Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Following a visit to Montenegro from 9 to 11 June 2015 by co-rapporteurs Gaye Doganoglu (Turkey, EPP/CCE), and Henrik Brade Johansen (Denmark, ILDG), the Monitoring Committee adopted a report on local democracy in that country. “The ongoing reform of public administration (AURUM), launched in 2011, provides a framework for significant progress to be made in the field of public administration, public services and, especially, local self-government. On some points these reforms are in line with recommendations made by the Congress after the first monitoring visit in 2010”, said Gaye Doganoglu. Her co-rapporteur, Henrik Brade Johansen, stressed however that “most municipalities are still faced with a very difficult financial situation, characterised by a high level of debt. Furthermore, despite the existence of a legal framework for consulting local authorities, we are not convinced that the situation in practice is in line with the requirements of the Charter”.