“Good local and regional governance in turbulent times: the challenge of change�

1. Opening of the 16th Session

2. Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference

3. Adoption of the agenda

4. The Kiviniemi report on the Outlook for the Future

5. Progress review:
- Implementation of the Budapest Agenda by the Council of Europe and member States
- Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance
- European Local Democracy Week

6. Exchange of views between the Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

7.  Debate on key topics:
- The impact of the economic crisis on local and regional government: what policy responses by governments?
- Transfrontier co-operation: the role of central government in removing obstacles

8.  Debate: “What are the most important challenges governments face in local and regional democracy today?â€�

Followed by

9. Vote by Ministers to determine the Utrecht Agenda

10.  Exchange of practice and experience on issues of local and regional democracy and good governance
Including: Report on developments on citizen participation in member states, covering also the integration of foreigners in local life

11. Council of Europe Reference Framework for Regional Democracy

12. Other business

13. Adoption of Utrecht Declaration and final resolution

14. Closing of the Session

For the (draft) agenda of the 16th session of the Conference of the Council of Europe for European ministers responsible for local and regional government in Word format, please click here.