Effective citizens' Council contributes to civic participation, social cohesion and cooperation between local residents and local government, experts, representatives of state, municipal and public councils to date in the conference on “Citizens' Council in Latvia” dedicated to the activities of the general population. Conference in Rēzekne representatives from local governments, where the Council of Citizens are already in operation, including Rēzekne, Ropaja and Tukums District, to share their experience of building and maintaining effective councils.
The conference was opened by President of State President Egil Levita, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Maris Sprinjuka and Ambassador of Great Britain to Latvia Paul Bramela (Paul Brummell) salutations. Mr Zane Matesovičs, head of the British Council's representation in Latvia, emphasized that the Council of Citizens may be an effective tool for the cohesion of society and the creation of a sense of belonging if they are represented by various groups of society – people of different ages and sex with different professions, income, political and religious beliefs or the language in which they speak at home.
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Agnese Gedusheva, spoke to the conference participants that the Council of Europe helps to promote awareness of both local government representatives and citizens about democracy. “The Council urges both municipalities as executive and councils not to say“ we know better ”, but to communicate constantly with Community representatives, to understand their needs. Citizens are also encouraged not to criticise but to offer concrete solutions to improvements and cooperation becomes more constructive. '
THE President OF the Rēzekne District Council, Monvīds Švarcs, explained that participation and co-responsibility are essential when building a population of the Council. “The Council of Citizens not only gives citizens the opportunity to express their wishes and make proposals, but the representatives of the local government help to understand what and how they need to be carried out in each area. It is an instrument that promotes cooperation in both directions."
Ropaja District Council Vice-President Haralds Burkovskis stressed that regular communication with citizens should continue after the elections, and the Council of Citizens may help to inform local residents about the work of the local government. “The members of the people's councils are like municipal ambassadors in a particular area,” he explained.
The conference “Citizens' Council in Latvia” took place on April 21 at Latgale Embassy “Gors” and was organised by British Council representation in Latvia and the municipality of Rezekne in collaboration with “Providus”. The activities of the Citizens' Councils were discussed in two panel discussions where video recordings are available Rezekne District Municipalities and British Council Representations in Latvia Facebook accounts.
The conference was organised by concluding the first phase of the co-operation project “Strengthening Population Consultative Councils in Rezekne District”. Various activities have been carried out within the framework of the project in order to promote the dialogue of the people's advisory councils with the municipality of Rezekne, as well as the capacity of representatives of the councils of the people to be raised in a more efficient representation of interests in the local government.
Photo: Inese Kalniņa
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