Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement:

“I am deeply concerned about the adoption by the Parliament of Georgia of the legislation “On protecting family values and minors”, despite the persistent calls from the Council of Europe bodies, including the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, and the international community against this move.

“This legislation seems fundamentally at odds with the principles enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and a draft constitutional law with similar content previously received a critical opinion from the Venice Commission. It denies LGBTI people their human dignity, undermining the values of equality, inclusion and diversity that underpin cohesive democratic societies and which the Congress resolutely defends and promotes across regions and municipalities in Europe and beyond.

“I am particularly worried that, as a result of this legislation, instead of firmly rejecting any kind of discrimination, including based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Georgian authorities at all levels of government will be legally obliged to implement policies that violate the human rights of LGBTI people, and thus contribute to their stigmatisation and social exclusion.  This is detrimental to the development of diverse, tolerant, and peaceful communities. It is even more worrisome as this legislation follows the adoption of the law on transparency of foreign influence, which the Congress and other Council of Europe bodies deplored, and adds to Georgia’s deviation from core democratic values.

“I therefore encourage the President of Georgia to veto this legislation and urge the Georgian parliament not to override yet another presidential veto. It is crucial to ensure that human dignity is universally respected and upheld by all. In this regard, I stress the importance of maintaining political dialogue with the authorities of Georgia, as developed during the Congress Monitoring Committee meeting in Tbilisi on 2 July 2024 and that we intend to pursue. To this end, I intend to organise soon a high-level visit to Georgia.

A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, composed of rapporteurs   Alexander BOOMGAARS, Netherlands (L, SOC/G/PD)  and Tanja JOONA, Finland (L, ILDG), will conduct a monitoring visit to the Republic of San Marino from 17 to 18 September 2024 to assess the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the country since the last monitoring report adopted by the Congress in 2018. They will be accompanied by Prof. Eva Marín HLYNSDOTTIR, member of the group of independent experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

During the visit, the Congress delegation will focus on the implementation of Congress recommendation  418(2018) “Local democracy in the Republic of San Marino”. In particular attention will be given to the legal recognition of the principle of local self-government and its practical implementation, the allocation of competences to townships, the administrative, organisational and financial autonomy at the local level, and the consultation procedures in San Marino.

The rapporteurs will meet with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Public Sector, Institutional Affairs, Relations with the Township Councils and Regulatory Simplification, the Minister for Territory, Environment, Agriculture, Civil Protection and Relations with the State Company for Public Works,  the Vice-President of the Guarantors' Panel on the Constitutionality of Rules (Collegio Garante Della costituzionalità delle norme) and the President of the  Public Finance Control Commission of San Marino.

Discussions are also scheduled with members of the national delegation of San Marino to the Congress, as well as the mayors (Capitani di Castello) of the townships of San Marino (Città di San Marino), Domagnano and Serravalle.

Contact: Svitlana Pereverten, Tel: +33 (0) 3 90 21 64 27

The Republic of San Marino ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2013. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires compliance with a minimum number of rights, which form the European foundation of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities ensures that these principles are respected.

 Photo Gallery

“We are living through unprecedented crises that pose new challenges and require innovating in response to them; local authorities are at the forefront of responding to these new challenges,” underlined Melanie Lepoultier, Deputy Permanent Rapporteur of the Congress on human rights and Mayor of Sommervieu (France), introducing a round table on local innovation for stronger local authorities, in Strasbourg on 13 September 2024. “Local innovation is the catalyst for empowering communities. By fostering creativity and encouraging new ideas at the grassroots level, we enable local authorities to address specific challenges effectively,” she said, adding that promoting human rights through innovative practices would strengthen social cohesion in communities.

Deputy Mayor of Wroclav (Poland) Jakub Mazur promoted the use of artificial intelligence (AI)  and digital tools, in particular in managing the integration of migrants and refugees. “While it is true that AI risks to deepen inequalities, they are also key instruments to elaborate innovative solutions to support refugees,“ he said.

Policy analyst from the organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ji Soo Yoon pointed out that local authorities were at the heart of the success of climate initiatives. “They bring a unique understanding of their local population, and facilitate local engagement. They cannot be left alone in this, either local or central authorities, and national associations are necessary to fight together climate change challenges,” she added.

“Community-wide awareness, support, and understanding will always trump ignorance and hatred, which often breeds in the dark,” emphasised Alicia Ann Blount, Congress Youth Delegate from the United Kingdom, speaking about the role of local and regional authorities in addressing internet safety and cyberbullying. “Educate, legislate, accommodate – these approaches are just the beginning of making our online community safe for women and children,” she said.

The participants pointed out that while new technologies offer new ways to solve problems, improve services and enhance the quality of life for all local residents, digital divide and digital security remained important concerns, aggravated by the persisting urban-rural divide. They recommended further support to human rights-oriented innovations and multilevel governance serving to promote the Council of Europe’s values and standards; promoting the use digital and AI tools for Ukraine’s recovery, return of refugees and local development, especially in rural areas; and fostering inclusive measures to mitigate climate change and sustainable development through sustainable building policies.

It was also recommended that European local authorities’ associations promote local actors’ innovative initiatives using the existing best practices, co-creation with communities – including youth and underrepresented and vulnerable groups – as well as preparedness to emergencies through sharing best practices (in terms of possible evacuation or receiving influx of refugees, war and climate emergencies); and contribute to developing cybersecurity measures and better regulation, education, awareness and engagement (such as by updating toolkits on cybersecurity).  

  Video recording

 Mediabox interview with Mélanie Lepoultier, Jakub Mazur and Elina Rotaru

 Mediabox interview with Lisa Cruz Lackner and Alicia Ann Blount

A round table on “Boosting democracy by engaging all citizens”, held in Strasbourg on 13 September 2024, focused on the challenges faced by democratic societies such as a crisis of trust in representative democracy, a low level of engagement by young people and low rates of women’s participation in politics, and overall disconnect between local and regional authorities and their citizens.

One of the panelists, member of the Greek Parliament Eirini Dourou, stressed that continuous sexism, violence, stereotypes and other adverse attitudes towards women in politics prevented them from political engagement and standing as candidates in elections.  Member of the Norther Ireland Assembly (UK) Stewart Dickson highlighted the need to restore public confidence in the electoral process while Congress Youth Delegate from Finland Maria Markkula underlined the need for fostering social inclusion and participatory democracy by ensuring fair representation. Head of the Council of Europe’s Youth Department Tobias Flessenkemper presented the current work aimed at promoting young people’s involvement in public life.

The participants recommended developing programmes for civic education and active citizen participation at local level and taking strong positions against sexist attitudes in local politics, including via social media, as well as setting up effective complaint mechanisms and providing training to politicians and staff. Engaging in dialogue with young people on every opportunity and throughout political processes was also encouraged, as was developing guidance on youth participation for local and regional authorities. The participants also highlighted the importance of promoting deliberative democracy – such as citizens’ assemblies – and supporting exchanges of good practices, public campaigns and capacity building – both on civic education and young people’s participation – among local and regional authorities.

 Video recording

 Mediabox Interview with Boris Lennaertz & Dovile Adamonyte

 Mediabox Interview with Maria Markkula & Stewart Dickson 

At the close of the two-day conference in Strasbourg, the Congress of the Council of Europe and national associations of local and regional authorities from the 46 member states reiterated their shared commitment to upholding democracy, the rule of law, and human rights at the grassroots.

In their Joint Declaration, the Congress and the national associations highlighted the essential role of local and regional authorities as guardians of these core democratic values at the level closest to the citizens, in establishing democratic, peaceful, human-rights based, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient societies. The Joint Declaration stressed the vital importance of a strong partnership between the Congress and the national associations in protecting and promoting local democracy, and highlighted their critical role in supporting the work of grassroots authorities across Europe and in enhancing local self-government as a landmark feature of the European democratic model, based on the principles set forth in the European Charter of Local Self-Government and its Additional protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.

