Innovative practices in Bulgaria
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Sustainable Development Council of Ertopole Municipality
Etropole Municipality
Background
The Municipality of Etropole has participated in the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign for two years, implementing numerous activities in different areas. Following the signature of the Aalborg Charter in 2000 and the adoption of Local Agenda 21 (LA21) principles as its vision, the municipality has defined its purpose of activities as the development of long-term cultural, economic, social and environmental health of society, whose needs are to be met without threatening the existence of future generations. A priority objective is the development of sustainability through active participation of the local community.
The Municipality of Etropole has participated in the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign for two years, implementing numerous activities in different areas. Following the signature of the Aalborg Charter in 2000 and the adoption of Local Agenda 21 (LA21) principles as its vision, the municipality has defined its purpose of activities as the development of long-term cultural, economic, social and environmental health of society, whose needs are to be met without threatening the existence of future generations. A priority objective is the development of sustainability through active participation of the local community.
Practice
On the initiative of the Municipality of Etropole and its Mayor Dr. Tseno Glogov, in December 2000 the Sustainable Development Council (SDC) of Etropole Municipality was created, functioning on a partnership basis. All major structures and institutions within the territory of the municipality have taken active participation in its work:
- Representatives of elected local government, municipal administration experts and specialists;
- Representatives of local legislative power: the Chairperson of Etropole Municipal Council; municipal councilors; chairs of Municipal Council Committees;
- NGO representatives: Youth Association for Development ; Women s Association Eve 2000 ; school boards; Union of Anglers and Hunters; Center for Environmental Education; Clubs of the Pensioners and the Handicapped.
Journalists from local and regional media, directors and managers of companies and enterprises which are major pollution generators, etc.
Representatives of small and middle-sized businesses: companies engaged in tourism, agriculture and stockbreeding.
Representatives of the police, the Hygiene Epidemiological Inspection, hospitals, medical centers, schools, kindergartens, the Power Supply Company, the Water Supply and Drainage Company, telecommunication networks, the Commission for Management of Natural Disasters and Industrial Accidents, and citizens.
The Councils main objective was formulated in connection with Etropole s participation in the European Sustainable Cities Campaign to guarantee steady growth of the quality of life through achieving harmony between the individual, society and nature.
In the course of its work the municipal team realized that a democratic local government is a key factor of LA21 and they have to encourage the involvement of the entire local community in the processes of sustainable development. The activities of the Council for Sustainable Development contributed to the outline of the development priorities and the preparation of a long-term action plan. Through that plan the local authorities would develop and implement an efficient policy of local resources preservation, and management and protection of the environment.
For a two-year period the Municipality of Etropole in cooperation with all sectors of the local community has achieved the following results:
- Realized its key role in the process of LA21 and started developing management methods and techniques for its successful implementation;
- Adopted the principles of the European Social Charter for Human Rights and Democracy;
- Involved partners from all sectors, with whose assistance they outlined the priorities for the sustainable development of the local community;
- Implemented a broad public campaign on LA21;
- Improved public awareness and education through delivering training in sustainable development to municipal administration employees, as well as schools and kindergartens; organizing festivals, eco-parliaments, media campaigns, etc.
- Started developing a local action plan;
- Started a fight against poverty through the creation of alternative employment;
- Started a pilot model of sustainable use of local natural and historical resources and the creation of employment in the sphere of tourism;
- Improved the urban design and city security and safety (developed town parks, gardens, open-air kindergartens, recreation zones and other health-related places);
- Catalyzed partnership for sustainability on the Balkans and in Europe.
On the initiative of the Municipality of Etropole and its Mayor Dr. Tseno Glogov, in December 2000 the Sustainable Development Council (SDC) of Etropole Municipality was created, functioning on a partnership basis. All major structures and institutions within the territory of the municipality have taken active participation in its work:
- Representatives of elected local government, municipal administration experts and specialists;
- Representatives of local legislative power: the Chairperson of Etropole Municipal Council; municipal councilors; chairs of Municipal Council Committees;
- NGO representatives: Youth Association for Development ; Women s Association Eve 2000 ; school boards; Union of Anglers and Hunters; Center for Environmental Education; Clubs of the Pensioners and the Handicapped.
