Amelie Tarschys-Ingre (Sweden, ILDG) addressed members of the Community of Practice on public integrity and ethics in local governance in Armenia during an online meeting held on 30 March 2021, by admitting that “there is no such thing as a “corruption-free zone”, but she invited all meeting participants to unite in fight against corruption, which continues to be today one of the major risks for local democracy. She highlighted that “the experience of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe shows that tackling corruption requires long term action covering all aspects of governance and accountability. This is exactly why we, local elected representatives, need to be even more accountable to the citizens we serve than other actors of society or appointed officials. By electing us into office, people have placed their trust in us. Let us be worthy of their trust in us and lead by example, fostering governance that is both democratic and ethical.”

The aim of the meeting was to gather all members of the Community of Practice to discuss and identify challenges faced by national and local authorities in Armenia in terms of corruption, public ethics, transparent governance and citizen participation in decision-making processes. More than 40 representatives of local authorities, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Open Government Partnership Secretariat, Swiss Development and Co-operation Agency, Communities Association of Armenia and others, had an opportunity also to become better acquainted with practical tools developed under the Community of Practice with the support of the Congress during 2020, be introduced with planned activities for 2021-22 and to provide their feedback and suggestions.

Referring to the presentations of experts, national and local stakeholders, as well as of Ms Tarschys-Ingre, members of the Community of Practice have reached a consensus on further actions that national and local authorities need to take to improve local governance and make their communities as corruption-free as possible. They have concluded that the Community of Practice represents a unique platform for a regular dialogue between national and local authorities not only on corruption issues and the promotion of open government, but voiced for exchanges and further support in view of related roles and functions of local elected representatives, the division and scope of their responsibilities, the situation of local finances and the quality of local democracy in Armenia overall.

Event was organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening the Communities Association of Armenia and Transparent, Participatory Local Governance in Armenia”. It is implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, with the financial support of the Swiss government, in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022.