The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe held its 43rd Session from 25 to 27 October 2022, in Strasbourg, France.
The Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksiy Chernyshov, and the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, addressed members of Congress in a debate on the Russian Federation's war on Ukraine on the afternoon of Tuesday 25 October.
Also on the agenda were reports on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Sweden. Congress members will examine reports on the observation of the latest local by-elections in Belgrade and several other municipalities in Serbia, as well as in Albania, and a report on the observation of local elections in the Netherlands. In addition, a draft resolution endorsing the Revised Code of Good Practice on Referendums, adopted by the Venice Commission and the Council for Democratic Elections, was presented for adoption.
A report on “A fundamental right to the environment: a matter for local and regional authorities” was debated in order to encourage an environmental reading of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and to adapt local governance to environmental challenges. The report proposes the drafting of an additional Protocol to the Charter. On this occasion, the third volume of the Human Rights Handbook for local and regional elected representatives on the environment and sustainable development was presented. Members also considered for adoption reports on regional identities, the impact of hate speech and fake news on the working conditions of local and regional elected representatives, smart cities and regions for a human rights-based governance approach, as well as on the reception of women and children refugees.
A debate on the Congress' co-operation activities were held with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Mzia Giorgobiani. Members also discussed the future of the Council of Europe and the role of the Congress in this framework, with the contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur, Fiona O'Loughlin, on "A fourth Summit for a renewed, improved and reinforced Council of Europe". Other topics of the session included debates on the revision of the European Urban Charter II - Manifesto for a New Urbanity in the context of current crisis situations, and on regional finances. In addition, as at every session under the Congress' "Rejuvenate Politics" initiative, youth delegates participated in the debates and presented their own grassroots projects.
Among the invited guests were Peter Burke, Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, on behalf of the Irish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, David Sláma, Acting Deputy Minister of the Interior, Czech Republic, Caroline Conroy, Mayor of Dublin, Ireland, and Leyla Kayacik, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees.
At the session, Congress members elected their Secretary General.
- Agenda and documents: 43rd session webpage
- Interpretation: English, French, German, Italian and Turkish
- Live streaming, videos and photos will be available in the session web folder
- See also: Russian Federation's war against Ukraine | dedicated page