The President of the Congress Anders KNAPE welcomed on 12 March 2019 in Strasbourg a delegation from the Center Party of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) upon their visit to the Council of Europe. During their exchange the President recalled that the Council of Europe’s fundamental values, democracy, human Rights and rule of law, must be safeguarded and supported in order to maintain peace and stability over the continent. “We, as acting local politicians have a specific responsibility in this regard, a responsibility entrusted to us by the citizens when electing us”. The delegation was headed by Carola GUNNARSON, head of the Center party group in SALAR and Lord Mayor of Sala (Sweden). A delegation from SALAR will also visit the Council of Europe on 21-22 May 2019.