The 12 Principles and related tools
Principle 1
Fair Conduct of Elections, Representation and Participation
- Local elections are conducted freely and fairly, according to international standards and national legislation, and without any fraud.
- Citizens are at the centre of public activity and they are involved in clearly defined ways in public life at local level.
- All men and women can have a voice in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate intermediate bodies that represent their interests. Such broad participation is built on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association.
- All voices, including those of the less privileged and most vulnerable, are heard and taken into account in decision-making, including over the allocation of resources.
- There is always an honest attempt to mediate between various legitimate interests and to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the whole community and on how this can be achieved
- Decisions are taken according to the will of the many, while the rights and legitimate interests of the few are respected.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
- C.L.E.A.R - A Citizen Participation Tool
- LAP - Leadership Academy Programme
Principle 2
Responsiveness
- Objectives, rules, structures, and procedures are adapted to the legitimate expectations and needs of citizens.
- Public services are delivered, and requests and complaints are responded to within a reasonable timeframe.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
- LAP - Leadership Academy Programme
- BPP - Best Practice Programme for Local Governments
- ELoGE - European Label of Governance’ Excellence Benchmark
Principle 3
Efficiency and Effectiveness
- Results meet the agreed objectives.
- Best possible use is made of the resources available.
- Performance management systems make it possible to evaluate and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of services.
- Audits are carried out at regular intervals to assess and improve performance.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
Principle 4
Openness and Transparency
- Decisions are taken and enforced in accordance with rules and regulations.
- There is public access to all information which is not classified for well-specified reasons as provided for by law (such as the protection of privacy or ensuring the fairness of procurement procedures).
- Information on decisions, implementation of policies and results is made available to the public in such a way as to enable it to effectively follow and contribute to the work of the local authority.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
Principle 5
Rule of Law
- The local authorities abide by the law and judicial decisions.
- Rules and regulations are adopted in accordance with procedures provided for by law and are enforced impartially.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
Principle 6
Ethical conduct
- The public good is placed before individual interests.
- There are effective measures to prevent and combat all forms of corruption.
- Conflicts of interest are declared in a timely manner and persons involved must abstain from taking part in relevant decisions.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
Principle 7
Competence and Capacity
- The professional skills of those who deliver governance are continuously maintained and strengthened in order to improve their output and impact.
- Public officials are motivated to continuously improve their performance.
- Practical methods and procedures are created and used in order to transform skills into capacity and to produce better results.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
- HRM - Modern and Effective Human Resources Management
- LAP - Leadership Academy Programme
Principle 8
Innovation and Openness to Change
- New and efficient solutions to problems are sought and advantage is taken of modern methods of service provision.
- There is readiness to pilot and experiment new programmes and to learn from the experience of others.
- A climate favourable to change is created in the interest of achieving better results.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
- LAP - Leadership Academy Programme
- CBC - Cross-Border Co-operation
Principle 9
Sustainability and Long-term Orientation
- The needs of future generations are taken into account in current policies.
- The sustainability of the community is constantly taken into account.
- Decisions strive to internalise all costs and not to transfer problems and tensions, be they environmental, structural, financial, economic or social, to future generations.
- There is a broad and long-term perspective on the future of the local community along with a sense of what is needed for such development.
- There is an understanding of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which this perspective is grounded.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
Principle 10
Sound Financial Management
- Charges do not exceed the cost of services provided and do not reduce demand excessively, particularly in the case of important public services.
- Prudence is observed in financial management, including in the contracting and use of loans, in the estimation of resources, revenues and reserves, and in the use of exceptional revenue.
- Multi-annual budget plans are prepared, with consultation of the public.
- Risks are properly estimated and managed, including by the publication of consolidated accounts and, in the case of public-private partnerships, by sharing the risks realistically.
- The local authority takes part in arrangements for inter-municipal solidarity, fair sharing of burdens and benefits and reduction of risks (equalisation systems, inter- municipal co-operation, mutualisation of risks…).
Centre of Expertise Tools:
Principle 11
Human rights, Cultural Diversity and Social Cohesion
- Within the local authority’s sphere of influence, human rights are respected, protected and implemented, and discrimination on any grounds is combated.
- Cultural diversity is treated as an asset, and continuous efforts are made to ensure that all have a stake in the local community, identify with it and do not feel excluded.
- Social cohesion and the integration of disadvantaged areas are promoted.
- Access to essential services is preserved, in particular for the most disadvantaged sections of the population.
CoETools:
- The intercultural index and benchmarking tool
Principle 12
Accountability
- All decision-makers, collective and individual, take responsibility for their decisions.
- Decisions are reported on, explained and can be sanctioned.
- There are effective remedies against maladministration and against actions of local authorities which infringe civil rights.
Centre of Expertise Tools:
- LAP - Leadership Academy Programme
- ELoGE - European Label of Governance’ Excellence Benchmark
