Riga City’s membership in international cooperation networks, organisations
and institutions of the European Union
1. Union of the Baltic Cities, UBC
Home page:
http://www.ubc.net/
It unites 106 cities from 10 countries in the Baltic Sea Region. It was established in 1991 in Gdansk (founded by 32 cities, including Riga) to promote co-operation between the cities of Western Europe (German, Scandinavian) and Eastern Europe. UBC’s work has been organised into 13 commissions (business cooperation, culture, education, energy, environment, gender equality, health and social affairs, information society, sport, tourism, transportation, urban planning, youth issues), as well as Local Safety and Public Order working group. Riga is active in the commissions of urban planning, culture, transport, environment and tourism and also in the Local Safety and Public Order working group.
The Local Safety and Public Order working group of UBC was officially approved during the first meeting in Riga on 14.10.2010.
The participation of Riga City is administered by the Foreign Affairs Division of Riga City Council through participation in the meetings of the Executive Board.
2. Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Co-operation, BSSSC
Home page:
http://www.bsssc.com/
Riga co-operates within the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Co-operation (BSSSC); since October 2001 Riga has supported the organisation the annual conference of BSSSC in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Latvia (the cooperation is rather ad hoc).
3. Union of Capitals of the European Union / Union des Capitales de l’Union Européenne, UCEU
Home page:
http://www.uceu.org/
The only network, which covers the local governments of all EU capital cities; UCEU members are 27 capitals of the European Union. The presiding city of UCEU rotates annually.
The Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council ensures participation in the meetings of the executive committee, during which the agenda of the general annual meeting is prepared, the meeting is held at the end of the year.
4. The City League The Hanse (Städtebund DIE HANSE)
Home page:
http://www.hanse.org/de
With decision No.8893 dated 26 September 2000 by Riga City Council, Riga City joined the New City League The Hanse. During the annual International New Hanse Days, in the framework of which the Hanse Commission meeting and the International Economic Forum are held and an extensive international culture program is offered, the Hanse exhibition/fair is also held, as well as Youth Hanse – a separate programme for the youth, also an art project/ exhibition HANSEartWORKS; the City of Riga is represented by the delegation of the Riga City Council, as well as the group of Riga culture programme participants. Traditionally Riga has participated with its own stand in Hanse exhibition- fair.
On 30 June 2010, during the International Hanse Days in Pärnu, when the election of Hanse Commission was held, Riga was repeatedly elected to represent also other Hanseatic cities of Latvia (Cēsis, Valmiera, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Koknese, Straupe, Limbaži) on the Hanse Commission during the period from 2011 to 2013; the representation is ensured by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council.
5. The network of major European cities, EUROCITIES
Home page:
http://www.eurocities.eu/main.php
In November 2002 Riga was officially admitted into the international organisation of European cities - EUROCITIES. This organisation is the co-operation of major European cities (more than 130 member cities in 30 European countries), which was established in 1986 to foster co-operation between cities in social, environment, transport, culture, education, information and other fields, to advocate the interests of the cities in the EU and develop a vision of sustainable future. EUROCITIES is a European scale platform of knowledge, ideas, experience sharing, common problems and innovative solutions; working groups of individual sectors have been set up in the framework of this cooperation network. Riga is especially actively involved in EUROCITIES Culture Forum, more than 60 member cities participate in its activities; Riga is also active in the Migration and Integration working group of the Social Issues Forum. The issue of participation in EUROCITIES projects is essential – in these at least 50% of the total project costs are covered by the EU funded programs, the remaining part is the co-funding of each city.
The participation of Riga City through participation in the meetings of the executive committee is ensured by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council.
6. The European Network “Cities for Children”
Home page:
http://www.citiesforchildren.eu/
The city of Stuttgart, in co-operation with the representatives from 12 other European cities, developed the strategy for European network of cities “Cities for Children”. Currently more than 65 cities from 31 European countries are members of the network and it offers a platform for European communities and institutions, responsible for dealing with child, youth and social issues. In June 2007 Riga joined this co-operation network. The main areas that the network focuses upon are education, provision of housing, health and safety, work –life balance, inter-generation dialogue, youth participation. The Education, Culture and Sports Department, as well as Welfare Department of the Riga City Council are active participants of the network.
The participation of Riga City through participation in the meetings of executive committee is ensured by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council.
