Projects in Armenia
Since joining the Council of Europe in 2001 and ratifying the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2002, Armenia has undertaken far-reaching reforms to strengthen local democracy, with unwavering Council of Europe support. In late 2025, the Territorial and Administrative Reform of Armenia (TARA) reorganised the country into 70 consolidated communities, followed by the approval of a Decentralisation Concept on 7 November 2023 - further aligning Armenia’s governance with the Charter principles. The most recent Congress monitoring report adopted in 2020, highlighted areas demanding improvement, notably constrained municipal autonomy, limited local financing, and weak consultation mechanisms between central and local authorities.
The Centre of Expertise, through the Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase II (DDDGGA – Phase II) project has supported Armenia’s decentralisation agenda since December 2022 under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023 - 2026, helping to address recommendations from Congress monitoring reports.
Ongoing projects in Armenia
Local Governance in Armenia
The “Local Governance in Armenia” bridging project aims to maintain momentum in support of ongoing reforms in the field of local self-government. Legislative gaps will be identified, and priority legislative revisions will be prepared to ensure coherence with the new Law on Local Self-Government. Activities will help develop competences of local authorities to enhance institutional performance and promote civic engagement and voter participation. This action will build directly on achievements of Phases I and II of the Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia projects.
Contact Marité MORAS
Head of the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance
Council of Europe Congress to examine the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Armenia
Widespread progress implementing European Court of Human Rights rulings, but challenges remain
Congress Director sees transformational impact of Congress assistance in Armenia
Completed projects in Armenia
Support to Communities Hosting Refugees in Armenia (2024-2025)
Developed as part of the comprehensive support package of the Council of Europe under the Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026, the project aims to strengthen local resilience and provide direct assistance to local authorities, across Armenia’s most affected regions, thereby enhancing their capacity to manage the crisis and to address the immediate needs of refugees present on their territories.
Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase II (2022-2025)
The project aims to support the adoption of revised legislative framework for local self-government in line with European standards to reflect the new territorial-administrative map of Armenia and develop the capacities of local authorities of newly enlarged communities to ensure they can assume new responsibilities and competences. It also seeks to further raise awareness of good governance principles and promote cross-border co-operation (CBC), inter-municipal co-operation (IMC) and economic development at local level.
Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase I (2019 - 2022)
The Project aimed at supporting democratic consolidation by developing effective, accountable and transparent local government bodies, promoting good governance principles, and fostering inclusive participation and equal opportunities for women in political decision-making across mutually reinforcing lines of action.
Strengthening the Communities Association of Armenia and Transparent, Participatory Local Governance in Armenia (2019-2022)
The aim of the Project was to improve the quality of local democracy in Armenia through establishing a formal, effective consultation mechanism between the Government and the association of local authorities of Armenia, and enhance citizen’s confidence and trust in local authorities through greater voice, accountability, effectiveness and inclusiveness of the local self-government bodies.
Strengthening institutional frameworks for local governance (2015–2017)
In December 2014, the Council of Europe and the European Union signed the Partnership for Good Governance for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus, for the period covering 2015-2017. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in close co-operation with the Directorate General for Democracy, was responsible for the implementation of the thematic component “Strengthening institutional frameworks for local governance”.