The fundamental social rights of the citizens of the member states of the Council of Europe are guaranteed by the European Social Charter and its collective complaints mechanism. As a legal instrument, the Charter refers to young people as having certain rights, notably in terms of education, health and housing. There are still significant disparities, however, in the way these rights are implemented, which is why the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted a report on this issue, presented on 3 April 2019 by the co-rapporteurs Liisa ANSALA (Finland, ILDG) and Piero FASSINO (Italy, SOC).

In order to ensure that young people’s social rights are respected in practice, the Congress calls on local and regional authorities, as bodies which have competences in the social field, to consider these rights a priority for their policies. Member states are invited to ratify the Social Charter, to accept the collective complaints procedures and to involve local and regional authorities in the Social Charter monitoring mechanism. The Congress also emphasises the importance of raising youth awareness through various initiatives and co-ordinating actions at all levels of governance.

In the context of the Congress initiative "Rejuvenating Politics", youth delegates were invited to speak during the debate.

Produced in response to a request from the youth delegates, this report is a continuation of the Congress’s efforts to improve youth integration, participation and engagement at local and regional levels. Since 2014, the Congress has been committed to promoting youth participation, in particular through the “Rejuvenating politics” initiative. Youth delegates from the 47 member states are invited to participate in the debates and to exchange views with Congress members on the issues on session agendas.

• Report CG36(2019)12
• European Social Charter (Revised)
  List of youth delegates to the 36th Congress Session
• Speeches by:

- Presentation by Liisa ANSALA (Finland, ILDG), Congress o-rapporteur
- Presentation by Piero FASSINO (Italy, SOC), Congress co-rapporteur.

• Mediabox Interviews

• Videos of the debate: Lisa ANSALA & Sophia KIRCHER

*** 36th Session of the Congress ***

File 36th Session - Agenda - Videos and photos - Mediabox

On 27 September 2022, Andreas Kiefer presented the activities of the Congress since his last communication to the Committee of Ministers in March. He underlined in particular the agenda of the forthcoming Congress session in October 2022, which includes among others debates on the future of the Council of Europe, on the impact of hate speech and fake news on working conditions of local and regional elected representatives, on human rights and the environment and on the reception of women and children refugees. He recalled the continued support provided by the Congress to local authorities in Ukraine and its reconstruction and reiterated the Congress’ denunciation of the abduction of mayors and the holding of so-called referendum in the areas occupied by the Russian troops.

Mr Kiefer gave an overview of the developments of the Congress over the last twelve years of his mandate. He stressed that the profile of the Congress as an institution based on a Statutory Resolution of the Committee of Ministers had been raised and further developed by comprehensive self-chosen reforms. He thanked the representatives of the member States for supporting and accompanying the work, mission and adjustments implemented by the Congress, recalling that the allocation of sufficient budgetary and human resources was the condition for the Congress to fulfil its tasks.

Concerning the reflection on the future of the Council of Europe currently under way, he said “stable institutions, which are able to deliver, economies of scale and relevance through meaningful impact should be the guiding principles to the upcoming reform process in the run-up to a possible fourth Summit of the Council of Europe” underlining that the Congress and its network of members would actively contribute to this process.

The Congress Secretary General communication to the Deputies takes place twice per year as part of the dialogue that the Congress has developed with the Committee of Ministers.

 Activity report CG(2022)42-22
 Congress activity reports