EUROPEAN PROJECT SUSTAIN: SUSTAINABLE TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON TWINNING – 28/01/2011

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Following a proposal submitted by the Union of Cyprus Municipalities within the European Programme “Europe for Citizens”, the European Commission decided to finance the cooperation between the Union of Cyprus Municipalities (UCM) and the Local Union of Municipalities and Communities of the Prefecture of Chios (TEDK Chios) from Greece, in order to develop twinning links of municipalities-members of the two Associations with municipalities from other EU countries.

The UCM and TEDK Chios have started their cooperation a few years ago thanks to a twinning link between the Municipality of Chios and the Municipality of Kyrenia. In 2009 the cooperation was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation. In 2010, the two associations cooperated within the framework of the European Project DECISIVE, a project aiming to train volunteers and municipal personnel on Twinning issues.

During the cooperation of the two associations in the framework of the DECISIVE project, the following facts have become evident: TEDK Chios has a remarkable knowhow on running EU projects and supporting its members in managing their own projects, but lacks access to Europe-wide networks and information flows.

On the other hand, the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, through its Brussels Office, has created a vast network of partners able to provide access to information and Municipalities-partners all around Europe, but does not have a mechanism to support its members in submitting project proposals and running the actual projects.

The SUSTAIN project aims to combine the comparative advantages of the two partners, thus creating beneficial synergies for their members.

The project will also seek to gather into a comprehensive guide all information material (guides, websites, bibliography, best practices…) on twinning, in order to provide practical answers to local actors and citizens seeking to work on Town Twinning.

Finally, the project will enable Twinning stakeholders from both partners, not only to learn from each other’s experiences, but to physically work within each other’s premises, in order to better understand each other’s processes.

A common study visit to Brussels will also give them the opportunity to get acquainted with the Executive Agency Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA) and understand the logic of Town Twinning and of the people working on it.

 

SUSTAIN project: objectives – 04/02/2011

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Citizens of the countries in southern Europe do not benefit from the advantages of the “Europe for citizens” Programme as much as citizens of the northern countries do. Greece and Cyprus already have a lot in common: language, history and culture. The SUSTAIN project will use all these common elements, not only in order to further strengthen relations between the Twinning stakeholders of the two countries, but also to create synergies that will help local authorities-and of course citizens- from both countries to participate in the “Europe for citizens” Programme and cooperate with municipalities from the rest of Europe.

The project aims to provide better access to European networks of towns and better projects for the citizens of two peripheral island regions of southern Europe.

Besides all these, the project will create economies of scale, by giving to the municipalities of Chios direct access to Brussels without additional cost, through the Brussels office of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and to the Cypriot Municipalities the opportunity to develop their own capacities to create and run European projects, without being obliged to buy the knowhow from private consultancies. The result will be a boost to the development of the two regions without additional costs, which in the current economic environment will be highly appreciated by citizens, local officials and elected representatives in the two regions.

Information kiosks: 30th anniversary of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities – 07/11/2011

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In an effort to highlight its 30th anniversary, the Union of Cyprus Municipalities decided to set up, on November 5th, 19 information kiosks to present the Union and its members in all urban areas in various parts of Cyprus.

The purpose of the kiosks was to give the visitors sufficient information about the history, role, achievements and contribution of the UCM, while, people who visited them were able to meet with Mayors and Municipal Councilors for further information.

More specifically, kiosks operated in the following Municipalities: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Pafos, Strovolos, Ayios Dhometios, Lakatamia, Ayios Athanasios, Mesa Yitonia, Yermasoyia, Athienou, Aradippou, Ayia Napa, Paralimni, Geroskipou and Polis Chrysochous. Kiosks for the Occupied Municipalities operated in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.

 

SUSTAIN: Follow-up of the DECISIVE project – 17/03/2011

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The Sustain project counts already 3 months of life. The idea for the project was based on a series of observations: Both the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and the Local Union of Municipalities and Communities of prefecture Chios (TEDK Chios) represent geographical areas with similar characteristics: islands in external EU borders, with a small population, small number of municipalities and the same language.

Regarding their involvement in European programs, the municipalities-members of the two associations have the same problems, the lack of qualified personnel being the most basic of them. On the other hand, the two associations have competitive advantages that complement each other extremely well: TEDK Chios has long experience in supporting members for participation in European projects, while the Union of Cyprus Municipalities through its Brussels office, has access to information and has created networks of partners across Europe. Their common participation in 2010 in the DECISIVE project, which has trained volunteers and municipal personnel for creating and managing Town Twinning, showed that the involvement of volunteers / citizens is necessary, but cannot have the expected results, unless based on well-trained personnel from the municipalities, which will be able to guide the volunteers and create the necessary links with Local Authorities.

