The 5th Statutory Forum of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will meet remotely on 7 December 2020 (9h30 - 12h00 CET). Members of the Statutory Forum will examine for adoption a report on the development of interaction between urban and rural areas, as well as a report on fighting sexist violence against women in politics at local and regional level. In addition, a fact-finding report on territorial reform in Latvia will be submitted for adoption by tacit procedure.

Also on the agenda is a debate on a new "Contemporary commentary on the explanatory report to the European Charter of Local Self-Government" which takes into account the recommendations and resolutions adopted by the Committee of Ministers, the Congress, the Parliamentary Assembly and the opinions of the Venice Commission.

Furthermore, the second volume of the series Human Rights Handbook for local and regional elected representatives, devoted to social rights, will be presented by Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG), Congress Spokesman on Human Rights. It completes the collection launched by the Congress in 2019 with a first volume devoted to the fight against discrimination.

On the same day an interactive event “Covid-19: local and regional authorities at the front line” will bring together in the afternoon (14h30-17h00 CET) Council of Europe leaders, national government representatives and other personalities to discuss with Congress members the best ways to ensure effective responses to the health crisis. The results of the discussions will contribute to the transversal report on “Ensuring the respect of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in major crisis situations” to be presented at the March 2021 Congress session.

The Statutory Forum acts on behalf of the Congress between sessions and is convened upon decision by the Bureau of the Congress. It comprises the Presidents of all national delegations and the members of the Bureau. The outgoing president, the chairs of committees and the presidents of political groups participate without voting rights.

• The event is open to the public.
• Agenda
• Access link to the virtual room
• Web file of the meeting
• Interpretation will be provided in English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Turkish.

The European Charter of Local Self-Government is a unique treaty that guarantees the rights of local authorities and whose principles, since it was opened for signature in 1985, have supported local democracy in Europe. In order to provide a modern understanding of the explanatory report of the Charter, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted, at its Statutory Forum, held remotely on 7 December 2020, a report on a "Contemporary commentary on the explanatory report of the European Charter of Local Self-Government".

"This commentary takes into account the recommendations and resolutions adopted by the Committee of Ministers, the Congress, the Parliamentary Assembly and the opinions of the Venice Commission, but also the case law of certain national courts which have had to interpret certain provisions of the Charter," explained Jakob Wienen (Netherlands, EPP/CCE), Congress rapporteur.

"The Charter is a genuine multilateral international treaty whose binding character, proclaimed in its Article 1, is the cornerstone of its legal relevance and effectiveness," rapporteur said. The contemporary commentary recalls the binding nature of the Charter, including its Preamble, as a treaty ratified by the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. It builds on 30 years of application of the Charter and presents in detail all the provisions - each paragraph of each article - which are explained in the explanatory report to the Charter.

For example, one of the principles contained in the Charter is the consultation of local and regional authorities by central governments, a recurrent issue which is regularly the subject to recommendations after Congress monitoring visits. The contemporary commentary sheds light on the modalities of this consultation, which must take place for all matters that directly concern local authorities, in a timely and appropriate manner.

"Local democracy is lively and develops every day. The Contemporary Commentary contributes to a common, modern and detailed understanding of what local self-government means according to the provisions of the Charter and its explanatory report, in the light of the Council of Europe's work in this field," concluded the rapporteur.

The European Charter of Local Self-Government lays down standards for protecting the rights of local authorities.  Opened for signature on 15 October 1985 and entered into force on 1 September 1988, this convention requires all 47 Council of Europe member states which have ratified it to comply with a number of principles which form the European bedrock of local self-government.  The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is responsible for evaluating the application of the Charter, in each Member State, through a regular monitoring, country-by-country.

*** Statutory Forum of the Congress – 7 December 2020 ***
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