The European Charter of Local Self-Government (ECLSG) lays down standards for protecting the rights of local authorities and requires states which have ratified it to comply with a number of conditions, principles and practices. States undertake to respect a core of basic principles to which no reservation is possible – such as the right of citizens to participate in managing public affairs, the key rights of communities to enjoy autonomy and self-government, elect their local bodies and to have their own structures and financial resources.

States undertake to respect a core of basic principles to which no reservation is possible – such as the right of citizens to participate in managing public affairs, the key rights    of communities to enjoy autonomy and self-government, elect their local bodies and to have their own competences, administrative structures and financial resources, or the right of recourse to a court in case of interference from other levels. Through these core principles, the Charter seeks to ensure the compatibility of the diverse structures of local communities in the Council of Europe member states. However, the final aim remains the respect of all of the Charter’s provisions.

Opened for signature on 15 October 1985 and entered into force on 1 September 1988, the Charter is ratified by all 46 Council of Europe member states.

 European Charter of Local Self- Government

CARTA-MONITOR
Database of the Monitoring reports by country

 CARTA-MONITOR

 Leaflet

An Additional Protocol on the right to participate at public life was adopted in 2009 to supplement the text of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Its purpose is to bring within the scope of the Charter the right of any person to participate in the affairs of a local authority, a principle enshrined in the Preamble to the Charter.

 Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority

Full text of the European Charter of Local Self-Government available on the website of the Council of Europe Treaty Office :

Non official translations:

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The Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by member states of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Monitoring Committee) is responsible for assessing the application of the Charter.

 Monitoring Committee

Stéphanie Poirel
Committee Secretary
Tel. + 33 3 90 21 51 84