Thanks to the DECISIVE project, each Cypriot municipality already has one officer able to deal with Town Twinning. In the framework of the SUSTAIN project, these people will be invited to cooperate with their Greek counterparts from TEDK Chios and learn from their experiences. All participants will attend three training sessions (one in Chios, one in Cyprus and one in Brussels) with the target to develop their skills.

As it is already known, the DECISIVE project was funded through the “Measure 2.2. Support Measures” of the Europe for Citizens program. This measure is a tool to develop the quality of projects submitted within Action 1 “Active Citizens for Europe”.

It also supports the exchange of experiences, expertise and good practices, as well as activities which may lead to the establishment of long-lasting partnerships and networks.

Support measures appear in a variety of forms, such as:

  • Consultancy to provide practical advice for preparing and running good quality projects (from application procedures to internal evaluation of projects).
  • Training sessions which enable those responsible for town twinning activities to develop their knowledge of the concept and practice of town twinning and to better understand and work within the European context.
  • National or trans-national events promoting the concept of town twinning amongst local authorities.
  • Tools facilitating partner search and networking as well as raising awareness and interest in town twinning, for example through publications, audiovisual materials and websites.
  • Exchanges of best practices and the accumulation of experience in supporting town twinning in Europe.

For more information, please visit: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.php.

 

28th Annual General Assembly of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities – 10/11/2011

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The 28th Annual General Assembly of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities was held on November 8th, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Demetris Christofias, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Neoklis Sylikiotis, leaders and representatives of political parties, former and current Mayors and other officials.

The first part of the General Assembly, which was held in the presence of its members, began with the speech of the President of the Union of Municipalities and Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Andreas Christou.

Mr. Christou firstly referred to the main achievements of the Union of Municipalities during the last thirty years and then noted that “there are still goals to be achieved, which demand the strong and constant effort both by the Union and the Municipalities”. Mr. Christou also expressed his disappointment for the non-achievement of the financial autonomy of the Municipalities and the non-institutionalisation of the annual grant from the Government to the Municipalities.

In view of the local elections, Mr. Christou invited everybody ”to keep on a high level and walk together, through the democratic process, to the path of progress, development and prosperity.”

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Demetris Christofias, from the podium of the General Assembly, expressed the direct support of his Government, which aims at the substantial improvement, strengthening, reform and modernization of the local government in Cyprus and pledged that his government will remain in solidarity with the Local Authorities, despite the current difficult economic conditions, just as it did the previous three years with a series of decisions and measures that were implemented.

In his address, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Neoklis Sylikiotis, said that Local Authorities are the natural ally of the Government and the Ministry of Interior for the successful implementation of a wide range of crucial and innovative policies, which are currently under way.

The Minister described as urgent, the adoption of two acts tabled in the House of Representatives, concerning the voluntary unification of Communities and the consolidation and codification of the Laws of Municipalities and Communities.

The 28th Annual General Assembly of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities also had a celebrating character, since the Association completed 30 years of existence and action. In his address, the President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Mr. Andreas Christou, referred to the 30-year course of the Association and presented the efforts and achievements of the Union during the last years, which will continue, as he claimed.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Association, a number of Diplomas were awarded to the founder and initiator of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Mr. Lellos Demetriades, the former Presidents of the Union Mr. Michalakis Zampelas and Mr. Demetris Kontides, as well as to former Mayors who served the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, from its founding until today.

EUROPEAN PROJECT SUSTAIN: TEN DAYS VISIT OF THE EXPERT OF TEDK CHIOS IN CYPRUS – 21/05/2011

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Within the framework of the SUSTAIN project, an expert from TEDK Chios, Greece, Mr. V. Kampouras, visited Cyprus from 9 to 19 of May. The expert visited several Municipalities and met representatives of the majority of Cypriot Municipalities, in order to capture the current situation in each one of them, concerning their participation in European Programmes, especially in the “Europe for Citizens” Programme. Where it is feasible and needed, a closer cooperation will be established between the expert and those municipalities who are interested but unable to submit project proposals.

Mr. Kampouras’ visit has been co-financed through the “Europe for Citizens” Programme, as part of the SUSTAIN project, which aims to reinforce the cooperation of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and TEDK Chios, in order for them to jointly support their members’ participation in the “Europe for Citizens” Programme. For this purpose and for practical reasons, five main meetings were organized in Cyprus (one in each province and a separate one for the occupied municipalities of Cyprus).

