The European Charter of Local Self-Government (ETS No. 122) lays down common European standards for safeguarding the political, administrative and financial autonomy of local authorities. It requires the principle of local self-government to be recognised in domestic law and guarantees local authorities democratically elected bodies, a substantial share of public responsibilities, adequate financial resources and legal protection. Compliance with the Charter is monitored by the Congress in all Council of Europe member states.

 The Charter, how it works

Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority – CETS No. 207. Was adopted in 2009 to supplement the text of the Charter. The Additional Protocol supplements the Charter by guaranteeing the right of everyone to participate in the affairs of a local authority. It requires States Parties to establish or maintain measures enabling citizens to influence the exercise of local authorities’ powers and responsibilities, including through participatory procedures and access to official documents held by local authorities.

The Convention (ETS No. 106), also known as the Madrid Convention, provides a legal framework for facilitating and promoting transfrontier co-operation between territorial communities and authorities. It encourages States to remove legal, administrative and technical obstacles to such co-operation and contains model agreements that can be adapted to different national and local circumstances.

Additional Protocol – ETS No. 159. The Additional Protocol strengthens the Convention by recognising, subject to national law, the right of territorial communities and authorities to conclude transfrontier co-operation agreements. It also clarifies the legal effects of decisions taken under such agreements.

Protocol No. 2 concerning interterritorial co-operation – ETS No. 169. Protocol No. 2 extends the principles of the Convention and its first Protocol to co-operation between territorial communities or authorities that do not share a common border. It therefore provides a framework for wider interterritorial partnerships between local and regional authorities.

Protocol No. 3 concerning Euroregional Co-operation Groupings – CETS No. 206. Protocol No. 3 establishes rules for the creation of Euroregional Co-operation Groupings. These bodies may have legal personality and enable local and regional authorities from different States to implement programmes, manage projects and carry out other forms of transfrontier or interterritorial co-operation.

The Convention (ETS No. 144) aims to improve the integration of foreign residents into local communities. It protects certain freedoms and promotes consultative arrangements for foreign residents and, for States accepting the relevant provisions, provides for the right to vote and stand in local elections after a prescribed period of lawful and habitual residence.

The Charter (ETS No. 148) protects and promotes Europe’s historical regional or minority languages as part of the continent’s cultural heritage. It requires States Parties to take practical measures supporting their use in education, justice, public administration, media, cultural activities and public services, including at local and regional levels. Its principal purpose is cultural and linguistic rather than the protection of individual or collective minority rights.

The Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ETS No. 176) promotes the protection, management and planning of landscapes and strengthens public participation in landscape policies. It applies to urban, peri-urban and rural areas and covers outstanding, everyday and degraded landscapes. It also encourages co-operation between national, regional and local authorities and across national borders.

Protocol amending the European Landscape Convention – CETS No. 219. The Protocol amended the Convention to facilitate the participation of non-European States and changed its title to the Council of Europe Landscape Convention. It was opened for ratification, acceptance or approval in 2016 and entered into force on 1 July 2021.