''Today, national governments increasingly recognise local and regional authorities as major stakeholders and actors in responding to the challenges faced by our societies in almost all political, economic and social areas,'' stated Herwig Van Staa, newly elected Congress President (Austria, EPP/CD), addressing the participants in the 23rd Session.

He underlined the role of the new Congress which now has a four-year mandate and which will adopt this afternoon its new priorities for 2013-2016 defined around three themes: the quality of local and regional democracy and human rights in Europe, the new challenges resulting from the economic and financial crisis, and the partnership within and outside the Council of Europe. ''I see my role as President as leading the Congress in the implementation of these priorities, for the increased benefit of our citizens, of democratic governance, and of national and European policy-making'', he concluded.
Speech
Biography
Election and speech of the new President of the Congress