The meetings gathered representatives from all Cypriot municipalities (except three), including Mayors, Municipal Secretaries and municipal personnel, with a maximum of four representatives from each Municipality. The high participation rate helped Mr. Kampouras, to get a complete picture concerning the participation of Cypriot Municipalities in European Programmes.

In each of these meetings, the twinning coordinator of the Union of Municipalities, Ms. Kalia Martides, presented a summary of the SUSTAIN project and the “Europe for Citizens” Programme, while Mr. Kampouras’ presentation focused on the methodology of the project and facilitated the gathering of all the necessary information concerning the participation of Cypriot Municipalities in European Programmes.

The participants were then asked to describe the experience of their Municipalities in European Programmes, the process they follow in order to participate in them and the problems encountered at all stages of their participation.

In each of the meetings, Mr. Kampouras clearly stated that the aim of the SUSTAIN project is to help Municipalities, in order to acquire all the necessary knowledge and skills, both theoretically as well as in practice, for them to be able to participate independently and effectively in European Programmes. Ms. Martides underlined the fact that the Union of Cyprus Municipalities will accompany and guide the Municipalities whenever necessary.

Despite all difficulties and obstacles faced by Municipalities, according to the participants, there was a very lively interest from both officers and their Municipalities to participate in European Programmes.

Based on the above, it has been made clear that it would be appropriate for the subsequent implementation phases of the SUSTAIN project, to steer the Municipalities of Cyprus and Northern Aegean, towards the implementation of a well-structured process of participation and implementation of European projects, which to the extent that it will be followed would ensure success and maximum benefit for stakeholders.

 

The Committee of the Regions’ CIVEX commission meets in Nicosia – 08/06/2011

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All levels of government working together to promote the concept of European citizenship and dialogue between civil society and the EU

08.06.2011 – The Committee of the Regions’ CIVEX commission (Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs) held its ninth meeting and a seminar on “The role of local and regional authorities in fostering European citizenship” on 6 and 7 June 2011 in Nicosia, Cyprus. Luc Van den Brande, president of the Flanders-Europe Liaison Agency and former president of the Committee of the Regions, chaired these events. The meeting and seminar were attended by representatives of local and regional authorities from the 27 EU Member States and of course members of the Cypriot delegation.

The two events took place at the invitation of Eleni Loukaïdou, Nicosia Municipal Councillor and member of the Cypriot delegation to the Committee of the Regions.  She noted that 2011 was the Lisbon Treaty’s second year in force. One of its aims was to establish the area of freedom, security and justice and to revive external relations. Decentralised cooperation and city diplomacy were tools that could help to secure peace and understanding between peoples, and local and regional authorities were by their nature best placed to underpin initiatives for coexistence and reconciliation between states and peoples.

At the CIVEX meeting, members discussed four opinions, covering “smart regulation”, reducing bureaucracy for citizens and the strategy for effective implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as the CoR’s own-initiative opinion on the broader issue of developing a European culture of multilevel governance, whose rapporteur was the commission’s chair, Mr Van den Brande.  The meeting closed with a study visit to Nicosia’s Multipurpose Centre organised by the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, and a walk through Nicosia’s historic city centre, including a fact-finding visit to Ledra Street, which was once divided by the Green Line.  The CoR’s main reception and exhibition space at its Brussels headquarters was named after this place at an event on 3 April 2008 when a street sign with the words “Open Ledra Street” was erected to remind the thousands of visitors who regularly pass by the spot that local and regional authorities succeed when they have the support of local communities.

The seminar took place on Tuesday 7 June, and included European speakers and experts on citizenship.  Guest of honour was the Interior Minister of Cyprus, Neoklis Sylikiotis. In his speech he underlined that the rights of European citizens would be one of the main priorities of the Cypriot presidency in the second half of 2012. European integration could not succeed without active citizens, and local government must be an equal partner in the exercise of public power.

In his opening speech, Luc Van den Brande stressed that the concept of European citizenship was evolving and was especially important in the process of founding “European municipalities”. The meaning of citizenship was no longer one-dimensional: national and European citizenship were flanked by regional, local and cultural notions of identity. Active participation in political dialogue started above all at grassroots level. In Europe’s villages, towns, cities and regions, citizens were aware of the issues that were of key importance to everyday life and citizens played a fundamental role in finding effective solutions to common problems. Mr Van den Brande reiterated that Europe could only be built on the basis of harmonious and effective cooperation between all stakeholders, above all local and regional authorities.

In her video message, European Commissioner Viviane Reding noted that Europe could not be built on legislation and rules alone, but relied on active citizens. She affirmed the European Commission’s commitment to close cooperation with the CoR and local and regional authorities.

