QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE UNION OF MUNICIPALITIES Wednesday, 31 March 2010 Issue No: 9

DECISIVE: DEVELOPMENT OF CYPRIOT TWINNING CAPACITIES THROUGH ACTIVE VOLUNTEERING

After a proposal submitted by the Union of applications and run the projects). On the Cyprus Municipalities (UCM) in the other hand, municipalities that have the framework of the “Europe for Citizens” capacity to run Twinnings, develop them programme (Action 1: Measure 2.2 mainly with neighboring countries and only Support measures), the European give the possibility to a few of the citizens Commission decided through the to participate in them. Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) to finance the The same problems exist in other distant training of volunteers in the Municipalities and small geographical units such as the of Cyprus, in order to support the island of Chios - Greece. The DECISIVE development of Twinnings with other project targets all these problems: European countries. The project has a duration of 12 months, starting from the a) even if distance can be an obstacle for 4th January 2010 and the partners are the the creation of Twinnings, municipalities Union of Cyprus Municipalities (UCM), the often pay for travel and other expenses on Vereniging van Vlaamse Steden en their own, if the they think it’s useful. Gemeenten (VVSG) – Belgium and the Distance becomes, therefore, a minor Local Union of Municipalities and problem if a twinning is useful. Communites of Prefecture Chios (TEDK CHIOS) – Greece. b) the UCM had a part of the responsibility for the lack of information, despite the Cypriot municipalities currently efforts undertaken especially during the underexploit the possibilities offered by last two years. The DECISIVE project helps Town Twinning. According to the results of the UCM and other associations facing the a survey conducted by the UCM, the main same problems to further develop their reasons for that are: a) geographical capacities by creating a real dialog distance, b) lack of information on town between citizens, local politicians and twinning and most importantly c) lack of municipal officers concerning all practical qualified municipal personnel (to fill in and political aspects of town twinning.

Future major DECISIVE activities:

9/5/10: Dissemination Event in Cyprus 18/5/10: First training session in Cyprus and launch of the webpage September: Study trip and training sessions in Belgium October: Dissemination event in Cyprus November: Final training session in Cyprus November: Dissemination event: Annual General Assembly of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities December: Quantitative Evaluation

3/2010 MUNICIPAL NEWS ISSUE 9 c) there are not many ways to deal with of the current twinning agreements that the lack of personnel. After discussing with remain inactive. A dissemination event will different associations of local authorities also take place on the 9th of May, helping around Europe, we have decided to exploit in this way citizens and local stakeholders and develop in Cyprus and Chios the to better learn and understand the methodology used in Flanders: it is the practical meaning of active European citizens themselves that voluntarily citizenship: citizens, local officials and local prepare and run twinnings. This method politicians working together for the same not only alleviates the administrative purpose and cooperating with European burden from municipalities but also regions that have the same problems and strengthens the citizens’ feeling of targets. ownership over the projects. Every Cypriot municipality has already DECISIVE, therefore, focuses on indicated a number of potential volunteers developing voluntarism and transferring along with local officials and politicians. knowhow from Flanders to Cyprus and This group of 250 people, along with the Chios, through training sessions in Cyprus representative of TEDK Chios will follow and Belgium. the first training session that will take place in Cyprus in May 2010.

The trainers, five in total, will be selected by the VVSG as follows: Two trainers from a municipality where town twinnings are organised only by the town twinning committees (volunteers), two trainers from The project aims to promote volunteering a municipality where town twinnings are not simply as a principle, but also through organised by the municipality with the the development of specific skills for the collaboration and help of a town twinning participating volunteers. New skills (filling- committee and one trainer from the in of the Online Grant Application Form and Association. project management) will be developed not only amongst those who are After the first training session, a group of responsible for twinning activities at a local 39 potential volunteers will be chosen level but also among ordinary citizens that among the 250 initial ones. These, along will learn how to work with their local with the representantive of TEDK Chios will politicians and municipal officers. travel to Belgium at the end of September 2010 for a series of practical training This way the project will foster the sense sessions. One of the sessions will take of ownership of the among place in the premises of the EACEA and will citizens: not only will they have the chance be focused on the filling-in of the Online to participate in a European project, they Grant Application Form, one in the will also have the opportunity to shape it premises of the Union of Cyprus and create something useful out of it. Municipalities where the Europe for Citizens programme and the CEMR website Finally, the project hopes to promote on twinning (www.twinning.org) will be twinnings at least between Cypriot and presented to them and another one, either Flemish towns - currently no twinning in the municipality of the trainers, or within exists between towns in the two regions. the UCM premises, in order for the By including citizens in the process and participants to be more thoroughly helping them understand the meaning of acquainted with the work of the Flemish Twinning, we also hope to revitalise some town twinning committees.