The Congress and the national associations also highlighted the crucial importance of multilevel governance in addressing the problems and challenges faced by European societies today, such as the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, democratic backsliding, political and social polarisation, climate and environmental crises, social injustice, the reception of migrants and refugees, and other current and future challenges that often exceed national boundaries. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, its people, and its local and regional authorities, which continue to face the unprovoked war of aggression unleashed by the Russian Federation, in their courageous fight for democratic values, human rights and a just and sustainable peace in Europe. They also expressed their support to other Council of Europe member States facing ongoing violations of their territorial integrity and grave human rights violations.

The Congress and the national associations committed to further strengthening their co-operation to implement the Reykjavik Declaration adopted by the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in May 2023, notably on supporting Ukrainian local and regional authorities in close collaboration with the Ukrainian national associations;  securing and strengthening local democracy and good governance; enhancing the shared responsibility of all levels of government to implement human rights and uphold the rule of law; and taking coordinated action in the protection of the environment.

 Final declaration

There is a need for expanding municipal partnerships and co-operation between Ukrainian and other European municipalities, and for sharing good practices of municipal support for rural and small communities to increase their resilience; European local authorities must also pass a common motion of support to Ukraine and against the Russian Federation and develop projects to support protection, recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine. The Congress should help to raise awareness of Ukrainian local authorities on how to make use of the Council of Europe’s Register of Damage for Ukraine, while donors – such as Ukraine Facility – should invest more in education, with a focus on youth, and in developing social housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

These were some of the conclusions from the round table on “Resilience, reconstruction and reform of Ukraine” held as part of the Conference of associations of local and regional authorities on 12 September 2024 in Strasbourg. During a highly solemn and emotional debate, the participants stressed that reconstruction and reform required new strategies, laws and capacities, as well as joint positions and dialogue, and that reconstruction was not only about infrastructure but also about recovering communities, reconstructing the social cohesion and restoring cultural heritage as a reflection of the Ukrainian identity. Ukrainian mayors had additional responsibilities due to the war as they had to address the needs of soldiers, residents and displaced persons while also working on reconstruction; and the Ukrainian young people suffered from multiple challenges due to the disrupted education and feelings of despair, anxiety or depression, highlighting the need for a public mental health system.

“As co-organisers of Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 we continue our work to expand partnerships at local level, since municipalities do a lot for Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery. Let us join efforts for every Ukrainian municipality to establish cooperation with a municipality from other European country,” underlined in her video message Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany. Vitali Klitschko, President of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) and Mayor of Kyiv, referred in his video message to the Concept for the Recovery of Local Self-Government in Ukraine, developed by his Association, stressing that “it is important that local self-government is preserved today and restored everywhere after our Victory”.

“As local self-governments, we see our key goal as bringing people back to Ukraine from abroad and restoring life in de-occupied territories, and your assistance is key to sustainable development for our communities. Together with international partners, we are launching the Community Recovery School, which will consolidate the best practices of post-war reconstruction and create a solid foundation for the recovery of Ukrainian communities,” said Vadym Boichenko, Mayor of Mariupol and Chair of the AUC Section on the Development of De-occupied and Temporarily Occupied Municipalities.

Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils and Chair of the Kharkiv Regional Council, spoke of elaborating a national concept for the development of Ukraine’s regions based on regional strategies, which should become the foundation for Ukraine’s recovery and development. Petra Neumann, Legal Adviser in the Register of Damage for Ukraine, referred to an outreach strategy involving local and regional authorities.

Congress Youth Delegate from Ukraine Sofiia Bohdanova concluded the debate with the following words:“Young people in Ukraine hide everything inside. Far away. So deep. Because we understand that we can’t balance on the rope with baggage filled with doubts and fears. We go where we feel scared because we need to know what is waiting for us at the end of this rope.”

 Video recording

 Mediabox interview with Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko (in Ukrainian)

 Mediabox interview with Vadym Boichenko (in Ukrainian)

 Mediabox interview with Sofiia Bohdanova

 "Young people in Ukraine have only one minute to leave” Video of the Youth Delegate from Ukraine Sofiia Bohdanova

"Strengthening subnational governments’ capacity is a priority for the Council of Europe Bank, to scale up investments and social impact,” stressed the Bank’s Vice-Governor Tomáš Boček during the debate on the financing of local projects, in Strasbourg on 12 September 2024. According to him, the Bank was strongly committed to supporting local governments with financing, capacity building and knowledge sharing, as subnational governments played a key role in creating more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive societies; they were also at the forefront of stepping up response and recovery efforts when crises and disasters strike. The Vice-Governor referred to the Bank’s 134 loans to municipal and regional governments and companies in 19 countries for a total value of €11.5 billion, provided since 2010. In Türkiye, the Bank lent several hundred million euros for disaster relief following the 2023 earthquake. In Ukraine, the Bank supported the health sector and social housing, with a loan of €100 million for housing certificates and rehabilitation of medical institutions at local level. The Bank’s social housing projects targeted combatants, disabled persons, large families and women, ensuring inclusivity and fostering social cohesion in war-affected regions.

The participants in the debate called on the Bank to establish a framework for direct engagement with local authorities, ensure that sustainability and energy efficiency were integrated in the development and management of social housing projects, and consider extending housing programmes to address broader social needs in countries undergoing post-disaster recovery. Local and regional governments were encouraged to foster better engagement with the Bank for greater sustainability and inclusion in their communities.

  Video recording

  Mediabox interview with Tomáš Boček

On 12 September 2024, Congress President Marc Cools met Ekrem Imamoglu, President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities and Mayor of Istanbul, on the occasion of the Conference of associations of local and regional authorities. The President welcomed the ongoing co-operation with the Union and drew attention to a number of Congress recommendations for better application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government that still needed implementing. The Mayor informed the President of the roadmap for strengthening local democracy in his country, prepared by the Union, aimed at increasing municipal financial capacities and improving service delivery through digitalisation.

The President concluded by stressing the constructive character of the dialogue with the national and local authorities of Türkiye in the context of the ongoing post-monitoring and post-electoral dialogue with Türkiye.

“Associations of local and regional authorities play a strategic role in promoting multilevel governance. They are crucial actors at national and international levels in strengthening elations between central and local authorities, which is of utmost importance for the health of our democracies,” underlined Ekrem Imamoglu, President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities and Mayor of Istanbul, addressing the Conference of associations in Strasbourg on 12 September 2024.

Speaking in the debate on the role of associations in strengthening territorial democracy, he pointed out to their importance for defending the right of local and regional authorities and raising their demands vis-à-vis national governments and on the international stage, adding that sharing experiences of local and regional authorities in different European countries can be a source of great inspiration.

Another speaker in the debate, Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian association of local and regional authorities (KS) and President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), highlighted the increasing pace of transformation face by territorial communities. “Local and regional governments face major challenges that require significant change; these include demographic, staffing, digitalisation, and climate issues,” she said, adding that national association have a key role in helping their members to respond to these challenges, and must be able to speak strongly to national authorities and in public debates.

Participants in the debate stressed the need to start discussing a new, innovative and more “horizontal” way of co-operation between national associations and central authorities, to strengthen international co-operation among national associations through their integration into international networks, and to improve conditions for representation and inclusion of women and youth at all levels, including through the use of digital tools and effective mechanisms for citizen involvement.

 Video recording

On 12 September 2024, on the margin of the Conference of National Associations of Local and Regional Authorities, the Congress signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils (UAROR) to increase co-operation and contribute to building resilient, inclusive and accountable local and regional authorities that better respond to citizen’s needs and expectations.

“Amid the Russian Federation’s large-scale war against Ukraine, I find it particularly important to reaffirm the resilience demonstrated by local and regional authorities. This memorandum will establish a framework for co-operation on local democracy, human rights and open government to bolster resilience, recovery and reconstruction efforts,” said Congress President Marc Cools during the signing ceremony.

