Banja Luka joined the group of the European countries that celebrated "The European Week of Local Democracy". The main event was organized on October 15 this year, featuring a debate "Banja Luka - City of Democracy", which was participated by representatives of the City of Banja Luka and of various associations of citizens.

  "By celebrating the Week of Local Democracy in Banja Luka we wanted to encourage as many all-age citizens as possible to think about what democracy essentially is. We aim at enabling our citizens to take a substantial participation in a decision-making process", Mayor Davidović said. „Banja Luka grew into a city with all the characteristics of a European urban center. Taking into consideration the available human and natural resources, there is yet a more expansive development ahead of us", Davidović continued.

 On October 13 Youth Communicative Center volunteers handed out the educational material on democracy at Krajina Square. At the workshops organized in high schools students had opportunity to meet local administration officials and discuss the topic: „If I Were Local Administration Employee". The workshop aimed at having the students interactively acquainted with the way the local self-rule operates by enabling them to state their own opinion about democracy and point out to the issues that they think should be dealt with on a daily basis. A competition in literary essays named "If I Were Mayor" was organized in elementary schools.

 At the reception organized on October 15 this year in the City Hall the Mayor handed over the awards to the best elementary school pupils for their literary essays. After the reception a debate with the topic „ Banja Luka - City of Democracy" was organized. It was pointed out thereby that the city had done a lot in terms of youth organizing, of exercising women`s rights, of cooperation with national minorities and the communication with the public. City budgeting procedure is of particular importance due to its transparency guaranteed through public discussions and other means of communication. At the same time, the need for a more intensive engagement of the citizens in a decision-making process, and for resolving public policy issues of importance to citizens was pointed out.