Newsroom
AI is going local – but are municipalities in Europe prepared?
From 17 to 19 November 2026, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will be holding in Paris its first-ever Academy bringing together 20 local and regional authorities from 18 countries to provide them with practical tools for responsible AI governance. The...
Congress Secretary General: Providing young people with equal participation opportunities is our shared responsibility
Young people do not need permission to have a voice. They need institutions willing to listen and brave enough to act. By launching the “Rejuvenating politics initiative” and by adopting the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in local and regional life, the Congress did listen...
Congress President: Local and regional authorities must be closely involved in EU accession of the Western Balkans
“Many of the reforms in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, aimed at accelerating socio-economic convergence with the European market, will be delivered, or felt most directly, at the local level. From improving services and infrastructure to supporting local businesses, strengthening...
Call for applications for young people to take part in the 2027 edition of the Congress Rejuvenating Politics initiative
As part of its Rejuvenating Politics initiative, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is calling for applications from young people from Council of Europe member States, aged between 18 and 30, to take part in its 2026 youth delegates programme. One young person...
Joint statement on the visit to Türkiye
From 2 to 4 November 2026, a delegation of rapporteurs from three European institutions of the Council of Europe and the European Union visited Türkiye. At the end of the visit, they made the following statement: “We, Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG) and Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD),...
Congress President at the World Forum for Democracy: We must work together for a democracy that listens, includes and delivers
“Democratic security is not only about protecting institutions – it is also about making sure democracy works for the people it serves. Municipalities and regions are close to people’s everyday concerns and can make services, decisions and participation more responsive,” underlined Congress...
Open call for grants to support for Local Authorities in organising Citizens’ Assemblies in South-East Europe
The Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is launching a call for local authorities from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to receive support in organising citizens’...
Nilüfer municipality project wins the Council of Europe Congress’ first-ever ELDA Award on Citizen Participation
The winner of the first Local Citizen Engagement- ELDA (European Local Democracy Action) Award is the project “Our Compass is Digital Participation!” submitted by the municipality of Nilüfer in Türkiye. The winner was revealed at a gala award ceremony organised by Innovation in Politics Awards...
Congress Secretary General presents Congress priorities to the Committee of Ministers
In his communication to the Committee of Ministers on 30 October 2026, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori presented the Congress action in five priority areas: support for Ukraine, rebuilding trust from the ground up as a contribution to the New Democratic Pact for Europe, territorial...
At the Congress, youth delegates want to turn words into action
In Strasbourg, during the 51st session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, youth delegates presented their initiatives in support of local democracy, inclusion and security. They all shared the same ambition: to make their voices heard and influence...
Council of Europe Congress adopts recommendations on elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska), the Netherlands, Serbia and the United Kingdom
In a joint debate on election observation missions, on 28 October 2026 during its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted recommendations related to local elections in the Netherlands, in 10 municipalities of Serbia, in England...
Congress calls for a binding instrument on the environment protection
On 29 October 2026, at its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress adopted a recommendation “Towards a healthy environment from the local level up”, stressing the urgent need to draw up a legally binding instrument of the Council of Europe recognising the right to a clean, healthy and...
Local democracy in Switzerland: Council of Europe Congress commends a robust model and calls for the militia system to be adapted
In a report monitoring the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Switzerland, the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities commended the advanced development of direct democracy, whilst calling for a review of the militia system to make local...
Case of İmamoğlu against Türkiye: Congress to submit observations to the Human Rights Court by way of third-party intervention
Following a debate on a report by Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), the Congress voted on 29 October 2026 to submit written observations by way of third-party intervention in the case of imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu against Türkiye, which is before the European Court of...
Türkiye: Release of Sinem Dedetaş from prison to house arrest is a first step towards her full reinstatement, says Council of Europe Congress President
Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has issued the following statement on the decision to release Congress Vice-President and Mayor of Üsküdar, Sinem Dedetaş (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD) from prison and place her...
Contested Heritage, Community Solutions
On 29 October 2026 in Strasbourg, the Congress adopted the report “Contested memories: how local and regional authorities can manage controversial cultural heritage”. The vote took place following a debate with the participation of the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, Christophe...
Overtourism and population decline: the challenge of retaining local populations in regions
How can we preserve the vitality and liveability of European regions, which are under threat from overtourism or a decline in their population? This was the focus of a debate organised on 28 October in Strasbourg by the Congress’ Chamber of Local Authorities, during its 51st session. In Capri,...
Oleksandr Prokudin: our resilience sets an example for European regions to follow
Organised by the Chamber of Regions, a debate on the theme of regional democratic resilience in times of crisis served as a reminder that only by anticipating and preparing in advance will regions be able to limit the effects of a threat or crisis. “Preventing crises also means showing citizens...
Cities and regions must move now to guarantee the freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people by law – and this is the way to do it
“Local and regional authorities must act to ensure the rights of LGBTI people by law, even in the face of powerful opposition. This report makes clear how they should do it – no ifs, buts or maybes”, said Helen Belcher (United Kingdom, ILDG), co-rapporteur for the report “Free to speak, free to...
Council of Europe Congress reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and decentralisation reforms
During its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted on 28 October 2026 a Declaration entitled “Intensifying attacks of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”, presented by Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) and Mihkel Juhkami...