UAROR President Tetiana Yehorova–Lutsenko underlined the importance of the memorandum in the context of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023–2026, and conveyed the association’s eagerness to enhance its institutional capacities, promote human rights, and advance local democracy.

Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori pointed out that this first memorandum of understanding with the UAROR was proof of  the Congress’ good track record in working with national associations of local and regional authorities in Ukraine, and a testimony of their importance in a multilevel governance system.

The signing ceremony was organised as part of the project “Strengthening multilevel governance, democracy and human rights at local level in Ukraine” implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023–2026. The project aims to strengthen the dialogue, partnership, and consultation between different levels of government; enhance collaborative governance and citizen participation in line with the principles of local democracy and open government; and promote and guarantee the right to equality and non-discrimination at local level, for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

Memorandum EN 

Memorandum UK 

 Mediabox interview with Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko (in Ukrainian)

“Democracy is our common asset which is built from the grassroots, and local and regional authorities can make a valuable contribution to maintaining democratic stability,” stressed Marc Cools, President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, addressing national associations of local and regional authorities in Strasbourg on 12 September 2024.

“As we will mark the International Day of Democracy three days from now, let us recall that we can achieve this democratic stability only be embedding the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in our local and regional communities,” he continued. “The crucial role of local and regional authorities in this regard was recognised by the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik one year ago, with a strong mandate for action at the grassroots to uphold these core democratic values,” underlined the Congress President.

“Let us also recall that the work of building and defending democracy is never finished. All throughout history, democracy and freedom have always been under threat from their antipode – tyranny. We see it in Europe today, yet again. Our colleagues and friends in Ukraine in particular, need the expression of our solidarity and, beyond the fatigue caused by the war, in Ukraine and in the other Western countries, we must never give up on defending democracy and expressing our concrete support,” concluded President Cools.

The role of local and regional authorities in effectively responding to the challenges facing European democracies, and their role in supporting Ukraine, stopping democratic backsliding, protecting human rights, saving the environment, and enabling young people’s involvement in democratic action is the focus of the two-day conference of associations of local and regional authorities from the 46 member states that started at the Council of Europe on 12 September 2024. Organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the conference is held on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 30th anniversary of the Congress, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Congress President Marc Cools stressed that this gathering of representatives from around 60 national associations across Europe symbolised the common commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. “In the multi-level governance system, the role of local and regional authorities is especially vital. As the level closest to the citizens, we are on the front lines, addressing the needs of our communities and implementing policies that directly impact our citizens,” said the Congress President, adding that national associations were crucial partners of the Congress in defending the principles of the European Charter of Local Self Government and promoting European values at the grassroots.

Arnoldas Abramavičius, Vice-Minister of Interior, on behalf of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, stressed that “democracy thrives at local level where citizens’ voices are heard most directly and where the principles of human rights and the rule of law must be firmly defended”. “Our local and regional authorities are the guardians of these values, and they play a crucial role in building inclusive, sustainable and resilient societies,” he said.

“I hope that this Conference and our Joint Declaration will signal the next phase in the ever-closer, ever-productive relationship between the Council of Europe and the national associations of local and regional authorities,” underlined Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, addressing the conference participants. “At this very critical moment for European democracy, we must work together to restore the faith of our citizens, in our political institutions and our democracy,” he said. The joint declaration to reaffirm the commitment to the Council of Europe’s values and standards, and to give a renewed momentum to the partnership between the Congress and national associations, will be adopted by the conference participants and published on 13 September.

“To make democracy more resilient, we must actively involve young people in decision-making processes, especially at local level,” emphasised Congress Youth Delegate from Andorra Lisa Cruz Lackner, adding that youth participation fostered innovation, energy, and fresh perspectives.

The debate on the role of national associations in strengthening territorial democracy and multilevel governance was introduced by Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul and President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities and Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities and President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.

The roundtable sessions of the conference will evolve around the following themes: “Resilience, reconstruction and reform of Ukraine”, “Boosting democracy by engaging all citizens” and “Local innovation for stronger local authorities”.

The Conference is open to the media and streamed online.

   The President's speech

    Video recording

The Community of practice on migration and human rights at local level, established under a Congress project in Poland, the Republic of Moldova and Romania, is working on better access to education for displaced Ukrainian children and young people in those countries. Its online meeting on 6 September 2024 brought together Polish, Moldovan, Romanian and Ukrainian local elected representatives, as well as representatives from public administration institutions responsible for education and migration.

It was stressed that local governments must engage in structural multilevel dialogue and co-operate to a greater extent with central education authorities to develop further measures for the effective and more inclusive access to quality education. The participants also noted the many remaining challenges despite significant progress made by both Ukrainian authorities and host countries in ensuring displaced children's right to education. Some of the key areas that required action at the beginning of this school year included Ukrainian language competences, lack of pedagogical staff, recognition of qualifications, mobility, safety and security, and overall strengthening of partnerships, co-ordination and resource mobilisation. The event provided an opportunity for sharing best practices and success stories, to foster mutual learning.

The Community of Practice meeting was organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in the framework of the project “Strengthening Resilience in Local and Regional Authorities Facing Migration Challenges” under the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum (2021-2025), and in co-operation with the project “Strengthening Multi-Level Governance, Democracy, and Human Rights at the Local Level in Ukraine” implemented as part of  the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.

The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the Congress, I condemn the illegal conduct of so-called elections by the Russian Federation in Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sebastopol occupied by Russia since 2014. The results of these elections cannot be recognised, just like the elections in Russia itself which are not free and fair ”.

“I reiterate our unwavering commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Crimea is Ukraine ”.  

The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, made the following statement today:

“I am appalled by what appears to be the deadliest Russian attack on Ukrainian civilians perpetrated today in Poltava. On behalf of the Congress, I condemn in the strongest terms today’s missile attack which caused a massive loss of life and left hundreds injured.

We grieve with the people and authorities of Poltava, a long-standing Congress partner, and with Congress Vice-President Oksana Derkach, member of Poltava’s Municipal Assembly. We express our solidarity with Ukraine’s citizens and local authorities who are always the first to face the horrors of senseless and cruel bombing campaigns by the Russian aggressor. We pledge to continue supporting municipalities and regions of Ukraine including through the Cities4Cities/United4Ukraine online platform.”

On 12 and 13 September 2024, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will host a Conference of national associations of local and regional authorities from the 46 member states, at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg.

Organised on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 30^th anniversary of the Congress, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Conference will bring together Presidents and representatives of some 60 national associations from across Europe, as well as Congress Bureau members and Heads of national delegations to the Congress, Congress Youth Delegates and guest speakers.

Over two days, they will be engaged in discussions on how local and regional authorities can respond effectively to the challenges facing European democracies, and on their role in supporting Ukraine, stopping democratic backsliding, protecting human rights, saving the environment and enabling young people’s involvement in democratic action, in the light of the decisions of the Council of Europe’s Summit in Reykjavik in May 2023.

The Conference will be opened on 12 September at 15.00 CET by Congress President Marc Cools, Lithuania’s Vice-Minister of Interior Arnoldas Abramavičius, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and Congress Youth Delegate from Andorra Lisa Cruz Lackner. The opening debate on the role of national associations in strengthening territorial democracy and multilevel governance will be introduced by Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul and President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities and Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities and President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).

The first round table will focus on the “Resilience, reconstruction and reform of Ukraine”, with presentations from Vitali Klitschko, President of the Association of Ukrainian Cities and Mayor of Kyiv, and Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils and Chair of the Kharkiv Regional Council, as well as Mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boichenko, Executive Director of the Register of Damage for Ukraine Markyan Kliutchkovsky and Congress Youth Delegate from Ukraine Sofiia Bohdanova.

