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Nilüfer municipality project wins the Council of Europe Congress’ first-ever ELDA Award on Citizen Participation
The winner of the first Local Citizen Engagement- ELDA (European Local Democracy Action) Award is the project “Our Compass is Digital Participation!” submitted by the municipality of Nilüfer in Türkiye. The winner was revealed at a gala award ceremony organised by Innovation in Politics Awards...
At the Congress, youth delegates want to turn words into action
In Strasbourg, during the 51st session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, youth delegates presented their initiatives in support of local democracy, inclusion and security. They all shared the same ambition: to make their voices heard and influence...
Committee of Ministers’ recommendation says receiving foreign funding by civil-society organisations cannot, in itself, be treated as unlawful
Council of Europe calls for stronger legal framework for civil-society organisations amid growing restrictions
Civil-society organisations (CSOs) play a vital role in democratic life across Europe. They help protect human rights and the rule of law, encourage public participation and promote accountability. Often, they even complement public services. Yet the space in which they operate has been...
Instruments form part of the Congress contribution to the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact
Congress adopts early-warning instruments against democratic backsliding at local and regional level
This week, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted several early-warning instruments against democratic backsliding at local and regional level, as its contribution to the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact for Europe. “We are concerned about the...
Third party organisations to submit comments on States Parties reports
In line with the decision of the Ministers’ Deputies adopted on 27 September 2022, concerning the new system for the presentation of reports under the European Social Charter, the European Committee of Social Rights and the Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter and the European...
Your voice for democracy: Council of Europe launches citizens' consultation
The Council of Europe is launching "Your voice for democracy", an online consultation inviting citizens of its 46 member states to answer one open question: "What needs to change for democracy to work better for you?" It is part of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, the Organisation's response...
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 15 OCTOBER 2026 23:59 CET
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - Activities in co-operation with the European Youth Centres in 2027 (2nd semester)
The Youth Department of the Council of Europe invites non-governmental youth organisations, networks and other non-governmental structures involved in areas of youth work relevant to the Council of Europe's youth policy to submit applications for activities to be held in co-operation with the...
Training session on the European Social Charter and its monitoring procedures : dedicated to civil society organisations
Civil society organisations (CSOs), including international and national non-governmental organisations, social partners, and representatives of academia are invited to a training session dedicated to the monitoring and implementation of the European Social Charter. The training session will take...
International Claims Commission for Ukraine: Call for expression of interest in exchanges of views with civil society organisations (deadline 1/10/2026)
At its first meeting, the preparatory committee decided to hold exchanges of views with civil-society organisations working on the rights of victims in the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. These exchanges are intended to foster meaningful dialogue and to take into...
Effective Communication on Migration and European Convention on Human Rights
ROUNDTABLE Organised by the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions 18 September 2026 Strasbourg and online Registration link Building upon the first Roundtable on fact-based communication of migration (see Roundtable...
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 14 AUGUST 2026
Call for participants: Training Course-Youth advocacy for democracy and human rights
The Council of Europe Youth Department organises the third edition of the training course Youth Advocacy for Democracy and Human Rights between 27 September and 4 October 2026 at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg. The training course takes place in parallel with the plenary session of the...
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 7 September 2026
Call for participants: Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies – How to Start?
The Council of Europe Youth Department and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities are organising – in partnership with DemNet Foundation – a public panel discussion and a two-day workshop on deliberative democracy and citizens’ assemblies. The event is the next activity in the programme...
“Dear democracy, our youth is yours”
Democracy is worth fighting for, say young people on the International Youth Day
“Young people are often told that we are the future. Yet many of us struggle to trust that future.” These are the first lines of the “Youth visions for a European democracy in 2049” manifesto that was developed by 120 participants of a youth event of the New Democratic Pact for Europe held by the...
Call for Participation: Art Competition on Interfaith Dialogue
The Committee for Interreligious and Interconvictional Dialogue of the Conference of INGOs, in cooperation with Religions for Peace Europe, is organising a painting and photography competition for young people aged 18–30 across Europe. The theme is “Interfaith Dialogue: Bridges of Cooperation,...
PACE condemns ‘transnational repression’ and urges new laws to stop it
PACE has condemned all forms of “transnational repression” – a form of foreign interference used by authoritarian regimes to repress political dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and members of diaspora communities beyond their borders – and has urged new laws to prevent it. In a...
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