The News (Site updated Wednesday, February 8, 2012 | 17:30)
John Warmisham calls on the authorities in Vilnius and Tirana to stop evictions of Roma
[08/02/2012 17:00:00] ''With this wave of cold weather that has hit Europe, local and regional authorities have a particular responsibility to protect their citizens, especially the most vulnerable, such as Roma, and to guarantee full respect of their fundamental rights. As Congress Rapporteur, I draw the attention of the Lithuanian and Albanian authorities to the situation of Roma families in Vilnius and Tirana and their planned or actual eviction from their informal settlements. These evictions will leave these families and children in an intolerable situation. I call upon the authorities concerned to mobilise efforts to find a humane and equitable outcome to this situation and, in particular, to suspend these evictions and to find alternative accommodation for these families.''
Statement
ONE in FIVE campaign: seminar to combat sexual exploitation of children at local and regional level
[03/02/2012 10:30:00] As part of its contribution to the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE campaign, the Congress is organising a seminar in Strasbourg, France, on 9 February 2012 (Palais de l’Europe, room 5). It will gather a panel of experts, grassroots players and local and regional elected representatives. On the basis of the experiences presented, the Congress will propose model bodies to be set up at local and regional level to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and to protect and support victims and their families. The seminar will be opened by Maud de Boer Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress, and Emin Yeritsyan, President of the Congress Current Affairs Committee. Those wishing to take part in the seminar must register by 6 February 2012 at the latest.
Programme Participation form File ''Local and regional dimensions of the ONE in FIVE campaign''
Meeting of the Current Affairs Committee
[07/02/2012 13:00:00] The Current Affairs Committee of the Congress will meet in Strasbourg on 8 February 2012. The members will discuss the Committee’s priorities and future activities, particularly in the context of the preparation of several thematic reports on the impact of the economic crisis on local and regional authorities, the changes taking place in Arab countries and the political disengagement of young people. They will also discuss a report on making cities resilient in the face of natural disasters, which is to be presented at the March 2012 session of the Congress, and will discuss follow-up to the Summit of Mayors for Roma. Another report is currently being drafted on the subject of preventing sexual exploitation of children and a special seminar will be held on the day after the meeting, ie. 9 February 2012, as the Congress’ contribution to the Council of Europe’s ONE in FIVE campaign.
Best Practice Award for Coastal Towns: Call for applications
[01/02/2012 14:00:00] European local communities are invited to take part in a competition for best practices in the regeneration of coastal towns – the Best Practice Award Programme of the Council of Europe. The competition is organised by the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform, in the framework of the UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and in partnership with the Congress and the UK Local Government Association. In the first stage, interested towns are invited to send the completed “Expression of Interest” form latest by 29 February 2012.
Best Practice Award Prospectus Form 'Expression of interest'
Online registration for the 22nd Session
[07/02/2012 11:30:00] The 22nd Session of the Congress will take place from 20 to 22 March 2012 in Strasbourg (France). To participate in the Session, registrations must be validated on the Online Registration Website. This website is intended for all participants of the Session: representatives, substitutes, secretaries of delegations and members of other organisations. It includes pages dedicated to online registration as well as practical information. To register, fill in and validate the registration forms.
Online registration File ''22nd Session''
New edition of the European Local Democracy Week promotes inclusive communities at grassroots level through human rights activities
[26/01/2012 17:00:00] At a meeting organised by the Congress in Paris (France), representatives from municipalities, national associations and European networks assessed the results of the 2011 edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) and agreed on action in the field of citizen participation in 2012. The new ELDW edition will continue promoting “human rights” at grassroots level in order to foster and strengthen, in particular, social cohesion in local communities. “The overall aim is to develop local democracy by achieving a real culture of human rights at the grassroots”, stated Keith Whitmore, Congress President.
Press release
8 February - Current Affairs Committee /
Strasbourg, FRANCE
9 February - Seminar to explore the local and regional dimensions of the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children and to launch the Strategic Action Plan for the Congress /
Strasbourg, FRANCE
9 February - AER Bureau meeting and debate on “New European Governance Impact on Regions” /
Brussels, BELGIUM
Leyla Güven, member of the Council of Europe Congress, is detained in Dyarbarkir, Turkey, since December 2009 - File
Vidéo
Summit of Mayors on Roma: Interview with Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Roma issues
Calendar of events
Print 
Send 
Français 