The second round table on “Boosting democracy by engaging all citizens” will focus on fighting sexism in politics, ensuring the right to free, fair and transparent elections and promoting youth engagement in public life as well as on ways to foster social inclusion and participatory democracy.

Finally, the third round table on “Local innovation for stronger local authorities” will be the opportunity to discuss new approaches to promoting human rights at local level, improving internet safety and responding to cyberbullying, as well as the use of AI and digital tools to manage the integration of migrants and refugees, and local and regional responses to climate and environmental challenges.

All three round tables will include an exchange with Conference participants where they can share their views and experiences. As the Congress promotes the participation of youth in public life, Congress Youth Delegates will also actively contribute to the Conference and share their perspective on the current state of democracy and proposals for the future.

At the close of the Conference, participants will adopt a joint declaration to reaffirm their commitment to the Council of Europe’s values and standards, and to give a renewed momentum to the partnership between the Congress and national associations.

The Conference is open to the media and will be streamed online.

Contact:

Congress Communication Unit, tel.: (+33) (0)3.88.41.38.90, [email protected]

A call for expression of interest is launched to establish a Community of Practice to support 18 local authorities and their associations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, in order to build their capacity for developing, implementing, and following up on deliberative processes.

The Community of Practice , under the co-ordination of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities in South-East Europe (NALAS), will act as a platform for peer-to-peer exchanges on deliberative democracy and create a collaborative environment for local authorities to:

• increase knowledge and skills relevant to organisation of citizens’ assemblies ;
• facilitate exchanges between the involved local authorities and with their counterparts from other European countries;
• develop initiatives for more inclusive procedures and innovative practices at local level;
• document and disseminate good practices and lessons learned among local authorities, their associations, and other key relevant stakeholders.

Costs related to the participation in the residential meetings of the Community of Practice (such as travel, accommodation and per diems) will be borne by the organisers.

The letter of motivation, together with the information sheet on the applicant local authority, must be submitted in electronic form (Word and/or PDF) in English.

The application form, selection criteria, and additional information on the call and on deliberative democracy can all be found here.

Applications should be sent to the relevant contact point in the Project Team Sofija Lubarda: [email protected] with CC to: [email protected]  

Applications must be received Wednesday 11 September 2024 (17:00 CET). Applications received after the abovementioned date will not be considered.

The call is launched in the framework of the Council of Europe project “Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe”, implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance (CEMG) at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, with the financial support of Germany.

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo

The Congress will organise, in the framework of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, a Conference of national associations of local and regional authorities, on 12 and 13 September in Strasbourg, under the theme “building together a stronger local and regional democracy.”

The Conference will bring together around 110 national associations from all over Europe to share their ideas about the role and the future of local and regional authorities and local democracy in Europe, against the background of the many challenges faced by our continent today. Moreover, the war of aggression against Ukraine being at the centre of the Council of Europe priorities, the Conference will highlight the initiatives of Ukrainian local and regional authorities as well as the Congress cooperation activities in Ukraine.

In May 2023, the 4^th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik reaffirmed the role of local and regional authorities as in delivering democracy, human rights and the rule of law at the grassroot level. In the light of the Summit, the Congress will pursue its work to promote youth participation in public life, and Congress Youth Delegates will actively contribute to the Conference.

At the end of the event, national associations will sign a joint declaration to reaffirm their commitment to the standards and values of the Council of Europe and to give their co-operation a renewed momentum, for the benefit of their citizens and communities.

Convinced that involving young people in local and regional decision making helps build better communities, the Congress is a staunch promotor of youth participation in Europe’s cities and regions. Already in 1992, it adopted the first European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life, and revised it, with the contribution from young people, in 2003. Today, the Congress is once again collaborating with them on a new revision of the Charter, to make sure that it reflects their current needs and concerns.

The Congress also makes space for youth within its own activities. Every year, through the “Rejuvenating Politics” programme, 46 young people from all member states come together in Strasbourg to participate in Congress plenary sessions and committee meetings – not only to contribute their ideas and opinions to its work, but also to find inspiration for their own grassroots projects. The year 2024 marks the 10^th anniversary of this successful initiative that regularly receives much interest from young people all over Europe.

 Congress and Council of Europe youth bodies join forces for the Youth Participation Charter revision

 Youth delegates - Rejuvenating politics

 “I have confidence in tomorrow because I have confidence in youth”

  5 reasons youth should participate in democracy

  Alumni Youth Delegate, Alkistis Giogiou

 Alumni Youth Delegate, Vahram Vardanyan

The President of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Marc Cools, has made the following statement:

“On behalf of the Congress, I unreservedly welcome the liberation of municipal councillors from Tomsk Ksenia Fadeeva and from the Moscow Krasnoselsky District Ilya Yashin, opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza and other political opponents in Russia and in Belarus who had been imprisoned for opposing Russia’s war against Ukraine, and who were freed in a recent prisoners’ exchange.

“I reiterate the call made by the Congress in its Resolution 494 in October 2023 for the immediate and unconditional release of all anti-war political activists and prisoners of conscience in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, imprisoned for expressing their opinions.

“We continue to stand in solidarity with all those critics of the war who remain unlawfully deprived of liberty or are facing persecution – such as municipal councillors Alexei Gorinov, Oleg Nepein, Anatoly Arseev and many other local and regional elected representatives, human rights defenders, journalists, youth activists and political opponents. Today, we need to continue to keep pressure on the Russian authorities for their immediate release.

“The imprisonment of politicians, journalists and ordinary citizens in the Russian Federation and Belarus for peacefully expressing their opposition to the dictatorial regimes in power or for criticising the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine is unacceptable. Just like the Russian Federation's taking Western nationals hostage as a bargaining chip for the release of criminals.”

The seven local authorities of Pagnacco, Premariacco, Reana del Rojale, Ruda, Sagrado, San Lorenzo Isontino and Tavagnacco from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region join over 50 peer municipalities in Italy and nearly 300 across more than 20 member states awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE).

“ELoGE serves as an encouragement for us to improve our way of management and our interaction with citizens. Pursuing this award means renewing our commitment and striving to meet the challenges we face, focusing on self-improvement rather than competition”, said Franco Lenarduzzi, Mayor of Ruda.

In accepting the crystal with the engraved 12 principles of good democratic governance,  Ezio Clocchiatti, Mayor of San Lorenzo Isontino, recognised its symbolic value. “We need to preserve its transparency through effective evaluation processes and pass it on to the next administrators and future generations”, he emphasised.

In Italy, ELoGE has been promoted by the Italian Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AICCRE) since 2021, with the Friuli Venezia Giulia region leading the initiative. As noted by AICCRE FVG President Franco Brussa and Secretary General Silvia Caruso, ELoGE has triumphed, overcoming scepticism from local officials and staff regarding self-evaluation and public scrutiny. It has also addressed public disaffection with institutions, fostering trust and mutual engagement between local administrations and their communities.

Conferred by the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, ELoGE is an initiative that promotes good democratic governance, paving the way for enhanced municipal work and building a foundation of dialogue and trust between local public authorities and citizens.

The Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), has made the following statement on the occasion of European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, 2 August:

“As Europe marks the 80^th anniversary of the murder of 4,300 Roma and Sinti in the Nazi German extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, on 2 August 1944, we must pay tribute to all members of this minority who were killed in Nazi-occupied Europe.

“Today, Roma are Europe’s largest ethnic minority at estimated 10 to 12 million people. However, many of them are still facing prejudice, social exclusion, deprivation, discrimination and racism in their daily lives. This discrimination can be felt in employment, education, health care, housing or when using public or private services.

“As public authorities closest to Roma and enjoying higher levels of their trust than other public institutions, local and regional elected representatives have a particular responsibility to combat discrimination and better support the social inclusion of Roma and Travellers, to ensure that their communities can thrive with dignity and equal opportunities in our territories.

