45th Session - 24 to 26 October 2023
The Council of Europe Congress provides guiding principles for the modern urban living in the era of transformations
The European Urban Charter III, adopted by the Congress at its 45th Session, is an invitation for all those involved in urban development to review their practice and to implement the principles of democratic, cohesive, sustainable, resilient, digital and ethical governance, enabling towns and...
Elections to the Council of Elders of Yerevan: Congress welcomes successful efforts to ensure a well-administered and transparent ballot
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted a report on the elections of the Council of Elders of the City of Yerevan, in Armenia held on 17 September 2023 during its 45th session in Strasbourg. On election day, the Congress delegation was deployed to all...
Violence against local and regional elected representatives: a threat to our democracies
An extremely unpleasant experience for those on the receiving end, verbal abuse and physical violence against local and regional elected representatives is on the rise throughout Europe. As well as being traumatic and damaging, such violence can also have a “demotivating” effect on elected...
45th session, Day 1: Election of the President of the Congress, Russia’s war against Ukraine, European Urban Charter III (2023), Reykjavik Summit, UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals
On the first day of the 45th session, the Congress members have elected Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG) as their new President, for a mandate of two years and a half. Mr Cools is Communal Councillor of Uccle (Belgium) and Honorary Vice-President of the Brussels Parliament and was previously the chair...
Local and regional media: Council of Europe Congress calls for more support to prevent local media deserts
Grassroots media play a key role in upholding local democracy, and authorities at all levels can and should take steps to strengthen grassroots media, finds a new report on local and regional media, presented by co-rapporteurs, Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) and Mélanie Lepoultier (France,...
New priorities set for the Congress of local and regional authorities as a follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit
In the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the refocusing of the Council that followed it, the Congress adopted today a new set of priorities for the period from 2023 until the end of its current mandate in 2026. These priorities are inspired by the Reykjavik Summit of Heads...
45th Session, Day 2: The election of the new Presidents of Congress’ Chambers, Monitoring reports on the application of the ECLSG in Estonia and Ireland, the observation of local elections in Albania and to the Council of Elders in Armenia, sustainable development, local and regional media
On the second day of the 45th session, the presidents of the Chamber of Local Authorities, Bernd Vöhringer, and the Chamber of Regions, Harald Sonderegger, opened the sessions of the Chambers highlighting the election of the new presidents and their vice-presidents. The current President of the...
Congress adopts Declaration on the humanitarian situation in Karabakh and neighbouring cities and regions
Congress expresses deep concern over humanitarian situation in Karabakh and neighbouring cities and regions On 26 October 2023, during its 45th Session in Strasbourg, the Congress held a debate on the humanitarian situation following the flight of more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to...
Time to listen to our youth partners! The Congress gives youth delegates a chance to talk about their projects
The debate on youth engagement as the driving force for change, during which youth delegates reported on their projects, once again showed that youth involvement is good for democracy. With over 2 223 direct participants, the 33 projects carried out in 2023 in 32 countries by the Congress' youth...
Elections in the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions
On the occasion of the 45th session of the Congress, the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions each elected a new President, as well as seven Vice-Presidents. The Chamber of Local Authorities elected Bernd VOEHRINGER (Germany, EPP/CCE) as President and Carla NUNES TAVARES,...
George Alexakis: “There will be no energy transition without energy democracy”
Europe's regions are deeply committed to the energy transition and are aware that, if these changes are to succeed, they will require solutions tailored to the specific features of each region and the support of the populations directly concerned. A debate on the role of regions in the energy...
Local elections in Albania: Congress welcomes an overall transparent election day, but longstanding issues remain to be addressed
At its 45th Plenary Session, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted a report on the local elections held in Albania held on 14 May 2023. On election day, ten Congress teams visited over 110 polling stations in different regions of Albania. The Congress...
The Congress elects its new President
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe has renewed its presidency on the occasion of its 45th Session. The Congress members have elected Marc Cools (Belgium, GILD) as the new President of the Congress, for a mandate of two years and a half. Marc Cools is the Communal...
Achieving the sustainable development goals: European regions between balance sheets and prospects
Established in 2015, the United Nations' Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development includes 17 goals to be achieved by 2030: two-thirds of them directly involve local and regional authorities. At the halfway point in this journey, the Chamber of Regions has taken stock of progress at regional...
War against Ukraine: role of local and regional authorities in ensuring accountability of Russia and the plight of anti-war political activists in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
In May 2023, in Reykjavik, the Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government launched a Register of damage caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. This Register is the first step towards a compensation mechanism aimed at collecting complaints from Ukrainian...
Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs addresses the Chamber of Local Authorities on the application of the Charter
“The aim is to increase the internal self-management of local authorities by making their organisation clearer, simpler and more flexible” said the Minister of Regional Affairs of Estonia, Madis KALLAS, during his address to the Chamber of local authorities. In a monitoring report on the...
Council of Europe Congress calls on Slovakia to address the fragmentation of local authorities and improve their funding
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has called on the Slovak authorities to address the problems associated with municipal fragmentation in the country, improve the funding of local authorities, revise the fiscal equalisation system aimed at mitigating regional...
The ratification of the Additional Protocol will be among the follow-ups given to the monitoring, says Irish Minister Kieran O’Donnell
“I think we are in a good position to meet the obligations of the Additional Protocol […]. Ireland can therefore give an undertaking to give positive consideration to this recommendation,” said Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Kieran O’Donnell, during its address to the...
Congress Governance Committee elected its new leadership and debated on circular economy and freshwater resources
The Governance Committee of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities chaired by Jelena Drenjanin (Sweden, EPP/CCE) and bringing together local and regional elected representatives, met on 24 October 2023 in Strasbourg, France, in the margin of the Congress 45th Session. The Committee...
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