Presidency
The President's role is to direct the political activities of the Congress and its Chambers, to carry out Congress policy and to represent the Congress vis-à-vis other international organisations, within the context of the Council of Europe's general policy on external relations.
The President of the Congress ensures that decisions taken by the Congress are implemented and reacts on behalf of the Congress to current developments. He or she also presents the activities of the Congress and the texts that it has adopted to the Parliamentary Assembly and Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Congress
Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) was elected President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 31 March 2026 for a mandate of two years and a half. She has been Head of the Norwegian Delegation to the Congress and a Congress Vice-President since 2012, and President of the Chamber of Regions from 2016 to 2021.
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Curriculum Vitae: English, French
Konstantinos Koukas, President of the Chamber of Local Authorities
Konstantinos Koukas (Grece, EPP/CCE) was elected on 31 March 2026 as President of the Chamber of Local Authorities.
Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Council of Europe Congress
Cecilia Dalman Eek, President of the Chamber of Regions
Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) was elected on 16 October 2024 President of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress until March 2026. She was re-elected on 31 March 2026.