“At a time when Council of Europe member States and institutions, including the Congress, have recommitted to social justice and social rights at the High-level Conference on the European Social Charter in Vilnius in July 2024, the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion, including for Roma and Travellers, should be kept high up on political agendas of local and regional authorities."

European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day  was first instituted by the European Parliament in 2015, to remind the fate of the estimated 220,000 to 500,00 Roma and Sinti killed by the Nazis and their allies; the Memorial Day was then endorsed by other organisations like the Council of Europe and its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

Past initiatives by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to promote the integration of Roma and combat prejudice included, amongst others, its Human Rights Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities, including a chapter on Roma rights, as well as the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion.

In a ceremony marking the conclusion of the 2024 edition of the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (Spain), the municipalities of Donostia/San Sebastián, Azkoitia, Irun, Ermua and Legazpi received the prestigious distinction awarded by the Council of Europe and its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. At the same time, the municipalities of Errenteria, Erandio and Laudio were recognised for their commitment to pursuing progress towards receiving the Label.

Accepting the award, Mayor of San Sebastian Eneko Goia Laso said that ELoGE was like Ithaca in Greek poet Cavafy’s words: “On your journey to Ithaka, don't be in the least hurry. Better make it last and learn on the road. Do not expect Ithaka to give you wealth; Ithaka will give you a splendid journey”. “ELoGE is not about a label, it’s about learning how to do better; sometimes you win, sometimes you learn,” echoed Mayor of Irun Cristina Laborda Albolea. Both underlined that the award aligned with their municipalities’ objective to respond to ever greater expectations of their citizens.

ELoGE has been implemented in the Basque Country by the Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL) since 2017, demonstrating a commitment to pursuing excellence in local leadership and administration. The award recognises good democratic governance by local authorities across essential areas such as democratic participation, public ethics, transparency, financial and economic management as well as sustainability. At the heart of the ELoGE is an evaluation based on the Principles of Good Democratic Governance. It is awarded to municipalities which demonstrate compliance with those principles, and represents a commitment to exemplary governance practices across Europe. To date, almost 300 municipalities in 21 member states of the Council of Europe have received the ELoGE label since its creation.  

A recording of the award ceremony can be accessed on EUDEL’s website.

On 30 June 2024, the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe completed the joint EU/CoE project “Developing fiscal decentralisation and improving local financial management in Bulgaria,” Implemented since June 2022 together with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, the project resulted in a sequenced roadmap to support the fiscal decentralisation reform at all levels of government, leading to greater financial autonomy for local authorities.

“Fantastically good cooperation with the international project team and benefiting from its exceptional expertise, as well as with the National Association of Municipalities, practically guaranteed excellent results of the project,” stressed Valery Naydenov of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, commenting on the project’s completion. “For us, this project was an inspiration: it was a source of bold, innovative ideas that will help us on the way forward,” echoed Silvia Georgieva, Executive Director of the National Association of Municipalities.

The project’s other key achievements included:

• A Technical report on the existing local, administrative and operational framework for municipalities;

• A Peer Review report with recommendations by peers and experts from Armenia, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Romania;

• Curricula and training materials for capacity building of local officials;  

• Policy advice paper on fiscal autonomy and financial management of local administration in Bulgaria.

The United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York is taking place at a time of multiple world crises. To address global challenges, the Congress called on states worldwide to empower cities and regions.  

In his speech, Congress Vice-President Bernd Vöhringer recalled the Congress Recommendation (511) on the UN Pact for the Future and the essential role of local and regional authorities in transforming global governance. 

"Sustainable development and international peace and security will come from fostering an inclusive multi-level global governance system that is grounded in subsidiarity, solidarity and human rights', stressed the Vice-President at the HLPF conference on "Transformation from the ground up: Acting at local level" 

Speaking at the Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda, Mr Vöhringer recalled that various crises, from wars to national disasters, have shown that local governments are a source of strength and resilience in crisis situations. "Ending hunger and poverty is a responsibility of all levels of government. Local and regional authorities work hard every day to combat homelessness and to build equal and inclusive communities" underlined the Vice-President.

Congress Vice-President Bernd Vöhringer and Secretary General Mathieu Mori also held a number of bilateral meetings with the UN leadership, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and other partners.

How do you ensure you have the right staff with the appropriate skills to deliver services for citizens?  On 26 June 2024, the Council of Europe Office in Tirana hosted a Focus Group meeting on the New Core Competencies Framework, which is being developed for local level civil servants in Albania.

The Department of Public Administration, the Albanian School of Public Administration, and representatives from Human Resources Units in 8 local authorities worked on further refining the Draft Core Competencies Framework, prepared by the Centre of the Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.  In the final stages of revision, the updated framework aims to standardise and elevate HR practices at local level, enhancing the entire human resources management cycle—from recruitment and training to development and performance management, in line with Council of Europe Standards – notably Principle 8 set out in the Committee of Ministers’ 2023 recommendation CM/Rec(2023)5, which reads:

“There should be consistent and sustainable efforts towards strengthening the organisational leadership of government and public institutions, and the capabilities and capacities of all public officials, so that the fundamentals of good democratic governance are effective.”

This activity was organised in the framework of the project “Supporting Public Administration Reform at Local level in Albania” implemented by the Centre of the Expertise, with the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany.  The project aims to strengthen the institutional framework for training local officials and elected representatives, develop the capacities of Local Government Units for effective management of human resources, and foster meaningful participation of citizens.

Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) and Deputy Standing Rapporteurs Mélanie Lepoultier (France, ILDG) and Peter Drenth (Netherlands, EPP/CCE) will carry out a study visit to Strasbourg from 10 to 11 July 2024. They will hold exchange of views with human rights stakeholders in the Council of Europe, notably to get a better overview of relevant activities carried out by the Organisation, and to discuss synergies that can be developed between the Congress and other Council of Europe bodies to foster human rights protection at local and regional levels.

Following the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in May 2023, the Congress has strengthened its activities in the protection of human rights at local and regional level. A general report under preparation aims to present the main challenges for local and regional elected representatives when dealing with this matter. 

The Delegation will hold discussions with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Marko Bošnjak; a representative of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe; and representatives of the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) and the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity (DGII).

Contact: Stéphanie Poirel, tel: +33 (0) 3 90 21 51 84

On 5 July 2024, the Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity of the Congress organised a consultative meeting in Strasbourg to move forward with the new revision of the European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life, adopted in 1992 and revised for the first time in 2003.

The meeting brought together Congress members, Congress Youth Delegates from Bulgaria, Greece, Malta, Montenegro and the United Kingdom, representatives of the Council of Europe’s Advisory Council on Youth and Steering Committee on Youth, and a number of European youth organisations. It provided an opportunity for exchanges between those key stakeholders in youth participation and youth work on ways of adapting the Charter to the current challenges faced by young people in Europe and increasing its impact as a European reference instrument. Discussions were inspired by the results of a recent survey conducted by the Congress.

The consultative meeting is the first step in an inclusive work process, based on the actual needs of today’s youth, and resulting in the adoption of the new revision of the Charter under the Committee of Ministers’ Presidency of Malta (May-November 2025).

 Flickr gallery

The Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity of the Congress, meeting in Strasbourg on 4 July, approved a report on “Ageing communities - ensuring access to quality social care for older persons” by rapporteurs Joanne Laban (United Kingdom, ECR) and Carla Dejonghe (Belgium, ILDG). For this issue, the rapporteurs promote a comprehensive approach ranging from the development of more age-friendly communities to specific measures aimed at supporting the provision of quality long-term care whilst maintaining an older person’s autonomy for as long as possible.

The Committee held exchanges of views on two reports in progress: on combatting human trafficking for labour exploitation and on social housing innovations, and heard about progress made towards the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People at Local and Regional Life.

