Back Andreas Kiefer addresses the Committee of Ministers: “Local authorities bind our societies together and apply democracy and human rights close to the citizens”

Andreas Kiefer addresses the Committee of Ministers: “Local authorities bind our societies together and apply democracy and human rights close to the citizens”

“The European model of society is not characterised by vertical hierarchies but has developed over the last decades in the direction of decentralisation. The Council of Europe has a duty to defend this model of society of which we are so justifiably proud” Congress Secretary General Andreas Kiefer stated on 13 December 2017 when presenting the second activity report for 2017 to the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies. “No government can ignore the role of local and regional authorities and their elected leaders managing the living together, ensuring social cohesion and inclusion” he said, underlining the work of the Congress to disseminate and implement the values of the Council of Europe at the local level. “Going back to recentralisation would not reflect the expectations of the people, who are ready to take responsibility for their communities” he added. The Congress Secretary General presents twice a year a written activity report on the activities of the Congress and its members to the Ministers’ Deputies, which complements the annual political exchange of views of the Deputies with the President of the Congress. “The Congress, as the political assembly of mayors and councillors from all member States, is the communication centre and hub to disseminate not only values but also good practices across Europe” he stressed warning also that the model of European society was currently under threat. “In the difficult situation the Council of Europe is facing, it is indispensible to maintain critical mass and economies of scale in order to achieve meaningful impact of the work of the Congress, in particular as regards monitoring of local and regional democracy and observation of local elections” he said.

The activity report is available in English and French on the Congress website

Strasbourg 13 December 2017
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
Monitoring

The European Charter of Local Self-Government lays down standards for protecting the rights of local authorities and requires states which have ratified it to comply with a number of principles. The Congress is responsible for evaluating the application of the Charter in each Member State.

In the field

Cooperation and thematic activities complement, in the field, the normative work of the Congress. They are based on the political dialogue and the monitoring of the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, and enable the implementation of the adopted recommendations and resolutions.

Election observation

The Congress periodically observes local and regional elections in Council of Europe member States and, sometimes, beyond. This activity, which may be organised in cooperation with other international organisations, complements the political monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government

Postmonitoring

Post-monitoring and post-electoral dialogue aims to support national authorities in order to ensure the implementation of the recommendations adopted by the Congress and addressed to the national authorities of member states by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Tools

Open Local Government | A tool for action

 bE-Open

 

 

  

Civil Participation Forum | A tool for action

 

Stay connected

COE CongressApp : Congress’ news in real time, with notifications.

 Congress newsletter : weekly summary of the Congress' news

 Sign up to our newsletter