Newsroom
Pioneering local deliberative democracy: Citizens’ assembly simulation held in Kosovo*
A three-day simulation of a citizens’ assembly was organised by the Congress from 21 to 23 July 2026 in Brezovica/Brezovicë. The event brought together 30 participants from nine...
Ukraine: civic leaders turn local ideas into projects through the “Initiative. Participation. Impact” programme
The Congress project “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine’s recovery” has successfully concluded the “Initiative. Participation. Impact” programme....
From London to Strasbourg via Pretoria
Early life of Winston Churchill also led him to defend human rights
Coordination meetings drive forward the implementation of Albania’s Electoral Education Package
Albania is moving closer to nationwide electoral education. In series of coordination meetings with the Central Election Commission, the Agency for Pre-University Education and the Agency for...
Congress at the UN: Sustainable development requires democratic security and multilevel governance
“The Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved in conference rooms alone. They will be achieved - or not - in our neighbourhoods, our towns, our cities and our regions. Every Sustainable Development Goal ultimately has a local address,” underlined Congress President Gunn Marit Helgesen...
Ukraine’s first metropolitan citizens’ assembly in Lviv delivers 19 recommendations to protect water resources
The Lviv Agglomeration has successfully concluded Ukraine’s first-ever metropolitan citizens’ assembly, organised with the Congress support and focused on the sustainable preservation and use of water resources. Over three intensive sessions of learning, deliberation and joint work, local...
“Reform is about our collective ability to make full use of the potential of the Council of Europe” – Alain Berset
Insights from the Secretary General’s address to 46 European governments
Albania’s Central Election Commission advances strategic planning for 2027-2031
The Central Election Commission of Albania held a two-day institutional strategic planning retreat to review the implementation of its current Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and lay the foundations...
Government leaders must lead by example in combating corruption and promoting integrity
Council of Europe’s GRECO stresses significant reforms still needed in central government and law enforcement
Ukrainian Authorities Strengthen Interagency Preparedness to Counter Election Related Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference
From 15 to 17 June 2026, the Council of Europe* supported a three-day simulation-based practical exercise on “Countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in Elections”,...
Congress Director welcomes the commitment of Italian local authorities to good democratic governance
In these turbulent times where democratic foundations are challenged, the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) is offering Italian local authorities an opportunity to engage with citizens and restore their faith in democratic institutions. At the 3rd national ELoGE award ceremony in...
Congress Rapporteur: Local and regional authorities bear key responsibility for fighting intolerance
“The Congress is active on a wide range of anti-discrimination issues, fighting intolerance and strengthening human rights delivery in municipalities and regions,” underlined Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, ILDG), Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress, addressing the...
Venice Commission President concludes visit to Hungary
Venice Commission and high authorities of Hungary discuss framework of cooperation for upcoming constitutional reform
Sharing Excellence in Electoral Practice between Moldovan and Norwegian Electoral Officials
A delegation of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova and the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training, in the period completed a study visit to leading public...
Alain Berset: Europe must look beyond rearmament to safeguard democratic security
Council of Europe conference highlights strategic foresight as a pillar of Europe’s democratic future
Secretary General in Dubrovnik: Democratic security is Europe's compass in an age of multipolarity
Addressing the Dubrovnik Forum, Alain Berset called for stronger democratic resilience to navigate an increasingly fragmented world
Georgia’s willingness to meet Council of Europe standards in question
Parliamentary Assembly points to the country’s “democratic breakdown” in its latest monitoring assessment
Parliamentary Assembly committee condemns ‘transnational repression’ and urges new laws to stop it
PACE has condemned all forms of “transnational repression” – a form of foreign interference used by authoritarian regimes to repress political dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and members of diaspora communities beyond their borders – and has urged new laws to prevent it. In a...
Happy Birthday to the Permanent Representation of France to the Council of Europe!
Robert Schuman, René Cassin, Simone Veil, Robert Badinter – une contribution exceptionnelle
Parliamentary Assembly denounces silencing of critical voices in Azerbaijan
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, today expressed its concern at a broad climate of “silencing critical voices in Azerbaijan”, including through restrictive legislative measures, which effect has been to “suppress independent...
*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.