The Committee also held exchanges on the protection of human rights at local and regional levels with Congress Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Mélanie Lepoultier (France, ILDG), and the use of Artificial Intelligence in Europe’s cities and regions in compliance with democratic and human rights standards.

The Committee met for the first time under its new terms of reference. The Committee’s Vice-Chair, James Moloney (Ireland, ILDG), chaired the meeting.

 Flickr gallery

"The road to social justice and the full implementation of social rights is a collective undertaking," stressed Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, at the opening of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 4 July 2024.

He pointed out that beyond national legislation, the realisation of these rights requires the active participation of local and regional authorities, which have a unique understanding of the specific needs and challenges of their communities. According to the Congress President, local and regional authorities must ensure quality social services and support fair access to essential public services such as education, healthcare and housing; they can also foster local economic development and promote employment opportunities and fair working conditions.

"The Council of Europe's European Social Charter is not just a document, but a promise to our citizens. It is up to us, at all levels of government, to make that promise a reality," concluded President Cools.  
 

Speech of Marc Cools (French only)

After the two-day session of the High Level Dialogue on good democratic governance in Ukraine and the way forward in the post-war period, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko signed the following declaration:

“We, the undersigned,

“Condemn Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and express our support for a sustainable and just peace based on Ukraine’s Peace Formula, ensuring Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

“Express our satisfaction for the results of the third session of the High-Level Dialogue which was held in Strasbourg on 2 and 3 July 2024.

“Agree that the progress made in respect of defining the vision for the post-war multi-governance system in Ukraine, for the recovery of local self-government, including in respect of the transition from military to civilian administration, and for a clearer division of competences between tiers of government, represent important steps towards the furthering of the decentralisation reform in Ukraine.

“Acknowledge and commend the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the decentralisation process, praise the associations of local and regional authorities for their involvement in the process and underline the need to ensure that decentralisation is finalised, including by guaranteeing that local authorities are free to exercise their competences, have resources which are commensurate with their tasks and a legal mechanism is introduced to ensure the legality of their decisions.

“Are confident that discussions aimed at ensuring the exercise of electoral suffrage and other political and related rights in the context of post-war elections will constitute an important contribution to the organisation of safe, free, and fair elections as soon as the situation allows for it.

“Highlight the value of the co-operation between Ukraine and the Council of Europe in accompanying the steady progress of Ukraine on its path towards the European Union, declare our intention to continue working in the format offered by the High-Level Dialogue, with the support of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress, bringing together the main Ukrainian stakeholders in the fields of multi-level governance and elections.”

This joint declaration builds on the first such document, signed in 2022.

“The decentralisation reform in Ukraine has led to the creation of bigger, stronger and more resilient local authorities, which proved to be pivotal in resisting the Russian aggression,” underlined Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori at the opening of the High-Level Dialogue on good democratic governance in Ukraine, in Strasbourg on 2 July.

“We value our co-operation to strengthen multi-level governance system in Ukraine in a war and post-war context,” he continued, adding that the Council of Europe and its Congress remained a leading strategic policy adviser in this area for Ukraine’s Parliament, Government and associations of local authorities. Over two days, participants in the Dialogue will be discussing recovery of local self-government, transition to civilian rule, and division of competences between the state and local authorities.

The Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 2 July 2024, adopted the following statement:

“The Monitoring Committee reaffirms its full support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders, while 20% of Georgian territory is occupied by Russia.

At the same time, the Monitoring Committee is deeply concerned by the tensions and increasing polarisation within Georgian society, fuelled by the adoption of legislation which does not align with European democratic norms and standards. This situation has already been the subject of critical opinions from the Venice Commission and statements by the Council of Europe Secretary General and by the Congress President and also led the EU to halt the accession procedure for Georgia. The Committee is also highly alarmed by the excessive use of force, violence and intimidation campaigns against demonstrators, members of parliament, journalists and civil society activists.

“It reaffirms its commitment to supporting Georgia’s democratic development. The polarisation of society and clear signs of democratic backsliding, which undermine democratic stability, compel all political forces in the country to engage in dialogue reflecting the European aspirations of Georgian people. The Monitoring Committee calls for such open and inclusive political dialogue to take place, as it is essential for creating an environment in which all citizens, regardless of their political views, can participate actively, freely, and equally in public life at all levels, with respect for democratic principles and human rights. It trusts that this dialogue will lead to a renewed commitment to consolidating democracy in Georgia.”

In the spirit of such a dialogue, members of the Monitoring Committee met with national and local representatives of the ruling party, of the opposition and of civil society.

 FLIKR gallery

On 2-3 July 2024, Council of Europe and key national stakeholders from Ukraine gather in Strasbourg to discuss perspectives for good democratic governance reforms in Ukraine and further actions to improve the legal framework on multilevel governance and post-war elections in line with European standards.

At the opening of the two-day event, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge emphasised that “together, we have the means and the will to ensure reform that will deliver strong, stable and democratic institutions for the long-term in Ukraine for the benefit of all Ukrainians.”

Welcoming participants to the meeting, First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko said: “The High-Level Dialogue on good democratic governance at the Council of Europe is extremely important on Ukraine’s path to European integration and to strengthening our country’s democracy. This is a great opportunity to discuss the prospects for reforms, improvement and harmonisation of our legal framework with European standards. I am convinced that the joint efforts of all stakeholders will contribute to enhanced transparency and efficiency of democratic governance. This is a versatile platform for finding consensus and solutions that will meet the needs of Ukrainian society and Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union.”

Participants include representatives of the central authorities in Ukraine, parliamentarians, and members of the associations of local authorities. The Council of Europe is represented by secretariats of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Parliamentary Assembly and the Venice Commission.  The event was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe programme “Strengthening Good Democratic Governance and Resilience in Ukraine”, implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.

The Council of Europe has been a steadfast partner to Ukraine in its pursuit of democratic reforms for over a decade. This high-level dialogue underscores the continued commitment to support Ukraine in building a free, democratic, and European future.

Leaders and officials from neighbouring Armenian and Georgian municipalities met in Dilijan, Armenia, on 26-27 June 2024 to exchange ideas for a cross-border cooperation project involving the creation of youth centres, shared management of agricultural resources, and joint economic development initiatives.

The workshop, organised by the Centre of Expertise for Multi-Level Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, was opened by Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Vache Terteryan and Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia Mzia Giorgobiani. They reiterated their joint commitment to enhancing cross-border co-operation as a long-term vision for reinvigorating the Euro-Caucasus region, and an opportunity to share experience and good practice not only among neighbouring regions and municipalities, but also among local and regional authorities from across their respective member states, forging closer ties and promoting democratic development. Participating municipalities were invited to apply to the Congress for small grants to implement their project ideas. 

The workshop is the 4^th Stage of the Leadership Academy Program (LAP) for Cross Border Co-Operation organised in the framework of the project ‘’Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia – Phase II’’, implemented by the Centre of the Expertise within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026, with the financial support of the Austrian Development Agency.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, jointly with the Association of Polish Cities, organised on 24 June 2024 in Rzeszow, Poland, a roundtable to discuss the preparation of a national migration strategy for 2025-2030. The event gathered more than 40 local elected representatives, public officials from the Ministry of Interior and Administration, and representatives from international and civil society organisations.

“Central authorities should support the local and regional level in assessing the needs of migrants and for better protection of their rights, safety and well-being,” underlined Congress member Annika Vaikla (Estonia, ILDG) at the opening of the roundtable. “They should do so through regular and structured consultations with local and regional authorities at every step of policy design, and by allocating sufficient funding and resources for social service delivery,” she added. Participants put forward specific proposals regarding the future role of local and regional authorities within Poland’s multilevel governance system.

On the following day, 25 June 2024, the Community of Practice on Migration and Human Rights held its 4^th meeting, to discuss good practices and proposals for responding to specific needs of children, women and youth refugees.  The meeting brought together local authorities from Poland, Romania and the Republic of Moldova as well as migration experts and civil society organisations. Its conclusions will help to develop two specific tools in support of migration management, human rights and inclusion at local level.

