The 2nd General meeting of associations of local and regional authorities was organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 18 September 2008. This meeting demonstrates its will to develop increased co-operation with associations of territorial communities.

The debates were organised in two working sessions. The first session, chaired by Ludmila Sfirloaga, President of the Congress Chamber of Regions, built on the conclusions reached and proposals made at the first General Meeting, in February 2006, which identified the main areas of potential cooperation between the Congress and national associations. Among those areas were promotion of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the follow-up of Congress recommendations, monitoring of local and regional democracy, and sharing of experience and best practice between the Congress and associations.

During the second session, chaired by Onno van Veldhuizen, Congress vice-president, the national associations and the European associations of local and regional authorities discussed the mission and place of the Congress in the European institutional landscape, as well as their expectations, their role and contribution to the Congress activities, and the priorities foreseen by the Congress for 2009-2010.

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