3/2010 MUNICIPAL NEWS ISSUE 9

The training session in Belgium will hold a • Preparation of an INFORMATION key role in the project since it will CAMPAIGN aimed to analyse thoroughly familiarize future twinning officers with the - by means of meetings addressed to work and personnel of the EACEA and the the officials responsible of each involved EU in general (information visit to the municipality – knowledge and skills on Committee of the Regions and potentially the subject of town-twinning. Special the ). attention will be given to themes dealing with: EU policies and tools and A final conference will again take place in EU co-operation among municipalities. Cyprus at the beginning of November 2010 Furthermore, the Seminars' aim will be with the participation of all (or even some the promotion and diffusion of the new) 250 potential “twinning officers” with SKILLS project, its contextualized the aim to conclude the work, set up results and learned lessons, as well as Cypriot town twinning committees and best practices to be transferred to other present ideas for the creation of new districts and territorial realities. The first twinnings or present new ones already meeting between Italian and Cypriot created via the project. Municipalities will take place on April 16th in Cyprus. Participation in the SKILLS project Thanks to a high-quality communication campaign and the accomplishment of

information sessions, it will be possible to In addition to the DECISIVE project, the reach local authorities everywhere with Union of Cyprus Municipalities participates specific activities designed to provide as a partner in the SKILLS project, which "information, training, increased also aims to promote Town Twinning within awareness" to actively involve and alert the Municipalities of Cyprus. The lead them as concerns issues of the SKILLS partner of the project is ANCI Lazio. project.

The project’s overall goal is to create innovative actions, to bring local authorities Study for the restructuring from the two associations closer, to of the Local Government encourage the two partners (Lazio Region and Cyprus) to participate more actively in On February 22th, the Minister of Interior Town twinning activities and to support of the Republic of Cyprus presented to the them in the creation and development of media, the Study for the Restructuring of long-term thematic networks for common Local Government of the Republic of priority issues. Cyprus, in an event attended by the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and the Union of The following actions have been identified Cyprus Communities, who have assigned as priorities for the SKILLS project: the relative study to the National Centre of • creation of a website linking local Public Administration and Self-Government authorities and paving the way to of Greece. participatory processes concerning European policies. The information Following the formal presentation, the system will consist of various tools / web study will be the subject of public dialogue, services, such as a RESEARCH PARTNER where all the municipalities, communities, tool and Project IDEA area for the political parties and other interested bodies exchange of project ideas within the will have the opportunity to express their European Community. opinion before implementation starts.

3/2010 MUNICIPAL NEWS ISSUE 9

CEMR Directors meet in The meeting concluded with an address by Cyprus former Mayor of , Lellos Demetriades, who gave an overview of the The future of the Council of European situation in Nicosia economically and Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the politically. new mandates at the European institutions and the reform of local government in Cyprus, were the main topics discussed at the meeting of Secretaries General and Directors of CEMR's member associations that took place in Nicosia, on 4 and 5 March 2010.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Cypriot Minister of Interior, Neoklis Sylikiotis, presented the reform process of local government that will soon take place in the country. "We want to organise a The Council of European Municipalities was broad debate on the decentralisation founded in Geneva in 1951 by a group of process that should lead to a greater European mayors; later, it opened its ranks financial autonomy for local government." to the regions and became the Council of The Mayor of Nicosia, Eleni Mavrou, European Municipalities and Regions. welcomed the announcement that Cyprus Today, it is the largest organisation of local local government will play a leading role in and regional government in Europe; its this debate. members are over 50 national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from 38 countries. Together these associations represent some 100.000 local and regional authorities.

