I a pilot declares an emergency then he deems the situation deserves it. He can always downgrade. If a controller hears someone coming in with a problem he can if he so wishes call a "local" emergency. He is, after all, responsibe for a lot of real estate, airspace and aircraft and if calling it an emergency makes his life a whole lot easier I see absolutely no problem with that whatsoever. Too many people on this site are so far up their own @rses that they seem to find it difficult to accept someone has a different opinion or way of operating to theirs. If you live in a climate of fear at your particular airline/aerodrome that declaring an emergency will have you in front of the CP/SATCO then I feel sorry for you. Not all of us live under that umbrella and feel able to make up our minds accordingly and deal with the situation as we deem fit. Over.