Council of Europe

The Department is headed by Alfonso Zardi and comprises four sectors : the CDLR Secretariat, responsible for managing the intergovernmental co-operation activities; Programmes for Democratic Stability - this unit deals with assistance and co-operation programmes, placing special emphasis on countries in eastern Europe and South Caucases; the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform and the Strategy on Innovation and Good Governance Reform. 

The CDLR Secretariat

Deriving its name from the committee it serves - the CDLR Committee - its purpose is to provide administrative support for the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy, its Bureau and subordinate committees.  The Secretariat is also responsible for organising the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government, in co-operation with host member States.

The Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

The Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform builds the capacities of local authorities in Europe to develop effective democratic local government. It works with local government ministries, national associations of local authorities, professional associations and training institutions to introduce and sustain capacity-building programmes. The Centre of Expertise develops a forward-thinking approach to capacity building for local government, drawing on the best of European experience and promotes the transfer of best practice and innovation. It is developing a pool of capacity-building experts and capacity-building tools and programmes and, subject to funding, introduces them in member states on request.

Programmes for Democratic Stability

The Programmes for Democratic Stability Division is a dedicated and experienced team of legal and administrative staff, based in Strasbourg but also working on the ground in the various member states.

 Strategy on Innovation and Good Governance Reform

The Strategy is a practical instrument which can be used to generate synergies between all stakeholders, be they local, regional, national or European, by working together with common instruments for improving the quality of local governance according to a shared vision defined by the twelve Principles of good democratic governance.

The Strategy is steered by the Council of Europe’s Stakeholders’ Platform, which comprises representatives of the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR) and the Conference of International NGOs.