1952 | 26 September
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decides to set up a Special Committee on Municipal and Regional Affairs.

1953 | 18 October
The first General Assembly of European Municipalities, meeting in Versailles, adopts the "European Charter of Municipal Freedoms" and supported the proposal to create a European Conference of Local Authorities within the Council of Europe.

1955 | 14 October
On the proposal of its Committee on Communal and Regional Affairs, the Parliamentary Assembly decides to convene an annual "European Conference of Representatives of National Associations of Local Authorities".

1957 | 12 January
The first session of the "European Conference of Local Authorities" is opened in Strasbourg, under the chairmanship of Jacques CHABAN-DELMAS.

1961 | 13 September
The Committee of Ministers decides to set up the European Conference of Local Authorities on a biennial basis, declaring that "local authorities can make a substantial contribution to the achievement of the aims of the Council of Europe, as defined in Article 1 of its Statute".

1975 | 19 February
The Committee of Ministers decides to extend the competences of the "Conference" which becomes the "Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe".

1985 | 15 October
The European Charter of Local Self-Government is open for signature by the member states of the Council of Europe, on the occasion of the 20th Session of the European Conference of Local and Regional Authorities.

1988 | 1st September
The European Charter of Local Self-Government enters into force.

1992 | 18 March
Adoption by the Congress of the European Urban Charter, which sets out the principles of good urban governance.

1993 | 8 and 9 October
At the Vienna Summit, the Heads of State and Government of all Council of Europe member states approve the creation of a new body "authentically representing both local and regional authorities".

1993 | 1st October
Opening of the first Local Democracy Agency in Subotica (Serbia).

1994 | 14 January
The Committee of Ministers adopts a statutory resolution establishing the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities as a body representing local and regional authorities within the Council of Europe.

2000 | 15 March
By a statutory resolution, the Committee of Ministers instructs the Congress to prepare regular country-by-country reports on the situation of local and regional democracy in all member states and to ensure the application of the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

2003 | 21 May
The revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life is adopted by the Congress at its 10th Session.

2007 | 2 May
The Congress is mandated by a statutory resolution of the Committee of Ministers to prepare reports and recommendations following the observation of local and/or regional elections.

2007 | 15-22 October
The Congress organises the first "European Local Democracy Week" in the 47 member states, an annual event to promote local democracy among European citizens.

2008 | 29 May
The Congress adopts the Urban Charter II: "Manifesto for a new urbanity".

2009 - 16 November
The Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of local authorities is opened for signature by member states.

2011 | 19 April
The Committee of Ministers encourages the governments of member states to draw inspiration from the Reference Framework for Regional Democracy, presented by the Congress to the European Ministers responsible for local and regional government, at their meeting in Utrecht in November 2009.

2012 | 1st June
The Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of local authorities enters into force.

2013 | 23 October
The Republic of San Marino is the 47th and last State to ratify the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which now applies in all Council of Europe member states.

2015 | 20 May
Congress President Jean-Claude FRECON signs a roadmap with the Ukrainian authorities following the first post-monitoring dialogue on the implementation of Congress recommendations.

2019 | 2 April
The Congress votes to grant the status of partner of local democracy to the Kingdom of Morocco.

2019 | 29 October
The Congress votes to grant the status of partner of local democracy to the Republic of Tunisia.