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Türkiye: Council of Europe Congress calls to uphold opposition rights and respect the will of voters
Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG) and Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), Rapporteurs on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, have made the following statement: “We deplore the recent developments affecting...
Türkiye: Council of Europe Commissioner calls for reforms to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and judicial independence
Memorandum - Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, released a memorandum today addressing freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and aspects...
Türkiye: opposition must not be silenced through force or judicial pressure
Lord David Blencathra (United kingdom, ECPA) and Yves Cruchten (Luxembourg, SOC), co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee on Türkiye, have made the following statement: “We are deeply concerned by the scenes witnessed today at the headquarters of Türkiye‘s main opposition party, the CHP...
Open letter by rapporteurs of European institutions on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye
The Rapporteurs on Türkiye of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Lord David Blencathra (United Kingdom, ECPA) and Yves Cruchten (Luxembourg, SOC), of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), of the...
Rapporteurs of European institutions address an open letter on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye
“Dear Minister, “We, the Rapporteurs on Türkiye of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, of the...
Rapporteurs of European institutions address an open letter on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye
Congress and Parliamentary Assembly among those to raise detention of Istanbul Mayor other local elected representatives
Parliamentary Assembly President and the members of the Presidential Committee met the President of Cyprus
PACE President Petra Bayr, accompanied by the members of the PACE Presidential Committee (namely the Chairpersons of the five PACE political groups and the PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou), today held an exchange of views with Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, on...
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...
One year since the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu: Statement by Council of Europe Congress President
Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, made today the following statement: “Today marks one year since the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu;...
Towards a new European security architecture
Secretary General Berset addresses the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as war in Iran rages on its borders
Acquittal of Congress youth delegate in Türkiye
Young people must be able to make their voices heard without fear of reprisals
Acquittal of Congress youth delegate: Young people must be able to make their voices heard without fear of reprisals
“I welcome yesterday’s decision by the Ankara courts to acquit Enes Hocaoğulları, the 2025 Congress youth delegate in respect of Türkiye, of all the charges brought against him following words he spoke during a plenary debate held by the Congress in Strasbourg on 27 March 2025,” said Council of...
Council of Europe Congress reaffirms its support to Congress youth delegate ahead of his trial in Türkiye
On 23 February 2026, Enes Hocaoğulları, Congress youth delegate and human rights defender, will face trial in Ankara for a speech he made in a plenary debate held by the Congress in Strasbourg on 27 March 2025, on dismissals of mayors in Türkiye. On this occasion, the President of the Congress of...
Council of Europe Congress reaffirms its support to Congress youth delegate ahead of his trial in Türkiye
On 23 February 2026, Enes Hocaoğulları, Congress youth delegate and human rights defender, will face trial in Ankara for a speech he made in a plenary debate held by the Congress in Strasbourg on 27 March 2025, on dismissals of mayors in Türkiye. On this occasion, the President of the Congress of...
Congress Vice-President commends the determination of Türkiye’s local authorities to promote good democratic governance
At the 4th award ceremony for the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) in Türkiye, held in Ankara on 10 February 2026, 16 municipalities* were awarded the label. Speaking at the ceremony, Congress Vice-President Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) praised the crucial role of the...
Council of Europe Congress delegation on high-level visit to Türkiye
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, led by Congress President Marc Cools, will conduct a high-level visit to Türkiye (Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara) from 9 to 11 February 2026. This visit is a follow-up to the Declaration on dismissals of mayors...
Türkiye: Authorities should ensure the implementation of human rights standards on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Türkiye from 1-5 December 2025, during which he discussed the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and aspects of the administration of justice in this context. The...
Parliamentary Assembly launches new toolkit for parliamentary action on missing migrants at Grand National Assembly of Türkiye
Parliamentary Assembly and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye co-organised a parliamentary roundtable on “The role of public policy to prevent and address disappearances of migrants”. The event, bringing together more than 80 participants, launched the recently published toolkit for...
President of Congress warns against prolonged detention of mayors, as today marks 240th day since arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul
“240 days since his arrest, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul now faces 142 charges, incurring up to 2 400 years of imprisonment. This is deeply alarming,” said today Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. “As indicated by the Venice...
Celebrating Council of Europe visibility week in Türkiye
The Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara celebrated its Visibility Week from 19-24 October 2025, bringing together more than 700 partners from public institutions, civil society, academia and international organisations across Türkiye. “Council of Europe Visibility Week is more than a...
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.