7. Baltic Metropoles Network, BaltMet
Home page:
http://www.baltmet.org/pub/
BaltMet network was established in 2002 and it consists of 11 metropolises of the Baltic Sea Region: Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Malmö, Oslo, Riga, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw. The main aim of BaltMet network is to use co-operation advantages to raise the international profile, competitiveness and balanced development of the Baltic Sea Region. This network has been established and exists voluntarily, uniting members with shared interests; it is a forum for exchange of experience and interests. The main focus of the network is upon implementation of joint projects in accordance with the priorities defined in the Action plan; however, the network is also actively engaged in defining common positions regarding various EU policy issues.
From the beginning of 2006 till the end of 2008 Riga was the presiding city of the network, ensuring the activities of the executive committee and the secretariat. After Stockholm took over the presidency in 2009 Riga has been active in the network as one of the co-chairpersons. Riga’s representation in the meetings of BaltMet cities’ representatives is ensured by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council.
Two EU funded projects, in which Riga is the leading partner, are being implemented in the framework of BaltMet – Creative Metropoles and BaltMet Promo (promoting the development of Baltic metropolises). On behalf of the Riga municipality BaltMet Promo project is implemented by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council.
8. The EU Committee of the Regions, CoR
Home page:
http://www.cor.europa.eu/
CoR is a political assembly, which gives the opportunity to the local and regional authorities to express their opinion in Europe. It was established in 1994 with two major aims: first, to give the opportunity to the representatives of local and regional authorities to participate in the discussions on new EU laws, since approximately ¾ of EU legislation is implemented on the local or regional level. Secondly, to bridge the widening gap between the elected government and the population that is a consequence of EU development. The agreement obliges the European Commission and the EU Council to consult with the EU Committee of Regions every time, when new proposals are voiced that have resonance on the regional or local level; in accordance with the Maastricht Treaty it is economy, social cohesion, trans-European infrastructure networks, health, education and culture, as well as, following the Treaty of Amsterdam, employment policy, social policy, vocational training and transport. The Committee in its activities complies with three main principles: decentralisation of functions, closeness and partnership.
The cooperation between Riga and this EU advisory institution intensified after Latvia’s accession to the EU. A representative of Riga or his substitute participates in the plenary sessions of the EU Committee of the Regions and the meetings of COTER and ECOS committees.
The EU Committee of the Regions in cooperation with the Directorate General for Regional Policy of the European Commission every year organises a forum of European regions and cities “Open Days”, in which representatives of the Riga City Council participate.
9. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, CLRAE
Home page:
http://www.coe.int/T/Congress/Default_en.asp
In CLRAE, Riga is represented by the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments. CLRAE was established in 1994 with the aim to assist in solving the issues of the local governments in the EU member states, on the basis of compliance with the EU legislation in regions and local authorities. The local governments of 47 countries are represented in the organisation. The Chairperson of the Riga City Council is the deputy of the Republic of Latvia representative in the Chamber of Local Governments of this organisation.
10. European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy, CDLR
Home page: http://www.coe.int/t/dgap/localdemocracy/default_en.asp
The Standing Committee on Local and Regional Democracy of the Council of Europe was established in 1967 to provide the opportunity to the governments of the member states to discuss issues of local and regional democracy and to pave the way for expanding European co-operation in this field.
In the framework of the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy regular meetings of the lawyers of the EU capital cities and exchange of information on the new requirements, criteria in the process of drafting acts of legislation and the EU decision taking procedure take place. The Committee meetings are held bi-annually; the representation of the Riga City local government is ensured by the Legal Directorate of the Riga City Council.
11. The Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas, METREX
Home page:
http://www.eurometrex.org/
This network consists of approximately fifty greater city regions, and its aim is to share experience in the field of urban planning. From 26-29 May 2010 METREX Vilnius - Riga meeting was held on the topic “The Baltic Strategy – from the Perspective of Vilnius and Riga”.
Co-operation with the organisation is ensured by the Riga City Council City Development Department.
12. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO
Home page:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/
In accordance with the decision of UNESCO World Culture Heritage Centre of 6 December 1997 the historical centre of Riga was included in the list of Culture Heritage List of the aforementioned institution. After joining UNESCO Riga City Council has participated in several projects – both in co-operation with the State Inspection for Heritage Protection of Latvia and on its own.
