ELoGE Italy 2025: Local Governance Excellence Awarded.

On March 7, 2025, the Aula Magna of the University of Gorizia hosted the award ceremony of the ELoGE Italia (European Label of Governance Excellence) program, promoted by the Council of Europe and organized in Italy by AICCRE. An event that celebrated the value of good local governance and its role in building a more cohesive and transparent Europe.

An Award for Good Governance.

ELoGE Italy is not just an award, but a path to growth for local governments that want to improve in transparency, participation and accountability. The 2025 edition saw record participation: 147 Italian municipalities applied, of which 68 reached the final stage of the assessment, based on the 12 Principles of Good Governance. A total of 15,250 questionnaires were collected from citizens, municipal employees and administrators, showing strong community involvement in the process.

The award ceremony

The event, moderated by Franco Brussa (President AICCRE FVG), was opened by the institutional speeches of:

• Roberto Di Lenarda, Chancellor of the University of Trieste
• Rodolfo Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia
• Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Mauro Bordin, President of the FVG Regional Council
• Milena Bertani, AICCRE President
• Konstantinos Koukas, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

During the event, ISIG Director Daniele Del Bianco stressed the importance of the program as a self-assessment and improvement tool for local governments.

This was followed by a Lectio Magistralis by Alfonso Zardi, an expert in democratic governance and former Head of the Governance and Democratic Institutions Department of the Council of Europe, who offered insights into the future challenges of local governance in Europe.

The most eagerly awaited moment was the presentation of the ELoGE 2025 Award to the mayors of the winning municipalities, an acknowledgement of their commitment to improving administrative quality and relations with citizens.

ISIG’s role in evaluation and monitoring

The institute provided scientific support in the evaluation process, helping to monitor and analyze the governance practices of participating municipalities. Through its expertise, ISIG helped ensure rigorous and impartial application of the program criteria, fostering continuous improvement of local governments.

An event in the heart of Europe

In the framework of Nova Gorica-Gorizia European Capital of Culture 2025, the ceremony strengthened the link between governance and culture, emphasizing how dialogue between institutions and citizens is key to building a more united and innovative Europe. The event included a number of parallel initiatives, including guided tours of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, cultural itineraries, and a gala dinner at Spessa Castle for those involved in the event.

Toward a Future of Excellent Governance

The ELoGE 2025 award ceremony was a time for sharing and discussion, with the hope that more municipalities will take this opportunity to innovate and improve their administrative practices.