The CEMR works on a number of issues that concern local and regional authorities, like the EU regional policy, employment, energy, the environment, equal opportunities, governance & future of the

EU, information society, international local The future of the CEMR was another government, local and regional democracy, subject of discussion: What is CEMR's local and regional government as an precise role and place in that local and employer, North-South cooperation, public regional galaxy? What is CEMR's raison services and procurement, social affairs, d'être 60 years after its birth? These will be sustainable development, transport and some questions to be addressed town twinning. Today, there are more than throughout the coming year. The Member 26.000 twinned towns in Europe and the of Nicosia municipal council and of the CEMR plays an important role in bringing Committee of the Regions (CoR), Eleni them together, especially through its Loucaides, was invited to present the website: www.twinning.org. renewal of CoR's commissions. In her speech, she stressed the need to The Union of Cyprus Municipalities became strengthen cooperation rather than member of the CEMR in 1990 and is competition between the CoR and the represented in its Policy Committee by two CEMR. members.

3/2010 MUNICIPAL NEWS ISSUE 9

New Delegation of Cyprus Under the current distribution, the Municipalities are represented by 4 to the Committee of the members and 4 alternates and the Regions Communities by 2 members and 2 alternates. The coordination of the National For the next five years, 6 elected Delegation is assured by the Brussels representatives will be the voice of the Office of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities. Local Authorities of Cyprus in Brussels. On February 9th, they undertook their duties as members of the Committee of the Digital City Regions (CoR), the assembly of representatives of Local and Regional The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority Authorities of the European Union, and (Cyta) in cooperation with the Union of elected Mr. George Georgiou, Mayor of Cyprus Municipalities held recently in Kato Polemidia as Head of the Delegation Nicosia a workshop on the subject of and Mr. Christos Messis, Mayor of Mesa “Digital City: Solutions from Cyta”. The Yitonia, as a member of the Bureau of the workshop was organized within the CoR. framework of the wider cooperation with the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and a The Members of the new Cypriot further practical expression of interest delegation are: Mr. George Georgiou, from Cyta to support the local government Mayor of Kato Polemidia and Head of of Cyprus to meet its modern role. Delegation, Mr. Christos Messis, Mayor of Mesa Yitonia and member of the Bureau, Cyta is a semi-government organization Mr. Savvas Iliofotou, Mayor of Strovolos, and is the leading provider of integrated Mr. Christodoulos Costa Kattirtzis, electronic communications services in President of the Community Council of Cyprus. Kato Zodia, Mrs. Eleni Loucaidou, Municipal Councilor of Nicosia and Mr. Evyenios The conference was attended by the Michail, President of the Community President of the Union of Cyprus Council of Omodos. Municipalities, Mr. Andreas Christou, Mayor of Limassol, who addressed a brief The alternate members of the new Cypriot greeting. delegation are: Mr. Christofis Antoniou, President of the Community Council of The aim of the workshop was to present Episkopi, Mr. Dimos Yiangou, President of the business model for telematics solutions the Community Council of Kyrenia Ayia offered by Cyta through integrated, Irini, Mr. Andreas Mouseos, Mayor of reliable and cost-effective solutions that Larnaca, Mr. Charalambos Pittas, Mayor of can support the efficient functioning of Morphou, Mr. Costas Hadjikakou, Municipal municipalities. Councilor of Famagusta and Mr. Kyriakos Chatzittofis, Mayor of Ayios Athanasios. The workshop, attended by Mayors, Municipal Secretaries and other officials, In Cyprus, the Minister of Interior chooses presented the following options: the members of the National Delegation to • Managing electronic communication and the CoR after consulting with the Union of collaboration Cyprus Municipalities and the Union of • Managing relationships with customers Cyprus Communities. Geographical and • Fleet management political criteria as well as the type of local • Parking management authorities represented are taken into • Managing facilities, buildings and account for this purpose. machinery.

