On 29th September the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) held its annual meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia to adopt its recommendations to Head of State and Governments of the Eastern Partnership ( EaP) ahead of the 2015 Riga Summit.
The members, while backing a different approach with EaP countries depending on their different level of ambition, recalled the inclusiveness of the EaP project towards all the six EaP countries.
The members called for an increased role for LRAs in the implementation of the Eastern Partnership and urged central governments to empower sub national level with adequate powers and financial autonomy.
The EA group, represented by its members Mr Jan Bronś and Mr Povilas Žagunis, stresses that financial devolution is a "conditio sine qua non" for enhancing economic and social development at local and regional level in the region. In the meantime, adds Mr Brons, we expect the European Commission to directly support local authorities in order to help them address urgent needs and invest in key sectors as well as in human skills.