Journalists from local and regional media, directors and managers of companies and enterprises which are major pollution generators, etc.
Representatives of small and middle-sized businesses: companies engaged in tourism, agriculture and stockbreeding.
Representatives of the police, the Hygiene Epidemiological Inspection, hospitals, medical centers, schools, kindergartens, the Power Supply Company, the Water Supply and Drainage Company, telecommunication networks, the Commission for Management of Natural Disasters and Industrial Accidents, and citizens.
The Councils main objective was formulated in connection with Etropole s participation in the European Sustainable Cities Campaign to guarantee steady growth of the quality of life through achieving harmony between the individual, society and nature.
In the course of its work the municipal team realized that a democratic local government is a key factor of LA21 and they have to encourage the involvement of the entire local community in the processes of sustainable development. The activities of the Council for Sustainable Development contributed to the outline of the development priorities and the preparation of a long-term action plan. Through that plan the local authorities would develop and implement an efficient policy of local resources preservation, and management and protection of the environment.
For a two-year period the Municipality of Etropole in cooperation with all sectors of the local community has achieved the following results:
- Realized its key role in the process of LA21 and started developing management methods and techniques for its successful implementation;
- Adopted the principles of the European Social Charter for Human Rights and Democracy;
- Involved partners from all sectors, with whose assistance they outlined the priorities for the sustainable development of the local community;
- Implemented a broad public campaign on LA21;
- Improved public awareness and education through delivering training in sustainable development to municipal administration employees, as well as schools and kindergartens; organizing festivals, eco-parliaments, media campaigns, etc.
- Started developing a local action plan;
- Started a fight against poverty through the creation of alternative employment;
- Started a pilot model of sustainable use of local natural and historical resources and the creation of employment in the sphere of tourism;
- Improved the urban design and city security and safety (developed town parks, gardens, open-air kindergartens, recreation zones and other health-related places);
- Catalyzed partnership for sustainability on the Balkans and in Europe.
Results
The work of the Municipality of Etropole in the area of sustainable development has been noticed by the international community and at the end of 2001 Etropole was nominated in the Competition Accession of cities to the European Union for 2001 in section Information, environmental education and sustainable development . The competition encourages local authorities on their way to Europe and appraises the individual readiness of the cities for joining the European Union. This entitled the municipality to participate in the Stockholm Partnerships Conference in June 2002. Two projects were developed: Think, act and develop for social, economic and environmental urban sustainability and The Little Citizen of the World a Chance for Saving The Planet Gea . The Stockholm conference has been held for 30 years now on the World Environment Day - June 5, collecting and demonstrating sustainable practices from all over the world. The Bulgarian participant this year - The Municipality of Etropole - is among the 50 finalists to present their experience in the area of Local Agenda 21 in Sweden.
The work of the Municipality of Etropole in the area of sustainable development has been noticed by the international community and at the end of 2001 Etropole was nominated in the Competition Accession of cities to the European Union for 2001 in section Information, environmental education and sustainable development . The competition encourages local authorities on their way to Europe and appraises the individual readiness of the cities for joining the European Union. This entitled the municipality to participate in the Stockholm Partnerships Conference in June 2002. Two projects were developed: Think, act and develop for social, economic and environmental urban sustainability and The Little Citizen of the World a Chance for Saving The Planet Gea . The Stockholm conference has been held for 30 years now on the World Environment Day - June 5, collecting and demonstrating sustainable practices from all over the world. The Bulgarian participant this year - The Municipality of Etropole - is among the 50 finalists to present their experience in the area of Local Agenda 21 in Sweden.
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