3/2010 MUNICIPAL NEWS ISSUE 9

Euro-Mediterranean strengthen the reinvigorated partnership, Regional and Local as amended at the meeting in Paris on July 13, 2008, in accordance with the Assembly Declaration of Marseille by the Foreign Ministers of the Mediterranean Union. Over seventy local and regional representatives from thirty countries around Participants also indicated that national the three shores of the Mediterranean met initiatives on each side of the in Barcelona on Thursday 21 January, for Mediterranean need to be strengthened in the inaugural meeting of the Euro- order to achieve sustainable solutions with Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly the involvement of local authorities, to (ARLEM). Cyprus is represented in ARLEM form and implement policies for the by Mrs Eleni Loucaides, Municipal Councilor citizens and the cooperation of cities in the of Nicosia, Commissioner of Local Mediterranean region and stressed that Government of the Democratic Rally and they intend, by establishing ARLEM, to member of the Cypriot delegation to the bring citizens closer to the region and Committee of the Regions (CoR) who highlight the benefits of joint cooperation attended the meeting in Barcelona and by between local authorities. Mr. George Georgiou, Mayor of Kato Polemidia and Head of the Cypriot ARLEM is a response to the request to put Delegation to the CoR. the role of regional and local authorities in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership on an In Barcelona, Mayors of major cities from institutional footing. It therefore gives the the European Union and the Mediterranean partnership a territorial dimension and partner countries have joined forces to seeks to involve local and regional energise the Euro-Mediterranean authorities in the specific projects of the partnership. The Mayors are determined to Union for the Mediterranean. go beyond existing traditional diplomatic relations by launching concrete cooperation The Barcelona Declaration, adopted by the programmes on issues such as immigration, Euro-Mediterranean Conference in climate change, urban development or November 1995, stated: "Municipalities cultural exchange. Closeness to citizens, and regional authorities need to be closely efficiency in project management and involved in the operation of the Euro- tackling real life issues will be at the heart Mediterranean Partnership. City and of this cooperation, which should underpin regional representatives will be the institutional framework of the Euro- encouraged to meet each year to take Mediterranean Union. stock of their common challenges and exchange experiences". The ARLEM aspires to act as a consultative body to the involvement of Local Authorities ARLEM, a joint project of the Committee of in the Euromed partnership. During the the Regions, regional and local authorities conference, participants (including Mrs. around the three shores of the Loucaides), underlined the commitment of Mediterranean and European and local authorities across the Mediterranean international associations representing to promote peace, democracy, social and regional and local authorities working on cultural understanding, sustainable the ground, will facilitate the development and prosperity in the establishment of contacts, good practice Mediterranean region. They also proposed sharing between cities and regions and the to represent the ARLEM Euro-Mediterranean promotion of inter-municipal and inter- communities and local authorities to regional cooperation.

USEFUL CONTACTS AND LINKS FOR CYPRUS

• Union of Cyprus Municipalities Tel: +357 22 445170 Fax: +357 22 677230 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.ucm.org.cy/

Brussels Office Tel: +32 2 213 8110 Fax: +32 2 213 8111 e-mail: [email protected]

• Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus Tel: +357 22 804122 Fax: +357 22 665990 e-mail: [email protected] http://moi.gov.cy/

• Cyprus Government web portal http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/

• Planning Bureau of the Republic of Cyprus Tel:+357 22 602900 Fax: +357 22 666810 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.planning.gov.cy/

• Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union Tel: +32 2 735 9015 / 2 741 6745 Fax: +32 2 735 7948 e-mail: [email protected]

• Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus Tel: +357 22817770 Fax: +357 22768926 e-mail: [email protected] http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus/index_en.htm

• European Parliament Cyprus Offices Tel: +357 22 46 06 94 Fax: +357 22 76 77 33 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/nicosia/

• Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus Tel: +357 22 80 11 17 Fax:+357 22 66 61 23 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

• Cyprus Tourism Organisation Tel: +357 22 69 11 00 Fax: +357 22 33 16 44 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.visitcyprus.com

Brussels office Tel: +32 2 735.06.21 Fax: +32 2 735.66.07 http://www.ucm.org.cy e-mail: [email protected] Visit our website for more information