The events were organised in partnership with the Association of Polish Cities (APC) and the City of Rzeszow as part of the project “Strengthening resilience in local and regional authorities facing migration challenges” implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress in the framework of  the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe, with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany’s financial contribution.

Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) will carry out a visit to Bulgaria on 25 June 2024 to hold a political dialogue with local authorities on the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the country at local level.

Following the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in May 2023, the Congress has strengthened its activities in the protection of human rights at local and regional levels, notably by contributing to the execution of Court judgments relating to the activities of local and regional authorities. The visit to Bulgaria will be the first of its kind and will enable the discussion with the relevant authorities on the steps to ensure full execution of Court judgments at local level, within the competence of municipalities.

The Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights will hold discussions with Minister of Justice of Bulgaria Mariya Pavlova, as well as with the members of the Bulgarian national delegation to the Congress, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Nadezhda Bacheva and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria.

She will be accompanied by Professor Nikos Chlepas (Greece), Congress advisor on constitutional matters and member of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government, as well as by the Congress Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Department dealing with the execution of Court judgments.

Contact: Stéphanie Poirel, tel: +33 (0) 3 90 21 51 84

The Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) and the Council of Europe’s Congress held an event in Kyiv to kick off preparations for an awareness campaign aimed at involving representatives of Ukrainian cities and regions in promoting RD4U's mandate and the process of submitting claims to the Register. This initiative, coordinated through the Register’s Office in Kyiv, will engage a wide range of stakeholders, particularly local and regional authorities, and their associations.

On 18 June 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori opened his two-day visit to Kyiv with an information session for Ukrainian local and regional authorities, dedicated to operations of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. He highlighted the vital role played by local and regional authorities in feeding into the Register due to their proximity to citizens. “They are therefore able to raise awareness about the Register’s mandate among the population and support them in submitting claims,” he underlined in his opening remarks.

"The Register of Damage for Ukraine is the first step towards an international compensation mechanism that will ensure justice and compensation for Ukraine and its people. In April 2024, the Register opened for the submission of claims in a first category, related to damage and destruction of residential property. We have so far received a few thousand claims. Several categories of claims, open to individuals, legal entities, and the State of Ukraine, will be launched soon. Other categories will be launched throughout the year. Our extensive outreach programme, implemented through the RD4U Kyiv Office, will rely on local and regional authorities as key partners in disseminating information about the Register’s work and the claims submission process. This will facilitate to enable an accessible environment for all claimants seeking compensation for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine," stated RD4U Executive Director Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi.

“I commend the extraordinary courage and dedication of Ukrainian local and regional authorities who have been steadfast in supporting their communities since the beginning of Russian aggression. Their role is crucial in disseminating information about the Register of Damage for Ukraine and the process of submitting claims. I strongly encourage them to continue this vital work and to take advantage of the opportunity to submit claims in the available categories for the benefit of their communities,” added Secretary General Mathieu Mori.

The Register of Damage for Ukraine is mandated to record claims for damages, losses, and injuries caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The Council of Europe established the Register as an enlarged partial agreement, announcing it at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023. To date, forty-three states and the European Union have joined the Register. RD4U has its headquarters in The Hague (Netherlands) and an office in Kyiv.

The information session took place in Kyiv with the participation of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress and representatives of the national associations of local and regional authorities in Ukraine. It was organised as part of the project “Strengthening multi-level governance, democracy and human rights at local level in Ukraine” implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026.

“While corruption undermines governance at all levels, it is at local level that its impact is felt most directly by people,” stressed Danela Arsovska (North Macedonia, EPP/CCE), Mayor of Skopje and Congress Spokesperson on Ethics and Prevention of Corruption, addressing the High-level Session of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in Strasbourg on 20 June 2024.

Welcoming GRECO’s focus on preventing corruption at subnational level, in its new evaluation round in 2025, the Spokesperson pointed out that fostering transparency and accountability in municipalities and regions helps to restore public trust and contributes to upholding citizens’ human rights within communities. “Local and regional authorities are well placed to promote integrity, good governance and human rights protection. They decide on a large part of public expenditures, work closely with businesses and can adopt innovative approaches to reduce space for corruption,” she said, adding that the Congress was ready to partner with GRECO and make use of its expertise in providing relevant training for local and regional elected representatives and their administrations.

“Action taken against hate speech needs to start with prevention – by educating people in each local community from an early age in a spirit of democratic values, tolerance and mutual respect. As a local politician, this is the main message that I would like to convey on the occasion of the 2024 International Day for Countering Hate Speech that we are celebrating today”, underlined Wilma Delissen (Netherlands, ILDG), Mayor of Peel en Maas and Congress Rapporteur on “Hate speech and fake news”, speaking at the Council of Europe conference devoted to the No Hate Speech Week, in Strasbourg, France, on 18 June 2024.

“We all have already closely witnessed hate speech, which incites other forms of violence and is often the first step on a path towards more violent behaviour,” continued Ms Delissen, pointing to the challenging situations faced by local communities.

The Congress Rapporteur reminded the audience of the crucial role played by the media, not only in disseminating but also in countering hate speech, as watchdogs of democracy and guardians of community cohesion, as was highlighted by the Congress in its 2023 report.

“The Congress already proposed concrete action in its 2022 report on “Hate speech and fake news” and intends to pursue its work in this area, in particular by fostering political dialogue at various levels to maintain citizens’ trust in and commitment to local and regional political life,” she concluded.

No Hate Speech Week 2024 - Combating Hate Speech (coe.int)

A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, composed of rapporteurs Xavier Cadoret (France, SOC/G/PD) and Marjorie Crovetto (Monaco, NI), will carry out a monitoring visit to Vaduz, as well as to the municipalities of Balzers, Eschen-Nendeln and Planken from 18 to 19 June 2024 to assess the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Liechtenstein since the previous monitoring report adopted by the Congress in 2018. They will be accompanied by Zülfiye Yılmaz, member of the group of independent experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Türkiye).

During this follow-up visit, the Congress delegation will examine in particular the system for approving local budgets, the division of competences between national and local authorities and the mechanisms for consulting local authorities - the points raised in the 2018 Congress recommendation.

The rapporteurs will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, Minister for the Presidency and Finance, Dr Daniel Risch; the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Interior, the Economy and the Environment, Sabine Monauni; and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Gunilla Marxer-Kranz. The delegation will meet the President of the Constitutional Court, Hilmar Hoch, and the Deputy Mayor of Vaduz, Florian Meier. The Congress delegation will also meet the members of the Liechtenstein national delegation to the Congress, and representatives of the municipalities of Balzers and Eschen-Nendeln. Finally, a meeting will be held with Wilfried Marxer, President of the Liechtenstein Human Rights Association.

Contact : Guillaume Loiseau, Tel: +33 (0) 3 90 21 63 95

Liechtenstein ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1988. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires compliance with a minimum number of rights, which form the European foundation of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities ensures that these principles are respected.

 Photo gallery

The challenges of local authorities in upholding international human rights standards were discussed at the fourth meeting of the Platform of Exchange on 13 June 2024 in Sarajevo. Organised by the Congress, the meeting brought together more than 40 local elected representatives and public officials, as well as representatives of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and civil society organisations.

“Local authorities are uniquely positioned to understand and respond to the needs of their residents, ensuring that human rights principles are embedded in policy development and service delivery,” underlined Melanie Lepoultier (France, ILDG), Congress’ Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights. “Human rights delivery and stronger democratic participation at local level are two sides of the same coin, and both are key to creating equitable, cohesive, and inclusive societies. Through this Platform of Exchange, we see an avenue to contribute meaningfully to this goal”, she concluded.

Participants also exchanged on good practices and successful initiatives, tools and approaches that have strengthened human rights protection and democratic engagement within local communities throughout Europe.

