DECENTRALISATION AND THE NEED FOR A TERRITORIAL REFORM IN ALBANIA: THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The role of the Council of Europe – as defined by the Statute creating the Organisation in 1949 – is to defend and promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in its member states.

“We will strive for our common goal of promoting democracy and good governance of the highest quality, nationally, regionally and locally for all our citizens.”

The European Charter of Local Self-Government, has been ratified by 41 countries (among which Albania in April 2000).

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities represents over communes and regions within the Council of Europe’s 46 member states.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe instructed the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe to prepare on a regular basis country-by- country reports on the situation of local and/or regional democracy in all member states.

One of the aims of the Council of Europe is to reinforce and consolidate local and regional democracy in member states, to draw up and implement a framework of standards for the functioning of the state, its institutions and its intermediate structures, such as municipal, provincial and regional authorities and to encourage the sharing of experience and best practice in “front line” issues of change such as e-government at local level.

Main focus of recent Council of Europe activities in Albania: Development of the “Work Programme for Better Local Government in Albania” Establishing a sound institutional framework for local government Building effective and democratic local government

Building effective and democratic local government:  National Training Strategy and Training Agency  Best Practice Programme  Leadership Benchmark Programme  Public ethics

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