War in Ukraine: Congress adopts a strong declaration

44th Session 22 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe unanimously adopted on 21 March 2023 a Declaration to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine, presented by the Congress President and Rapporteur on The Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, Leendert...

Read More


 

All news

Local and regional democracy in Romania: Congress rapporteurs welcome plans for the ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Charter

44th Session 24 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities rapporteurs March Cools and David Eray have welcomed the announcement by Attila-Zoltán Cseke, Minister for Development, Public Works and Administration of Romania, that the country will ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local...

Read More

For or against the direct election of mayors

44th Session 30 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

On 22 March 2023, during the 44th session of the Congress, the Chamber of Local Authorities held again a debate on the question of the direct election of mayors. In 2004, the Congress expressed its support for direct election, however, the system is not unanimously accepted by all the member...

Read More

Congress recommendation on Reykjavik Summit: Local and regional authorities contribute to embedding democracy and human rights at grassroots level

44th Session 24 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities adopted on 22 March 2023 its recommendation on “the future of the Council of Europe and the role of the Congress therein” as contribution to the Council of Europe Summit to be held in Reykjavik on 16 and 17 May. The recommendation calls on Heads of...

Read More

Often called Senate, do the second chambers of national parliaments sufficiently represent regional interests?

44th Session 28 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

During a debate held on this theme by the Chamber of Regions of Congress on 22 March, several speakers reviewed the benefits and the drawbacks of such assemblies, drawing on specific examples. For Rafael Bustos Gisbert, a Spanish member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, the...

Read More

The future of democracy in young people’s hands

44th Session 29 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

A thematic debate was held on 22 March 2023 in the Chamber of Local Authorities on strengthening Europe’s democratic institutions through youth engagement at local level. From lowering the voting age to getting young people properly involved in the decision-making process at local level, several...

Read More

44th Congress plenary session : War against Ukraine, future of the Council of Europe, youth engagement at local level, protection of the environment on the agenda of the session

44th Session 14 march 2023 Strasbourg, France

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will hold its 44th Session from 21 to 23 March 2023 in Strasbourg, France. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny...

Read More

Cantonal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Congress welcomes generally peaceful and well organised elections but highlights some areas for improvement

44th Session 24 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

At its 44th Plenary Session, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe today adopted a report following a mission carried out by a 15-member delegation to observe the Cantonal elections held on 2 October 2022 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the Election Day, nine teams...

Read More

Local elections in Slovenia: Calm, inclusive and well-organised, but too many mayors re-elected without competition

44th Session 22 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe today adopted a recommendation following the visit of a 19-member delegation to the Republic of Slovenia to observe the local elections held on Sunday 20 November 2022. On election day, eight Congress teams were deployed to...

Read More

Regions as driving change in environmental protection

44th Session 29 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

More and more regions in Europe are putting in place “regional strategies for the environment,” as became clear during a debate on the theme held on Wednesday 22 March by the Chamber of Regions of the Congress. While some measures are part of national or European plans, others are based on...

Read More

Localising the sustainable development goals – a priority for the Congress

44th Session 31 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

On 22 March, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities debated and voted on a recommendation calling on national governments to step up the localisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we approach the mid-term review of Agenda 2030 at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)...

Read More

44th Session, Day 1: Ukraine, 4th Summit in Reykjavik, observation of elections in Berlin

44th Session 24 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

In his communication at the opening of the 44th session on 21 March in Strasbourg, the President Verbeek deplored the outrageous war of aggression that is still hitting Ukraine after more than one year. The Congress members unanimously adopted a Declaration on the Russian Federation’s war against...

Read More

Andrew Boff: “Local authorities need to be prepared to face multiple, simultaneous crises”

44th Session 31 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

With the pandemic, climate change, economic turmoil and the war in Ukraine, Europe has rarely faced so many simultaneous crises as in recent years, and local authorities are often on the front line. “As we cannot prevent crises, are we well enough prepared to deal with them?” asked Andrew Boff...

Read More

Repeat elections in Berlin: Congress praises professionally run polls but recommends standardisation of election day procedures

44th Session 22 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

At its 44th plenary session, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe today adopted a recommendation following the visit by a 14‑member delegation to Berlin to observe the repeat elections held there on 12 February 2023. On Election day, six Congress teams visited...

Read More

Solidarity with earthquake victims

44th Session 10 March 2023 Strasbourg, France

On 6 February, two earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.5 hit south-eastern Türkiye and Syria, leaving more than 45,000 dead, over 3 million displaced and thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools destroyed. On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, on the occasion of the Congress’ 44th Session, a...

Read More

Documents

 Member's guide to the Congress

Due to renovation of the Council of Europe’s Hemicycle, all plenary sittings of the Congress in 2023 will be held in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament 

Information

 Suspension of flights from and to Strasbourg airport from 14 March 2023 to 14 April 2023 included

Contacts

Table Office
[email protected] 

Institutional Communication Unit
Dmitri Marchenkov