News 2023
Congress President condemns the recent aggression of a mayor in France
Congress President, Marc Cools, condemns the recent aggression of a mayor in France and makes the following statement: “Democracy is the contradictory debate, the confrontation of ideas. Under no circumstances may violence or physical aggression be used against elected representatives. "I condemn...
Congress spokesperson on electoral matters to visit Belgrade
Following the serious irregularities observed by international observers during the local and parliamentary elections on 17 December 2023, and the ongoing protests in the Serbian capital city, Congress President Marc Cools has asked Congress spokesperson on electoral matters, Stewart Dickson, to...
Congress reiterates support to building sustainable cities, towns and regions in Ukraine
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine met on 15 December 2023 and gathered more than 1,600 participants in-person and online. Attending the official opening, the President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE),...
Council of Europe Congress concerned about the local elections in Serbia
The Congress spokesperson on observation of local and regional elections, Stewart Dickson, has expressed grave concern about the serious irregularities reported by the Congress’ partners in their joint International Election Observation Mission of the early parliamentary elections which took...
Congress rapporteurs in Spain to study local and regional responses to the dramatic effects of climate change
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities composed of co-rapporteurs Jean-Paul Bastin (Belgium, EPP/CCE) and Christian Debève (France, ILDG) carried out a study visit to Spain (Madrid, Sevilla, Malaga) from 18 to 20 December 2023 in the framework of the report “Local and...
Council of Europe Congress to visit Armenia for study visit
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, composed of rapporteurs Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE) and Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), carried out a study visit to Yerevan and the municipality of Masis on 19 December 2023 to follow up on Declaration 7 (2023) on...
International Migrants Day 2023: Promote the benefits of migration to ensure a better living together
On the occasion of the 2023 edition of International Migrants Day, Congress rapporteur on the reception of women and children refugees, Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), stressed that the reception and integration of migrants and refugees will be amongst the major challenges of local and...
Congratulations to the Association of Ukrainian Cities, one of the two North-South Prize 2022 winners
The North-South Prize of the Council of Europe had been awarded in May 2023 to the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) upon proposal of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Award Ceremony was held on 14 December 2023 in the...
Congress underlines the need for all levels of government to step up the fight against human trafficking
Speaking at the 33rd meeting of the Committee of the Parties on the Council of Europe’s Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings, the Chair of the Current Affairs Committee, Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), highlighted the key role that local and regional authorities play in...
Congress hails the commitment of Ukrainian local authorities to advance open government and public ethics
The Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) gathered more than 350 Ukrainian mayors at the XVII Municipal Forum organised on 4-5 December 2023, in Kyiv. The Forum acts as a platform for exchange between mayors, members of the AUC, and representatives of the Government. “As leaders for change, you...
Human rights and the rule of law can only prevail if they are guaranteed at grassroots level
On the occasion of Human Rights Day, which this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Congress President Marc Cools made the following statement: “Respect for human rights is more necessary than ever to meet the complex challenges facing our societies....
Republic of Moldova: unanimous agreement on a new consultation mechanism facilitated by the Congress
Representatives of Prime Minister’s Office, the State Chancellery, the Parliament, the national association of local authorities (CALM), and mayors discussed and unanimously agreed on draft amendments that improve the normative framework and institutionalise the mechanism of dialogue and...
International anti-corruption day: local and regional authorities must be uncompromising
Congress spokesperson on ethic and prevention of corruption, Vladimir Prebilič, made the following statement: “Corruption is a serious crime, it takes many forms, and it can occur everywhere at all levels of governance. It can spread very widely in local communities if we, as local elected...
Congress President highlights the key role of local authorities in the resilience, recovery, and reconstruction of Ukraine
“The multi-level governance and the strengthening of local autonomy have played a major role in the country’s resilience in times of war”, stressed Congress President Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG) at the Forum “Implementation of the Decentralisation Reform in Ukraine – State and Prospects”,...
New Congress Bureau welcomes the Congress 2024-2025 budget
Following the elections at the March 2023 session, the new Bureau of the Congress met for the first time in Strasbourg on 4 December 2023 under the leadership of the new President of the Congress, Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG). Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori informed the Bureau members of...
Congress underlines the importance of supporting local media during 24th Steering Committee on Media and Information Society
The Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) of the Council of Europe held its 24th meeting from 29 November to 1 December 2023 in Strasbourg, including an exchange of views with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities on the last day. Mélanie Lepoultier, Rapporteur for...
Council of Europe celebrates with local authorities and civil society their achievements on participatory democracy and human rights in Georgia
The closing event of the project "Strengthening Participatory Democracy and Human Rights at Local Level in Georgia” took place on 28 November 2023 in Tbilisi City Assembly (Georgia). The closing event “Participatory Democracy and Human Rights in Georgia – From Vision to Action!” provided a...
Congress promotes participatory democracy at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Citizen participation as a core principle of human rights and a condition for effective democratic practices was highlighted by the Chair of the Current Affairs Committee of the Congress, Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), at the opening of the OSCE conference on “Participation of citizens...
Congress President addresses European Mayors Summit against Antisemitism
The Summit brought together mayors and local officials from across Europe on 30 November 2023 in Dortmund (Germany). The local leaders discussed how to build social cohesion, strengthen Jewish life at local level and establish understanding between citizens of different cultural and religious...
The Congress supports the Open Government Agenda in the Republic of Moldova
The event completes the process of development of the 5th Action Plan for Open Government for the Republic of Moldova 2023-2025. It gathered representatives of the State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova, central and local authorities, the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM),...
