Bulgaria development minister attended Council of Europe forum

  Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova addressed the participants at the 30th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, which takes place in Strasbourg on March 22-24, the press office of the ministry announced. 
The forum is themed Ethics and Transparency on Local and Regional Level. 
Minister Pavlova made a statement on March 23 as a representative of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. 
During the meeting in Strasbourg Lilyana Pavlova will hold working meetings on summit Council of Europe level. The Bulgarian minister met with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Jean-Claude Frécon.
Regional Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova met with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. The two discussed Bulgarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the press centre of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works reported. 
The Minister and the Secretary General agreed that the Presidency of Bulgaria which began in November 2015 was running very successfully. The presidency is held in alphabetical order for six months following the English alphabet among all states of the Council of Europe. This is the second Bulgarian Presidency in the history of the country as a member of the oldest political organisation in Europe. 
Minister Pavlova and Thorbjørn Jagland discussed a long-term vision for administrative and special planning of our country as an instrument of the regional policy, as well as introduction of self government at regional level as a forthcoming debate until 2020. 
The Regional Minister pointed out that Bulgaria has ratified the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government. She summarised that they worked in several directions with respect to local governance, adding that there was forthcoming debate on decentralisation in the country. 
The Regional Minister informed about an international conference themed Good Governance at Local Level - Challenges and Perspectives, which will take place at the end of March. It aims at promoting the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level, adopted and implemented by the Council of Europe.
Minster Pavlova presented Thorbjorn Jagland with realised in our country measures towards de-institutionalization of social services for children, including successfully completed projects. As such, she pointed newly built protected homes and centres for family-type accommodation constructed with funds under the Regional Development Operational Programme, where children already live in an environment closer to family one. 
“Under the Regional Development Operational Programme were also built social housing for disadvantaged people”, Minister Pavlova said. 
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe expressed concern regarding issues related to protection of children in the refugee crisis. In this regard, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works expressed hope that the good work with all parties would continue and measures of the integration strategy would be implemented.
Minister Lilyana Pavlova also met with the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Jean-Claude Frécon. 
Jean-Claude Frécon congratulated our country on the signed Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government and noted that Bulgaria was among the first countries ratified the Protocol. 
Minister Pavlova thanked the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities for the support and explained the importance of the local authorities in the process for integration of the most vulnerable social groups. She outlined that the purpose of government is to continue to support local authorities in improving their management.
Minister Lilyana Pavlova commented the initiative for awarding a Label for Innovation and Good Governance and expressed hope that more municipalities will join in.
“In Bulgaria we are closely following with concern and indignation the tragic events in the heart of Europe, which are continuation of the dramatic series of attempts to shaken security and stability in European and worldwide. Such brutal acts of violence against innocent people should be uncompromisingly condemned and their organisers should be brought to justice,” Lilyana Pavlova said during her participation in the 30th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE) of the Council of Europe.
Minister Pavlova condemned severe terror attacks in Brussels and expressed her condolences to the families of the victims, to the Belgium people, to the Belgium’s delegation and the Federal Government of the Kingdom of Belgium.
“We have to be united in combating terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism, as these acts rudely and ruthlessly violate fundamental human rights - the right to life, liberty and personal security are among the core values of the Council of Europe”, the Minister said. 
In her speech to the delegates of the Congress Lilyana Pavlova presented key focuses of the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers on issues such as refugee crisis, the fight against terrorism, the situation in Ukraine and others. 
In her words these issues would contribute to improving security in Europe and the protection of fundamental personal rights and values whose protection is the main mission of the Council of Europe. 
“Local and regional authorities have a key role in tackling common European challenges we face,” the Minister said and encouraged a discussion on these topics on the agenda of the session, because according to her, sharing of experiences, difficulties encountered and best practices generate real added value for solving specific problems.

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