The seminar centred on various measures taken by official bodies and local authorities in the EU and explored practices used by local and regional authorities to bring citizens closer to the European Union.  More specifically, there was a presentation of the Nicosia Master Plan by its authors, Lelos Dimitriadisand Mustafa Akinci.

Events also included a visit to the Famagusta Museum, in Dherynia, near the Green Line. CIVEX commission members met with the Mayor of Famagusta, Alexis Galanos.

 

The Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions is the EU’s assembly of regional and local representatives. The mission of its 344 members from all 27 EU Member States is to involve regional and local authorities and the communities they represent in the EU’s decision-making process and to inform them about EU policies. The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council are obliged to consult the Committee in policy areas affecting regions and cities. It can appeal to the EU Court of Justice if its rights are infringed or it believes that an EU law violates the subsidiarity principle or fails to respect regional or local powers. For more information: www.cor.europa.eu.

Seminar: “The role of LRAs in fostering European citizenship” – 08/06/2011

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The Union of Cyprus Municipalities and the Committee of the Regions co-organised on June 7 in Nicosia, a seminar on “The role of local and regional authorities in fostering European citizenship”. The seminar was attended by representatives of local and regional authorities from the 27 EU Member States.

In his opening speech, Mr. Neoklis Sylikiotis, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus, underlined that the rights of European citizens will be one of the main priorities of the Cypriot Presidency in the second half of 2012. “European integration cannot succeed without active citizens, and local government must be an equal partner in the exercise of public functions”, he stated.

The next speaker, Mr. Luc Van den Brande stressed that the concept of European citizenship was evolving and was especially important in the process of founding “European municipalities”. The meaning of citizenship was no longer one-dimensional: national and European citizenship were flanked by regional, local and cultural notions of identity. Active participation in political dialogue started above all at grassroots level.

In her video message, European Commissioner Viviane Reding noted that Europe could not be built on legislation and rules alone, but relied on active citizens. She affirmed the European Commission’s commitment to close cooperation with the CoR and local and regional authorities.

In his speech at the seminar, the Secretary General of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Mr. Yiannis Antoniades said that “one of the objectives of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities is to bring the municipalities and the citizens of Cyprus closer to the European Union. We try to achieve this by informing our member Municipalities on the actions of the European Union, by facilitating their participation in European activities and by organizing events like this, which are addressed both to Municipalities and the citizens of Cyprus.” After a detailed presentation of the work of the Union in the field of European Citizenship (including the European projects DECISIVE, SKILLS and SUSTAIN), Mr. Antoniades said: “What I would like you to know is that for us, the effort to promote Town Twinning among the Municipalities and citizens of Cyprus does not end with the SUSTAIN project. On June 1st we submitted a proposal in cooperation with the Assembly of European Regions (AER), in the framework of the Support Measures of the “Europe for Citizens” Programme. This proposal is the logical continuation of the DECISIVE and SUSTAIN projects. As I said, DECISIVE brought volunteers-citizens closer to their Municipalities and taught them to work together to promote European Citizenship. SUSTAIN provides the tools and knowledge to exploit the relationship created through the first project. The new project, which we hope to be financed, will give the last two missing pieces to complete this effort: a) detailed information on what can be financed by the EU and how, and b) access to hundreds of potential partners through the network of the Assembly of European Regions. As you can see, for the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, the promotion of European citizenship is not just an elusive goal. For years, we have been working intensively and methodically, always in collaboration with both the European Commission and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), as well as with the strongest partners in Europe on the issue of European citizenship, such as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Assembly of European Regions (AER)”. We would like to thank them for their help and valuable presence here.

The seminar also focused on various measures taken by official bodies and local authorities in the EU and explored practices used by local and regional authorities to bring citizens closer to the European Union. More specifically, there was a presentation of the Nicosia Master Plan by its authors, Mr. Lellos Dimitriades and Mr. Mustafa Akinci. Events also included a visit to the Famagusta Museum, in Dherynia, near the Green Line.

SUSTAIN PROJECT: First training session in Cyprus – 09/06/2011

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On June 7th, the Union of Cyprus Municipalities organised in the framework of the SUSTAIN project, a training session in Nicosia. The event, which has been organised in cooperation with the Local Union of Municipalities and Communities of Prefecture Chios (TEDK CHIOS), aimed to inform the Municipalities-members of the two associations, on European Programmes, and give them the opportunity to discuss eventual new processes, exchange ideas and develop their capacities in designing and managing Town-Twinning projects.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Cypriot Municipalities, as well as a team of 11 officials from the Municipality of Chios, TEDK Chios, TEDK Samos and TEDK Lesvos, who presented their experience from participating in European Programmes, and their internal processes and useful guidelines for designing new projects and submitting project proposals.

