(AGENPARL) – mer 26 ottobre 2022 [Image]
Ref. CG053(2022)
Denmark: Good implementation of European Charter of Local Self-Government, but need better coordination between municipalities and regions
With regard to the right to participate in public affairs at local level in Denmark, the rapporteurs Xavier Cadoret, France (SOC/G/PD) and Carla Dejonghe, Belgium (ILDG) note, exactly as the previous rapporteurs did in 2013, that Denmark has good practices in this respect. However, Denmark, has not yet signed the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No. 207) despite those positive examples of participation in public affairs and the absence of legal obstacles that would prevent its signature. Therefore, the rapporteurs encourage national authorities to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol in the near future.
Fifteen years after the reform of the extensive administrative territorial structure in 2007, the Danish’ local government system faces some significant challenges. In the report, the rapporteurs note that the division of competences between regions and municipalities as regards the delivery of health services has become increasingly challenging in recent years and requires specific consideration by all levels of government. The Congress recommend that Denmark revisit the framework of collaboration and the distribution of tasks between municipalities and regions on the delivery of health services, in consultation with associations of local and regional authorities, with the aim of improving cooperation and increasing the robustness of the healthcare system.
The Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments conducted a monitoring visit to examine the situation of local and regional democracy in Denmark on 3-5 May 2022 in the light of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
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For further information:
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Institutional Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Leendert Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC/G/PD), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Harald Sonderegger (Austria, EPP/CCE).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France