has held an entirely separate event for members of national parliaments under the name "European Parliamentary Week". Purpose and main messages While there are many goals and purposes behind the European Local Democracy Week, the primary ones are the following (as listed in the Council of Europe literature): to strengthen links between elected representative and their communities to boost participation in the democratic process to involve citizens in community affairs to increase their knowledge of local democratic institutions and processes to have local authorities that listen and understand the needs and expectations of their citizens to facilitate co-operation and the exchange of good practices between communities The overriding messages to the annual event include: to raise awareness of European citizens of the workings of democracy in their communities to raise awareness of local councilors and their staff of citizens' needs and concerns to stress that local democracy is one of the major components for buildings a united and democratic Europe See also Democracy Day in other countries Parliament Week (United Kingdom) References External links Resolution 238 2007: Proposition for a European Local Democracy Week Official Website About ELDW Local government organizations Council of Europe