Having received the thumbs up on admission to the European Union just recently, it is no secret that Bulgaria’s acceptance was a close call. Despite the harsh criticism of the Government’s inability to accelerate the development of the country’s patchy reforms, communities around the country are doing their part to prepare for accession to the EU on January 1 2007. One city in particular has encouraged active citizen participation in developing an innovative new municipal practice to strengthen international relations with other communities around the world. This plan also assists the Bulgarian municipality in understanding how to deal with new concepts and issues introduced by the EU accession process that are foreign to the local mindset.
The north-eastern city of Shoumen, population about 100 000, has created the country’s first-ever sister city council through the local municipality. With the enthusiastic support of the town’s mayor and executive and municipal boards, the new council serves as a conduit of communication between Shoumen and its new sister city of Scituate, Massachusetts, US. Representing all members of society, including students, minorities, NGOs and local businesses, the council’s goal is to create opportunities for community members to play an active role in decision making regarding international issues. The council is seen as a separate working body under the municipal framework which allows the public to participate in virtually any type of municipal affair concerning international relations.
The council was originally conceived by the European Integration department of the municipality of Shoumen, who discovered its potential while exploring means of encouraging citizen participation, an area of great concern for current EU members. Benjamin Lawrence, a Peace Corps volunteer who is part of Shoumen’s European Integration department, has played an active role in the council’s creation, and is currently serving as a primary facilitator in its development. Lawrence notes that “the municipality has been actively engaging its citizens to take part in the organising of projects, and to help with the distribution of opportunities in a more fair and equal manner”. Though not highlighted in the accession treaty, the issue of citizen participation is noted within the area of minority rights and has since become an international focal point.
The European Integration department first heard about the concept of creating a council that focuses on strengthening international ties through the Sister Cities International organisation. Its mission is to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, & co-operation – one individual, one community at a time”. In addition to sister city Scituate, a Rotary Club partner, Shoumen is currently paired with three other towns. The council plans to strengthen its bond through a similar relationship with Debrecen, Hungary; Podolsk, Russia; and Zhengzhou, China as it has begun with Scituate. Additional international ties were reported by community members during a meeting held by the European Integration department. One professor spoke of his connection in Great Britain, while another businesswoman mentioned her ties to a Polish town, which is now interested in Shoumen by establishing a council of their own. The municipality would never have learned of such interest if it were not for individuals within the private sector who came to the council to share their thoughts.
Nearly all sister cities in the United States have a similar citizen-focused council. Shoumen’s council, with the support of the public and municipality, has accepted the challenge and is ambitiously chartering new territory for Bulgaria as it prepares to introduce itself to the international community. “This group will give the citizens a voice when deciding how best to represent Shoumen in the eyes of foreign nations, and how to efficiently distribute the benefits throughout all sectors of the city,” says Lawrence.
This relationship is viewed as an investment, whereby the municipality acts as a door to allow cultural, educational, managerial and investment opportunities to emerge. The municipality’s role is finding and entering into international partnerships, but development of these opportunities requires the commitment and passion of the citizens themselves.
Lawence cites an example of an effective exchange involving a town in northern England, which was experiencing an influx of Muslim immigrants. The local municipality sent a delegation of police officers to its sister city of Jallallabad, Pakistan, in order to learn law enforcement practises sensitive to the cultural needs of Muslims. Lawrence believes that “this shows the epitome of where sister city relations can lead. The most common project is through student exchanges; they are easy to implement and everyone wants them. But it is when managerial issues get to become the focal point that these relations truly shine. Now, if this city in England hadn’t had a certain diverse committee managing these relationships, it is highly unlikely that a municipal employee would suggest this on his own”. What is exciting about this partnership for Shoumen is that it includes not only the helpful resources Scituate is able to offer, but also what Shoumen is able to offer Scituate.
Holding their first meeting on September 11 2006, the European Integration department presented the idea of the council to the deputy mayor and four separate department directors from Shoumen, all of whom are somehow connected to one of the four sister cities. The meeting facilitated understanding of the need for a single, transparent body to oversee the multiple relationships with its partner cities, an umbrella which enables Shoumen to promote its interactions with other international communities while remaining open to public input.
Lawrence discusses how anyone can participate in this council, promoting Shoumen, amplifying the voice of the entire community, highlighting strengths, bringing together ideas and streamlining the community’s needs. In only two weeks time of its first official council meeting, Shoumen was awarded the Foundation for Local Government Reform’s Award for the Most Innovative City of the week, and is currently competing for the FLGR’s 2006 annual award.
Having previously worked toward economic reform in Sarajevo, Lawrence has tremendous faith in the success and longevity of this council. He predicts this model to spread to other municipalities, confident that it can succeed in any community in Bulgaria, regardless of size or current economic situation. “Those communities who have active sister city relationships will find this type of committee extremely beneficial,” notes Lawrence, hoping that it will start a movement in citizen participation around the country. Because it requires no funding, it is especially feasible to any community. He further believes that Shoumen’s model can simplify the process of establishing stronger international ties with other communities, and inspire valuable contributions by diverse community members. Currently, Lawrence will continue acting as facilitator for the remainder of his service in Bulgaria, having one more year to guide the continued growth and ongoing stability of the council.
Shoumen mayor Vesselin Zlatev states: “Providing active citizen participation is a major priority in our municipal policy. We proved this by forming the advisory council for developing international co-operation. I believe that this municipal project will become an example and a model for other Bulgarian municipalities. We are responsible and it is our duty to build up such valued qualities which form a respectable and virtuous civil society. I am happy that we are making this happen together with our friends from the Peace Corps”.
With the support of the municipality and the community as a whole, it is unprecedented what the potential of the concept behind the council possesses for Bulgaria.
The accession process has put Bulgaria on a fast track, presenting business and cultural opportunities as well as challenges to municipalities striving to take part in an international community. Shoumen’s newly formed council is a fine example of meeting the demanding challenges of EU membership through lively citizen engagement in international financial and cultural opportunities. Currently, as global tensions continue to escalate, it is the time to begin to reverse the trend, and to strengthen and enrich communities across national lines, through the type of cultural and economic opportunities which innovative programmes, such as Shoumen’s new sister city council, have to offer.
