Back Future of the Council of Europe – restoring confidence in democratic institutions from the local level up

Future of the Council of Europe – restoring confidence in democratic institutions from the local level up

In our response to the current democratic crisis, local institutions have a strategic role in restoring the links between citizens and the institutions which represent them. This is the Congress members’ message to the foreign ministers of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, who are to meet at a ministerial summit in Helsinki on 16 and 17 May 2019 to discuss the future of the Council of Europe.

The recommendation adopted on 2 April 2019 assesses the contribution of the Congress – which represents over 150 000 local and regional authorities throughout the 47 member states of the Council of Europe – as a full partner of the Committee of Ministers and national governments in efforts to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law at local and regional level.

The Congress members point out that local and regional democracy is a central pillar of European democracy and that the territorial network of municipalities is an asset, capable of preserving the social fabric and reviving citizens’ trust in representative democracy.

“Because of its dual role as an institution and a monitoring body of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress has built up a unique body of knowledge about local and regional experiences, which is of benefit to the Council of Europe as a whole. Today, as never before, preserving the European model of the balance of powers requires increased deployment of grassroots democracy and the development of a new socio-territorial pact”, they concluded.

 

 

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

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The Congress' contribution to the reflection on the future of the Council of Europe was adopted on 2 April 2019 during the 36th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

  • The Congress' contribution to the reflection on the future of the Council of Europe: Report CG36(2019)08
36th Session Strasbourg, France 2 April 2019
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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

 

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