A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, composed of the rapporteurs Matthias Gysin (Switzerland, ILDG) and Magnus Berntsson (Sweden, EPP/CCE) carried out a monitoring visit to Brussels, Eupen, Genk and Liège from 10 to 12 May 2022 to assess the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government since the previous monitoring report adopted by the Congress in 2014.
The rapporteurs held exchanges of views on the latest developments in the field of local and regional self-government in Belgium with Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, Bart Somers, Vice-Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, as well as with Christophe Collignon, Walloon Minister for Housing, Local Authorities and the City and Oliver Paasch, Minister-President of the German-speaking Community, Minister for Local Authorities and Finance.
Meetings were also planned with Rachid Madrane, President of the Brussels Parliament, Jean-Claude Marcourt, President of the Walloon Parliament and Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community.
The Congress delegation further met Claudia Niessen, Mayor of Eupen, Willy Demeyer, Mayor of Liège and Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk.
Belgium ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2004. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires the implementation of a minimum set of rights which form the essential basis of local self-government in Europe. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures that these principles are respected in the 46 Council of Europe member states.
Contact:
Stéphanie POIREL, Secretary of the Monitoring Committee
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
+33 (0) 3 90 21 51 84
[email protected]