The event took place within the wider effort of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities to ensure equal and effective access of all Cypriot Municipalities to European Programmes, through which the SUSTAIN project is also co-financed.

SUSTAIN project: second 10 days visit of the expert of TEDK Chios to Cyprus – 30/11/2011

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In the framework of the SUSTAIN project, the expert of TEDK Chios, Mr. Vasilis Kampouras, visited Cyprus from 20 to 26 November. The visit took place following the previous visit of the expert, which was held from 9 to 19 May, when Mr. Kampouras met representatives of Cypriot Municipalities, in order for him to assess the situation in each one of them, regarding their participation in European programmes and especially, in the “Europe for Citizens” programme.

Applying the expert’s methodology, which has been proven to be effective in his first visit, this time three nationwide meetings have been organised, gathering representatives of Municipalities, including Mayors, Municipal Secretaries and officers. The first meeting has been organized on November 23rd in the Municipality of Limassol and has been attended by representatives from the Municipalities of Limassol and Paphos districts. On November 24th, the second meeting has been held in the Municipality of Strovolos, attended by representatives of the Municipalities of Nicosia district and of the Occupied Municipalities of Cyprus, while on November 25th the third meeting which took place in the Municipality of Larnaca has been attended by representatives of the Municipalities of Larnaca and Famagusta districts.

During these meetings, Mr. Kampouras presented the main points of the “Study reflecting the current situation of Cypriot Municipalities, regarding the use of Town Twinning and other European programmes”. The Study presents in detail both the problems identified by the expert during his first visit, as well as his suggestions and proposals to the Municipalities in order for them to resolve these problems and improve their performance in the use of Town Twinning and other European programmes.

In his presentation, Mr. Kampouras, said that the Municipalities of Cyprus can be divided into three main categories depending on their characteristics in relation to the use of Town Twinning and other European Programmes:

a) large and active Municipalities,
b) small Municipalities with limited experience and
c) Occupied Municipalities.

As Mr. Kampouras said, all the Municipalities, regardless of their category, have to face -more or less- the same problems:

  • All Municipalities receive the information material sent to them by the Brussels Office of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, but this material is not adequately disseminated within the Municipalities (per section/department or per person).
  • So far, none of the Municipalities has pursued or created synergies and wider partnerships or coordinated efforts, neither with other Cypriot Municipalities nor with the Union of Cyprus Municipalities.
  • Usually there is no clear vision from the Municipalities (at political / Municipal Council level) on their approach to Town Twinning and other European programmes.
  • There is (bigger or smaller depending on the Municipality) understaffing and underemployment of personnel that has the defined responsibility to work on European programmes. The extend of this problem has diminished in the last years.
  • Very often, the increased workload is “pushing” down the priority for the use of European programmes. The everyday routine comes first, leaving behind in the agenda, equally important but still more general and long-term issues that could be solved through European funding.
  • Poor knowledge of the English language and terminology in a large proportion of the officers and sections who are potentially involved in European and international actions.
  • Poor knowledge of the European programmes and their usefulness by elected and senior executives, e.g. the Heads of Departments.
  • Reluctance to participate in European projects, especially when there is a previous bad experience.
  • Difficulty to access information on European programmes and calls for proposals.
  • Usually there is not enough time for submitting a proposal in order to participate in a European programme, as there is no long-term planning to ensure the timely detection and identification of appropriate opportunities. Moreover, the required workflow for preparing a proposal or participating in the projects of other partners (proper use of partner searches) is often huge or is liable to fail at any moment because of the existence of many different intermediaries (a lot of departments involved, need for approval by the Municipal Council, etc.), which do not always understand the process.
  • Lack of sufficient knowledge among officers, regarding the needs of their Municipality and the long-term operational planning (e.g. 5-year term).
  • Problems in the implementation of the projects, concerning the cooperation with other partners, the effective supervision of outsourced services and services in general, compliance with the time schedule, financial management, timely and satisfying absorption of resources and proper treatment of the subsequent administrative and management controls.
  • Coordination and collaboration problems between the involved internal departments of the Municipalities or with the Municipal decision making centres.
  • The project results are often not disseminated to the general public. Instead, they are even underused by the departments of the Municipalities and they often remain in the drawers of the services that have implemented them, without adding further value to the overall operation of the Municipalities. Moreover, no attention has been given to the involvement of citizens to projects, in order to ensure their maximum acceptance and use.
  • Deficiencies finally exist in the standardization of the procedures and the “automation” of services, as well as in finding and implementing a case by case effective methodology. This is mainly due to the lack of experience in this area.