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At the Congress, youth delegates want to turn words into action
In Strasbourg, during the 51st session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, youth delegates presented their initiatives in support of local democracy, inclusion and security. They all shared the same ambition: to make their voices heard and influence...
Council of Europe Congress adopts recommendations on elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska), the Netherlands, Serbia and the United Kingdom
In a joint debate on election observation missions, on 28 October 2026 during its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted recommendations related to local elections in the Netherlands, in 10 municipalities of Serbia, in England...
Congress calls for a binding instrument on the environment protection
On 29 October 2026, at its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress adopted a recommendation “Towards a healthy environment from the local level up”, stressing the urgent need to draw up a legally binding instrument of the Council of Europe recognising the right to a clean, healthy and...
Local democracy in Switzerland: Council of Europe Congress commends a robust model and calls for the militia system to be adapted
In a report monitoring the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Switzerland, the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities commended the advanced development of direct democracy, whilst calling for a review of the militia system to make local...
Case of İmamoğlu against Türkiye: Congress to submit observations to the Human Rights Court by way of third-party intervention
Following a debate on a report by Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), the Congress voted on 29 October 2026 to submit written observations by way of third-party intervention in the case of imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu against Türkiye, which is before the European Court of...
Türkiye: Release of Sinem Dedetaş from prison to house arrest is a first step towards her full reinstatement, says Council of Europe Congress President
Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has issued the following statement on the decision to release Congress Vice-President and Mayor of Üsküdar, Sinem Dedetaş (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD) from prison and place her...
Contested Heritage, Community Solutions
On 29 October 2026 in Strasbourg, the Congress adopted the report “Contested memories: how local and regional authorities can manage controversial cultural heritage”. The vote took place following a debate with the participation of the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, Christophe...
Overtourism and population decline: the challenge of retaining local populations in regions
How can we preserve the vitality and liveability of European regions, which are under threat from overtourism or a decline in their population? This was the focus of a debate organised on 28 October in Strasbourg by the Congress’ Chamber of Local Authorities, during its 51st session. In Capri,...
Oleksandr Prokudin: our resilience sets an example for European regions to follow
Organised by the Chamber of Regions, a debate on the theme of regional democratic resilience in times of crisis served as a reminder that only by anticipating and preparing in advance will regions be able to limit the effects of a threat or crisis. “Preventing crises also means showing citizens...
Cities and regions must move now to guarantee the freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people by law – and this is the way to do it
“Local and regional authorities must act to ensure the rights of LGBTI people by law, even in the face of powerful opposition. This report makes clear how they should do it – no ifs, buts or maybes”, said Helen Belcher (United Kingdom, ILDG), co-rapporteur for the report “Free to speak, free to...
Council of Europe Congress reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and decentralisation reforms
During its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted on 28 October 2026 a Declaration entitled “Intensifying attacks of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”, presented by Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) and Mihkel Juhkami...
Congress to strengthen partnership with local authorities in South-East Europe
On 28 October 2026, Congress President Gunn Marit Helgesen and Emil Drăghici, President of the Networks of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the margins of the Congress 51st session. The agreement aims to strengthen local...
Pavel Branda: “Cross-border cooperation is Europe in action!”
Whether at European Union level or within the framework of Greater Europe, cross-border cooperation is one of the great successes of European integration. But the models still have room for improvement, as demonstrated by a debate without a vote organised on 28 October by the Congress’s Chamber...
Congress to support the Carpathian Integration Initiative
“The Carpathian Integration Initiative was launched to bring eight countries together so that our regions and communities can develop coordinated solutions instead of eight different responses to the same problem,” underlined Vitalii Bezghin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally...
Council of Europe’s smallest States: Local Self-Government Charter applies equally to all while respecting diverse institutional contexts, says Congress
Each of the smallest States of the Council of Europe – Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco and San Marino – has ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government which is legally binding on them. While monitoring of the Charter’s implementation takes account of diverse national contexts,...
Lionel Beffre, Minister for the Interior of Monaco: “Local elected representatives are the first point of contact for 700 million Europeans”
Lionel Beffre, Monaco’s Minister of the Interior, addressed the 51st session of the Congress on 28 October on behalf of Monaco’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In his speech, Minister Lionel Beffre emphasised the importance of local and regional authorities...
Regional exodus versus right to stay: Congress calls for local and regional action to create new opportunities for rural communities
“Most people don’t leave rural areas because they prefer to, but because they have to – however, rural exodus is not inevitable. By combining local knowledge and leadership with strong support from higher levels of government, we can create new opportunities for rural regions,” stated...
Congress President reaffirms support for a democratic Belarus during meeting with new delegation
On 27 October 2026, Congress President Gunn Marit Helgesen and Rapporteur for a democratic Belarus Belinda Gottardi (Italy, SOC/G/PD) met with the new delegation of the Belarusian Democratic Forces to the Congress, on the occasion of their participation in the Congress 51st plenary session. The...
Council of Europe Congress calls for stronger and better funded local democracy in Albania
In a recommendation adopted today at its 51st plenary session, the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities calls on Albania to strengthen local self-government, ensure meaningful public participation in decisions affecting local communities and provide municipalities with...
New report calls for a common European definition, systematic attendance recording and early intervention to protect young people’s life chances
Congress votes on plans to defuse Europe’s “ticking timebomb” of school absenteeism
The Congress voted today on a report calling for urgent action to reverse heightened levels of school absenteeism and safeguard young people’s right to education. The report, Missing out: tackling school absenteeism in Europe’s communities, warns that absenteeism has risen substantially in many...
