“Local democracy is the first line of defence for democratic security,” stressed Ayşe Ünlüce, Head of the Turkish delegation to the Congress, at the launch of a workshop in Ankara on 23 September 2025. Organised by the Union of Turkish Municipalities (TBB) with support from the Congress, the workshop aimed to discuss questions posed by the Roadmap Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe, an initiative of the Council of Europe, and how strong local democracy, based on such principles as transparency, accountability and responsiveness, can be scaled up to national and even international level. 

Addressing the workshop, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori congratulated TBB for mobilising local elected representatives from across Türkiye to contribute to preparations towards the New Democratic Pact for Europe, stressing that such exchanges were a key element of the consultation phase seeking to Engage Europe.

Participants discussed the challenges they faced in addressing the day-to-day needs of citizens with little time or resources to invest in participatory initiatives – for example, to engage young people. Congress member Katrien Partyka (Belgium, EPP/CCE) underlined the importance of dialogue and cooperation with local officials from across the political spectrum in finding solutions to address citizens’ expectations.

Concluding the workshop, Deputy Secretary General of TBB Şengül Altan Arslan underscored that rebuilding citizens’ trust was key for the future of democracy.  The views expressed by participants will be reflected in a report being prepared by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress.

This workshop is one in a series of workshops taking place across Europe to contribute to the Council of Europe New Democratic Pact for Europe.