Meeting in Strasbourg on 18-19 September 2025, the Group of Independent Experts (GIE) on the European Charter of Local Self-Government – an advisory expert body to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe – examined key challenges and developments related to the implementation of the Charter across Europe. Notably, the group reflected on how the Charter can strengthen the rule of law at grassroots level and how it should be considered in small states with territory specificities.
Chaired by Angel M. Moreno (Spain), the group of 46 experts, one from each Council of Europe member state, also exchanged views on the state of local and regional democracy in Europe, focusing on free local elections as a fundamental right and on ways to fight violence against local and regional elected representatives. Finally, the group examined the competencies of local and regional authorities in the field of social inclusion and human dignity.
On 19 September, the group held a special session to mark the 40th anniversary of the Charter. This included panel discussions on the Charter’s impact on empowering local authorities over four decades and its future prospects. On this occasion, the three GIE Chairs – Alain Delcamp (France) and Francesco Merloni (Italy), who have both previously held the position, and the current Chair, Ángel M. Moreno – were awarded the medal of the Congress for their contribution.
40th anniversary of the Charter: “Local democracy can never be taken for granted,” says Council of Europe Congress
