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The sixth annual overseas
conference of the Confederation of European Councillors will be hosted at the
Park Inn Hotel, Berlin from 12th to 14th October. Having
developed a new workgroup to build links between councillor organisations on
these islands, the conference will give delegate an opportunity to enhance
relations while debating and discussing issues and areas of mutual interest to
local representatives across Europe.
Previous conferences have
brought delegates to Brussels, Prague, Slovakia and Gibraltar and Partnership
Manager John Devaney believes that
Berlin
would be an ideal location. “We have taken account of a number of issues in
deciding the venue, not least in the fact that Berlin is so easily and
reasonably accessible from Belfast and Dublin, particularly with low cost
airlines. We have also considered the fact that Germany has and does play a key role
at the heart of the EU and modern Europe and having begun to add the East-West
dimension to the work we are doing in Ireland, we would wish to reach outwards
in developing relations with local government and councillors. One of the aims
of the Confederation is to develop links with and between local councillors and
councillor groups across the continent.”
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The event
will open on Wednesday, 12th October and will focus on the following
topics over the course of three days.
The Role and
Potential of the Confederation within North-South and East-West Relations
This session shall allow us to place the impact
of the work of the Confederation in the context of North-South, Cross-Border and
East-West work, particularly as the organisation enters its next phase of
development.
Berlin and Germany:
The Historical, Political and Comparative context
A special paper will be delivered which shall
provide an opportune backdrop to
Berlin and German
political structures, as well as the historical development of the city and its
emergence from war and division. This paper will also provide some comparative
commentary with local and regional government structures within
Ireland
and the UK.
Political tour of
Berlin
This special study tour will provide delegates with an
insight into the political history of the city, with visits to and meetings at
the Reichstag, Rotes Rathaus and Brandenburg Lande as well as Checkpoint
Charlie, the remains of the Berlin Wall and the
Church of Reconciliation.
The Enlargement of
the European Union
This session shall allow speakers to address
delegates on the impact of EU enlargement and the differing views that exist
within Ireland,
Britain and Germany towards the present developments within the European Union.
Sessions on Day 2 will take place at the Panorama-Salon on the 37th
floor.
Local Government in
Europe and the Subsidiarity Principle
Subsidiarity has been defined in the preamble to the draft EU
Treaty as the principle that power should be exercised “as close as possible to
citizens”. This particular session will focus on the principles of subsidiarity
and governance, and will be timely as we examine the vital roles that local and
regional governments play within the European project.
Developing
Councillor and Council Relations in Modern
Europe
As the Confederation of European Councillors
matures and expands to develop relations between local representatives and their
councillor groups from
Ireland, Northern
Ireland and Britain, this session will focus on how such relations can be of
benefit throughout the continent.
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The first Annual
General Meeting of the partnership body that incorporates the Local Authority
Members Association of the Republic of Ireland and the National Association of
Councillors of Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales will take place on
Friday morning, 14th October, while the CEC are also planning a joint
reception with the embassies of Ireland and the UK.
The full schedule
for the conference is as follows:
Wednesday, 12th
October 2005.
11.00am
WELCOME AND OPENING
OF CONFERENCE
The sixth joint
overseas conference of members from the National Association of Councillors and
the Local Authority Members Association will be opened at a session to be
attended by all delegates, members of the diplomatic corps, and civic officers
of the city of Berlin.
Sessions on Day 1
and 3 will take place at the Döblin 1 centre on the 3rd floor.
11.30am – 12.15pm
CONFEDERATION OF
EUROPEAN COUNCILLORS
The Role and
Potential of the Confederation within North-South and East-West Relations
12.15pm – 1.00pm
BERLIN AND
GERMANY
The Historical,
Political and Comparative context
1.00pm – 2.00pm
LUNCH
Lunch will be
served at the 2nd Floor Humboldt restaurant of the Park Inn Hotel
2.30pm
POLITICAL STUDY
TOUR OF BERLIN
7.00pm
CONFERENCE DINNER
Dinner will be
served at Döblin II on the 3rd Floor of the Park Inn Hotel
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Thursday, 13th
October 2005:
10.00am – 11.30am
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND MODERN EUROPE
The Enlargement of
the European Union
11.30am – 1.00pm
Local Government in
Europe and the Subsidiarity Principle
1.00pm – 2.00pm
LUNCH
Lunch will be
served at the 2nd Floor Humboldt restaurant of the Park Inn Hotel
2.00pm
STUDY TOUR OF
BERLIN
The impressive and fascinating
city of Berlin provides any visitor with an opportunity to visit the vast number
of attractions. This tour will take in many facets of the city, including
features of its unique history, the Brandenburg gate, Museum Island, war
memorials, Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower.
6.00pm
RECEPTION HOSTED BY
THE IRISH AND BRITISH EMBASSIES
The embassies of
Ireland and the United Kingdom will host delegates for a special joint reception
in the Wintergarden Hall at the British Embassy, which is based on
Wilhelmstrausse in the centre of the city.
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Friday, 14th
October 2005:
10.00am – 11.30am
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WITHIN MODERN EUROPE
Developing
Councillor and Council Relations
11.30am – 1.00pm
CONFEDERATION OF
EUROPEAN COUNCILLORS
Annual General
Meeting
1.00pm
CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
For any further
information on the Annual Overseas Conference, contact John Devaney at +44
(0)2891812322 or at
john.devaney@europeancouncillors.com. |
