The fundamental social rights of the citizens of the member states of the Council of Europe are guaranteed by the European Social Charter and its collective complaints mechanism. As a legal instrument, the Charter refers to young people as having certain rights, notably in terms of education, health and housing. There are still significant disparities, however, in the way these rights are implemented, which is why the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted a report on this issue, presented on 3 April 2019 by the co-rapporteurs Liisa ANSALA (Finland, ILDG) and Piero FASSINO (Italy, SOC).

In order to ensure that young people’s social rights are respected in practice, the Congress calls on local and regional authorities, as bodies which have competences in the social field, to consider these rights a priority for their policies. Member states are invited to ratify the Social Charter, to accept the collective complaints procedures and to involve local and regional authorities in the Social Charter monitoring mechanism. The Congress also emphasises the importance of raising youth awareness through various initiatives and co-ordinating actions at all levels of governance.

In the context of the Congress initiative "Rejuvenating Politics", youth delegates were invited to speak during the debate.

Produced in response to a request from the youth delegates, this report is a continuation of the Congress’s efforts to improve youth integration, participation and engagement at local and regional levels. Since 2014, the Congress has been committed to promoting youth participation, in particular through the “Rejuvenating politics” initiative. Youth delegates from the 47 member states are invited to participate in the debates and to exchange views with Congress members on the issues on session agendas.

• Report CG36(2019)12
• European Social Charter (Revised)
  List of youth delegates to the 36th Congress Session
• Speeches by:

- Presentation by Liisa ANSALA (Finland, ILDG), Congress o-rapporteur
- Presentation by Piero FASSINO (Italy, SOC), Congress co-rapporteur.

• Mediabox Interviews

• Videos of the debate: Lisa ANSALA & Sophia KIRCHER

*** 36th Session of the Congress ***

File 36th Session - Agenda - Videos and photos - Mediabox

The Congress organised a European Conference on Democratic renewal: innovating with deliberative democracy in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), on 20-21 September 2022. It brought together local and regional officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina and international experts.

The event was opened by Mostar Mayor Mario Kordic and Congress Director Rafael Benitez. Taking stock of successful deliberative practices from Brussels and Ostbelgien (Belgium), Paris (France), Ireland, Bologna (Italy), Gdansk (Poland), Istanbul (Türkiye), Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), an Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), participants discussed the added value of adopting deliberative approaches in decision-making as a form of “collective wisdom” and a response to democratic backsliding.

“The adequate response of authorities to citizens recommendations stemming from deliberative processes is vital to keep up the new dynamic, uphold a sense of co-creation and re-install the trust in democracy”, said Karl-Heinz Lambertz (Belgium, SOC/V/DP), Congress rapporteur on the use of deliberative methods at local and regional level.

“Deliberative processes foster a democracy closer to citizens” reiterated Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG), Congress Spokesperson on the Observation of Elections who also highlighted the role of youth and the importance of such processes to allow for diverse perspectives and meaningful inputs for policymakers.

The Conference followed on the 1st Mostar Citizens’ Assembly and as part of its recommendations’ implementation, an ecological campaign was launched in primary schools in Mostar.

In the margins of the Conference, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Congress and the two associations of municipalities and cities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the Republika Sprska to foster the implementation of the principles of open government and public ethics at the local level in the country.

These activities were organised in the framework of the project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” is implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025. The project aims to enhance the quality of local democracy and create opportunities for citizens to engage in innovative participatory processes in Mostar and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will promote new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy making in the country.

• European Conference on Democratic renewal programme
• Congress report “Beyond elections: The use of deliberative methods in European municipalities and regions”,
•  Photos gallery