The European Charter of Local Self-Government affirms the role of communities as the first level for the exercise of democracy. It has become the benchmark international treaty in this area. The Charter was opened for signature on 15 October 1985 and came into force on 1 September 1988; it is ratified by 47 Council of Europe member states. It is complemented for the regions by the Council of Europe Reference Framework for Regional Democracy.

The European Charter of Local Self-Government (ECLSG) lays down standards for protecting the rights of local authorities and requires states which have ratified it to comply with a number of conditions, principles and practices. States undertake to respect a core of basic principles to which no reservation is possible – such as the right of citizens to participate in managing public affairs, the key rights of communities to enjoy autonomy and self-government, elect their local bodies and to have their own structures and financial resources.

The Congress makes sure that the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government are observed through systematic monitoring and regular dialogue with the governments of the Council of Europe member states.  It undertakes general country-by-country monitoring visits which provide information about the situation of local and regional democracy.  It also regularly observes local and regional elections. A post-monitoring or a post-observation procedure can be implemented at the joint request of the Congress and the authorities of a member State.

The Council of Europe Reference Framework for Regional Democracy – acknowledged by the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers for local and regional authorities at its session in Utrecht on 16 November 2009 - is a veritable code of rights and duties of regional entities, aimed at intermediate authorities between central government and the basic (local authority) tier.