are working together for a better European Union – closer to its citizens”.

Representing the city of Lyon, the vice president of EUROCITIES, Jean-Michel Daclin said: “Cities, municipal and regional authorities are increasingly recognised by European institutions and national governments. We are involved in discussions and negotiations with European institutions on all aspects of EU policy and legislation that have an impact on citizens. By coming together under the same roof, we wish to improve the visibility of local authorities in Europe, and to reinforce our cooperation on issues of interest to our citizens”.

The House of cities, municipalities and regions covers 4000 sq meters of brand new facilities. It hosts over 20 associations of local and regional governments, as well as the representation offices of eight European cities.

* Note: Located on Square de Meeûs 1, the House of cities, municipalities and regions is home to:

  • the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR);
  • EUROCITIES, the network of large European cities;
  • The European Office of the G-4, an organisation bringing together the Dutch cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht;
  • The local and regional associations of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom;
  • The cities of Bourgas, Glasgow, Lyon, Plovdiv, Saint-Etienne, Tampere, Varna and Yalova.

 

2nd Annual Conference of the Network of Eastern External Border Regions – NEEBOR – 23/07/2007

/in

“NEEBOR regions towards better European integration”, 6-7 September 2007, in Olsztyn, POLAND

NEEBOR, the Network of Eastern External Border Regions holds its second annual conference in Olsztyn, POLAND on the 6-7 September 2007.

The Annual NEEBOR conference in the Warminsko-Mazurskie Region will be a forum for debate and exchange of experience in fields of common interest to NEEBOR regions such as interregional cooperation, cross-border health services and transport policy. The second annual NEEBOR conference in Olsztyn, Poland, will focus in particular on the regional development opportunities in the light of the new EU programming period. Partner regions will have the chance to engage into discussion with high-level representatives of the EU institutions. Partners from NEEBOR regions will have the opportunity to get to know each other better in order to forge partnerships for common regional development initiatives.

High-level speakers in the field of regional development and cross-border cooperation have already confirmed their participation in the Annual NEEBOR Conference. The NEEBOR conference will welcome contributions from Ms Danuta Hubner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy.
In addition, the conference will be attended by the representatives of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, and ministerial representatives from participating countries. Partner regions will provide speakers on topics such as interregional cooperation, cross-border health cooperation, transport networks.

For more information, please contact:

Regional Office of the Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship
26, Avenue Palmerston,
1000 Brussels
Phone: +32 2 230 25 06
E-mail: warmia.mazury1@skynet.be