13. The Organization of World Heritage Cities, OWHC
Home page:
http://www.ovpm.org/?newlang=eng
227 cities from all over the world, which have been included in the UNESCO Culture Heritage List, including Riga, have joined in the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), which was established in 1993 Its aim and activities are focused upon the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
14. International Urban Development Association, INTA
Home page:
http://www.inta-aivn.org/
INTA is a global network, uniting specialists from both public and private sector. The network was founded in 1976 in Paris with the aim of promoting international and inter-disciplinary dialogue on urban development associations. The network unites more than 3000 member cities from more than 60 countries. The 32nd Global Urban Development Congress was held in Riga in 2008.
Cooperation with the Association is ensured by the Office of Riga City Architect and the City Development Department of the Riga City Council.
15. The International Committee for Conservation of the Industrial Heritage, TICCIH
Home page:
http://www.mnactec.cat/ticcih/
On 14 April 2003 the Riga City Municipality joined TICCIH organisation with the aim of promoting the safeguarding of the industrial heritage important for Riga and using it for new purposes, as well as attracting funding for the development of industrial heritage. Participation in TICCIH falls within the field of interests and responsibility of the Riga City Council City Development Department.
16. The League of Historical Cities
Home page: http://www.city.kyoto.jp/somu/kokusai/lhcs/eng/index.htm
The League has existed for more than 10 years and is aimed at the preservation of the historical assets of cities. The traditional World Conference of Historical Cities is organised annually, it has facilitated a constructive dialogue among cities on the safeguarding and development of historical cities. Participation in the League of Historical Cities falls within the realm of interests and responsibility of the Riga City Council City Development Department.
17. The International Non-profit Association Good Food Cities of the World “Délice”
Home page:
http://www.delice-network.org/
On 18 September 2007 the founding meeting of the Good Food Cities of the World “Délice” took palace in Lyon, France, and Riga was among the few cities, which signed the memorandum of agreement on joining it. The aim of the prestigious association is to promote the sharing of experience among the representatives of the cities (municipality employees, chefs, teaching staff and students of restaurant schools), the development of catering culture, to implement various projects of culinary heritage, to improve the quality of catering in the cities of the Association, and to use the art of gastronomy as an element for building the image of the city. The total number of member cities in the Association of Good Food Cities of the World is 17.
In cooperation with the local representatives of the gastronomy sector, with the mediation of this Association, the quality of catering in institutions of education, as well as restaurants and cafes will be improved. “Délice” is a unique city marketing element, it will help Riga to develop new gastronomy/ culinary tourism products, for example, a gastronomy route for tourists, thus raising the profile of Riga and creating a positive city image not only on the local, but also on the international scale.
In 09.09.-11.09.2009 the General Assembly of the Association of Good Food Cities of the World “Délice”, which was an event of international scale, was held in Riga. Representatives from the cities belonging to the Association “Délice”, as well from cities planning to join the Association in the near future were among the participants.
The participation of the City of Riga, through participation in the meetings of the executive committee, is ensured by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council.
18. Local Governments for Sustainability, ICLEI
Home page:
http://www.iclei.org/
The cooperation of the City of Riga with ICLEI dates back to 1991 on issues of defining the directions of strategic development for environment protection. Riga’s sustainable development centre “Agenda 21”, which was reorganised at the end of 2007, is actively involved in this co-operation network.
The participation of the City of Riga in ICLEI is co-ordinated by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Riga City Council, it provides regular information to the Riga City Council Housing and Environment Committee.
19. The Festival of European Folk Culture and Art Europeade
Home page: http://www.europeade.eu/Home/VolgendeEuropeade/tabid/654/Default.aspx
One of the largest festivals or forums of European folk art and culture festivals, which has been held since 1964 with the aim of promoting friendship and cultural links between nations, promoting the art and folklore of all nations in a united Europe. Latvia joined this art forum after regaining its state independence.
Europeade is organised by the International Europeade Committee (non-government organisation), which is formed by the representatives of various European regions (all in all 38 representatives from various European countries, including Latvia, Riga). Every year Europeade is held in another city of Europe, and the practical organisational work is ensured by the local committee in co-operation with the International Europeade Committee. Usually the festival is 5 days long. Traditionally Riga has been represented in this festival by various dance and folklore groups, choirs; their participation, to the extent possible, is supported by the Education, Culture and Sports Department of the Riga City Council.
On 21- 25 July 2004 Europeade was held in Riga. 169 groups from 21 countries came to Riga – the total number of participants was around 4000. In 2008 a monument was unveiled in Riga to commemorate the successful organisation of Europeade in Riga; it is the first monument in the history of Europeade.