How can inter-municipal cooperation, regional partnerships, and local economic empowerment drive Armenia’s development? The Congress has mobilised European experts to weigh in offering concrete solutions to strengthen governance and unlock new growth opportunities.

From 19 to 21 February 2025, a Peer Review on Inter-Municipal and Cross-Border Co-operation for Local Economic Development, was organised to provide legal and policy guidance aligned with European standards. Discussions focused on legal frameworks, governance structures, and best practices, with a view to strengthening municipal co-operation and expanding their role in regional development.

Senior experts and policymakers from France, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain provided practical recommendations to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, sharing insights from similar reforms in their own countries. Through an exchange of experiences, case studies, and legal assessments, the review explored flexible inter-municipal co-operation models, the role of national authorities in cross-border initiatives, and strategies to enhance local economic activities.

The findings will serve as a roadmap for reform, shaping Armenia’s next steps in decentralisation and governance innovation. A public roundtable closed the event, bringing together stakeholders, decision-makers, and local leaders to discuss how Armenia can implement these recommendations. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to outline smarter policies, stronger communities, and a governance model that places municipalities at the heart of sustainable development.

The Peer Review is carried out in the framework of ‘’Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase II’’, implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026, with the financial support of the Austrian Development Agency