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27th International Workshop on the Implementation of the Convention
This workshop took place at a particularly important moment, as landscapes across Europe are facing unprecedented pressures arising from climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing...
Congress 50th session: new leadership, Ukraine’s reconstruction, local democracy in Georgia, integrity of local elections, violence against elected officials and social rights at local level
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will hold its 50th session from 31 March to 2 April 2026 in Strasbourg, France. It will welcome new national delegations with a five-year mandate, elect its new leadership and adopt its priorities for 2026-2031. The session’s...
Children share their heritage through creativity
Topics include range from ancient monuments to village traditions in heritage competition
European Rural Youth Forward Conference 2026: From Vision to Action in Rural Youth Participation
Photos by Rural Youth Europe More than 100 rural youth leaders, representatives of youth-led and young farmers’ organisations, and Spanish and European policy-makers gathered between 25 and 28 February in Infiesto, Asturias, for the European Rural Youth Forward Conference 2026, “From Vision to...
Spanish municipalities receive the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE)
The municipalities of Alcantarilla and Cartagena were awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) at a ceremony held in Murcia, Spain, on 6 February 2026, with Congress...
Basque municipalities celebrated for their commitment to good democratic governance
During a ceremony in Bilbao (Spain) on 5 February 2026, attended by Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori, the City of Bilbao and municipalities of Leioa, Errenteria and Urretxu were awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE), and Tolosa was honoured for its commitment to good...
Launch of the HELP tutored course on protecting children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in Spanish
BARNAHUS SPAIN Over fifty judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and child protection professionals from across Spain gathered in Barcelona for the official launching of the Council of Europe HELP...
Spanish Law on transparency complies with the principles of Council of Europe’s Convention on access to official documents
Lack of excessive difficulties in accessing information welcomed
‘Political polarisation should not stand in the way of respect for the rule of law’ say PACE monitors, ending visit to Spain
“The respect of judicial decisions is a key principle in any democracy. Political polarisation should not stand in the way of respect for the rule of law, the separation of powers and a culture of constructive institutional dialogue,” said Elvira Kovács (Serbia, EPP/CD) and Valentina Grippo...
Continued efforts to improve situation of Roma in Spain but concerns persist
Educational disadvantages and lack of participation in public affairs remain issues
Austria and Czechia to lead the Pompidou Group for 2026–29
Mexico as Vice-President, conference welcomes Spain’s joining the group
International Seminar “Stronger Democracy through Multilevel Governance”
On 19 November 2025, the Congress together with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and the Catalonian authorities organised a consultation event on the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact for Europe. The event was organised in Barcelona (Spain) on the margins of the CPMR’s...
Parliamentary Assembly co-rapporteurs to make periodic review visit to Spain
Elvira Kovács (Serbia, EPP/CD) and Valentina Grippo (Italy, ALDE), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the periodic review on Spain, will make a fact-finding visit to Madrid and Barcelona from 12 to 14 November, to assess the honouring of membership...
International Seminar “Stronger Democracy through Multilevel Governance”
As democratic institutions face growing pressure worldwide - such as global and geopolitical developments that test their resilience, disinformation, erosion of local participation - regional representatives, youth organisations, and think tanks will gather in Barcelona on 19 November 2025 for...
Sixth Congress of the World Conference on constitutional justice
“Human rights of future generations” the subject for Madrid congress
Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission issues monitoring reports on Romania, Slovenia and Spain
Numerous recommendations from European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Landscape Convention
Ministerial Conference to take place in Florence
Venice Commission publishes opinion on election of judicial members of the General Council of the Judiciary of Spain
Process should be protected from external political influence and also from internal politicisation
OGP Summit: Congress Vice-President underlines the power of local authorities to transform democracy
Addressing a high-level session on how local open government can transform democracy, on 8 October 2025 as part of the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), Congress Vice-President Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE) highlighted the importance of...
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