This activity was organised in the framework of the project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy making in the country.

Speaking at the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in Batumi, Georgia, on 13 June 2024, Tunç Soyer, Congress Vice-President and President of the Chamber of Regions, welcomed the partnership and close co-operation between the Congress and AER built over the years, including the mutual contribution to the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as the initiatives to promote youth participation. Mr Soyer  called for greater efforts by local and regional governments to implement the 2030 sustainable development goals.

He also participated in a round table debate on political co-operation in the Black Sea region, as part of the 8^th Black Sea Summit. The Vice-President presented in particular Congress co-operation projects in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine, aimed at promoting decentralisation, protecting human rights at local level and fostering effective multilevel governance in the region.

Congress Vice-President Bernd Vöhringer welcomed the local dimension put forward at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2024) in Berlin on 11-12 June 2024. Organised by the governments of Germany and Ukraine, the Conference brought together heads of state and governments, international organisations, local authorities, business and civil society representatives.

“Pursuing the decentralisation and local self-government reform is key for a sound reconstruction of the country, both in its human and economic aspects”, he highlighted in his discussions with the mayors and governors of Bucha, Chernijhiv, Kyiv, Korosten, Lyiv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomir, Zviahel, and many other partner municipalities. In the meetings with the Ukrainian national associations, he reiterated the solidarity and support of the Congress in strengthening the city-to-city partnerships and in further mobilising networks to enhance the capacities of local and regional authorities in Ukraine, as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction 2023-2026.

Insights of the URC2024 will feed into the Congress report on recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, to be adopted in early 2025. This report will notably address the role of local self-government in rebuilding social capital and ensuring a sustainable future of cities and regions in Ukraine. Vice-President Vöhringer stressed that the Congress stands ready to contribute to the next edition of the URC to be hosted by the government of Italy in 2025.

Council of Europe Secretary General at Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin

 Gallery

The Congress’ Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity has launched a survey among key partners as part of the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life. The Charter, first adopted in 1992 and last revised in 2003, is the only charter of its kind promoting youth participation. The revision is aimed at updating this important reference text for youth participation to the current challenges met by young people.

The responses to the survey will serve as a basis for the Charter’s revision and inspire the consultative meeting to be held on 5 July 2024 in Strasbourg, with the participation of Committee members, Congress Youth Delegates, members of the Council of Europe youth statutory bodies and selected partner organisations.

For more information or to contribute to the survey; please send an email to: [email protected]

The Committee on Governance, Civic Engagement and the Environment (Governance Committee)  of the Congress met for the first time under its new terms of reference on 11 June 2024 in Strasbourg. 

The Committee approved a report on fostering circular economy in Council of Europe municipalities and regions to address both environmental sustainability and human rights delivery by Linda Gillham (United Kingdom, ILDG) and Kristoffer Tamsons (Sweden, EPP/CCE)The Committee also discussed the preparation of a report on better local and regional governance of water resources by Teuvo Hatva (Finland, ILDG) and Carla Nunes Tavares (Portugal, SOC/G/PD); and agreed to prepare reports on coastal erosion, cultural heritage and memory, history teaching at regional level, as well as on recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine which would ensure its transition to a developed decentralised democracy. 

Committee members also held an exchange of views with Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) on ways of mainstreaming the human rights dimension into Committee activities, in the light of the revised Congress priorities.

The Committee’s Third Vice-Chair Benoît Pilet (France, ILDG) chaired the meeting and the Committee elected Paolo Beltraminelli (Switzerland, EPP/CCE) as First Vice-Chair.
 

Meeting on 6 June 2024, the Congress Bureau reaffirmed the Congress’s support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression, reiterated concern about the adoption of the ‘foreign influence’ law in Georgia, and took note of the developments after the local elections in Türkiye, including the forthcoming Congress postmonitoring mission. The Bureau supported the proposal to facilitate dialogue between local elected representatives  from both Cypriot communities, and welcomed Congress co-operation activities in support of multilevel governance reforms in Armenia, Finland and Ukraine, as well as fiscal decentralisation in Bulgaria and Hungary. It also approved integration of the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) under the auspices of the Congress, and agreed to examine the feasibility of opening the European Charter of Local Self-Government to non-member States. Finally, the Bureau expressed deep concern about the growing incidence of violence against local and regional representatives in Europe, and decided to prepare a report and recommendations to address this matter.

To mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2024, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, made the following statement:

“Not a day goes by without local and regional elected representatives taking a decision relating to the environment.

In May 2023, the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe emphasised the vital role of local and regional elected representatives in the fight against the triple global crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, which is unfortunately increasingly making the headlines. Local and regional authorities have a great deal of experience in responding to this global emergency, and have a track record of taking bold and even visionary decisions.

In its recent decision, the European Court of Human Rights (Verein Klimaseniorinnen Schweiz and others v. Switzerland) strengthened the need for concrete action to protect the environment. Local and regional elected representatives are essential allies for national governments in meeting their international climate commitments and ensuring a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.

It is concerted action by authorities at all levels of governance that will make it possible to tackle the triple global environmental crisis “.

On 30 May 2024, Congress Vice-President Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) held an exchange of views with the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) meeting in Oslo, Norway.

She underlined the role of Congress in preventing backsliding of democracy in the context of the Principles for Democracy adopted by the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik, pointing out that early signs of democratic backsliding could be detected by observing local and regional elections and compliance with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The monitoring mechanism could be further used to identify deteriorating patterns through research by theme or type of violation, she added.

Vice-President Helgesen addressed the question of how to translate these Principles for Democracy into practical implementation and to establish benchmarks for an effective evaluation system that all levels of governance could rely on. She highlighted the extensive experience gained by the Congress through its co-operation activities and the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance in assessing the quality and democratic aspects of governance at local and regional levels, and the sector-specific benchmarks developed in this context.

During the exchange, PACE members thanked the Congress for its action in support of Ukraine, and raised questions about the conditions which should be enforced for deliberative democracy to be effective, how to make sure that local democracy is not weakened by excessive centralisation, and how elected representatives could regain citizens’ trust.

The Congress Vice-President emphasised that, in addition to benchmarking and early detection of democracy deficit, it was crucial to reinforce democratic fibre and restore trust in democratic institutions. She referred to the example of the deliberative process in the city of Mostar which had overcome a totally deadlocked situation by establishing, with the Congress help, a Citizens’ Assembly. Vice-President Helgesen underlined in this regard that deliberative democracy processes was one way which deepens citizens' involvement in political decision-making and helps to regain their trust.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an integral part of our private and professional lives and of governance at every level. However, the unregulated design and use of AI tools present significant risks and must be viewed through the prism of human rights and within the framework of strict regulation,” stressed Congress Spokesperson on digitalisation and AI David Eray (Switzerland, EPP/CCE) in his keynote speech at the 9^th Summit of International City/County Management Association (ICMA), in Hasselt (Belgium) on 31 May 2024.

He underlined that digital transition was the matter for an effective multilevel governance, which meant for local and regional authorities working together and communicating with central governments to ensure coherence and progress in legislation and practices. “The voices of cities and regions should be taken into account because cities and regions cannot be genuinely ‘smart’ without being human-centred, without respecting human rights and supporting sustainable development”, pointed out the Congress Spokesperson.

He referred to the Congress work to promote digital equity and e-inclusion, in particular its 2022 report on smart cities and regions which addressed the role of technologies as the tools that should be mastered by people to improve their lives and well-being. Given the risks presented by AI, the Congress Spokesperson welcomed the fact that the Council of Europe had recently adopted a Convention on artificial intelligence as the first international binding treaty which sets fundamental principles and rules to safeguard human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the design, development, use and decommissioning of AI systems, and which is complementary to the existing Council of Europe standards, notably on human rights. He expressed hope that the multilevel governance perspective will be integrated into the Convention’s implementation.