A delegation from the Congress carried out the second part of the follow-up visit to Portugal on 27 November 2019, in order to assess the implementation of the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which the country ratified in 1990, in the two Portuguese autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira.

The first part of the visit took place from 17 to 19 June 2019, during which the Congress delegation had met with Portuguese local and national authorities in Lisbon, Sintra and Alcácer do Sal.

In the second part of the visit, Congress co-rapporteurs Xavier Cadoret (France, SOC/G/PD) and David Eray (Switzerland, ILDG) met in Lisbon with Mr Nuno Filipe MADEIROS MARTINS, Secretary General of the Association of Municipalities of the Azores (AMRAA) and the expert Prof. Dr. Carlos Eduardo Pacheco AMARAL, Associate Professor of History, Philosophy and Arts at the University of the Azores.

The delegation also met Ms Fernanda CARDOSO, Regional Director for European Affairs of the Regional Government of Madeira, Mr Mário Filipe SOARES RODRIGUES, President of the Municipal Assembly, and Dr Ricardo António NASCIMENTO, President of the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (AMRAM).

The draft report on local and regional democracy in Portugal will be discussed at the next meeting of the Monitoring Committee on 11 February 2020.

Portugal ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1990. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires compliance with a minimum number of rights, which form the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities makes sure that these principles are observed.

Contact:

Stéphanie POIREL, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Secretary of the Monitoring Committee

Telephone: +33 (0)3 90 21 51 84