The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at its 47th session has adopted recommendations on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by Iceland, Latvia and Malta. The Congress has called on Iceland to incorporate local self-government into...
2024 will be the year when Europe will count more people aged over 65 years than those younger than 15 years, and most Council of Europe member states are affected by this trend. These demographic changes are not without consequences, in particular for local and regional authorities, who face a...
Addressing the 47th session, Vice-Minister of the Interior of Lithuania Arnoldas Abramavičius, speaking on behalf of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, underlined the paramount role of the Congress in protecting the values of the Council of Europe. He acknowledged the Congress's...
European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)16 October 2024Strasbourg
European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) releases its Evaluation Report on European Judicial Systems. On this occasion, the main trends of the report will be presented to the Ambassadors, the Permanent Representations to the Council of Europe and representatives of the Council of...
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has noted the overall positive application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government principles in Finland, but expressed concern about the weak constitutional foundation for the new tier of local self-government at regional level and its...
The destruction of Ukraine’s cultural heritage by the Russian Federation was at the heart of the debate of Congress members on Tuesday 15 October. Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, stressed that “the destruction and looting of cultural heritage is a...
During its 47th session, the Congress held a debate on 15 October 2024 on local democracy as a pillar of stability in South-East Europe. Dušan Raičević, Mayor of Bar (Montenegro) and President of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), recalled that the...
Addressing the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its 47th plenary Session, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos highlighted the most pressing challenges the Assembly and the Congress both needed to face, including democratic backsliding, Russia’s aggression against...
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities adopted on 15 October 2024 a Declaration on the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine, presented by Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, L, ILDG) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen (Norway, R, EPP/CCE). The Congress reiterated its condemnation of the...
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)15 october 2024Strasbourg
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its conclusions on implementing its priority recommendations for Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Monaco, and Hungary. The recommendations concerned the human rights of LGBTI persons, migrants and asylum seekers, inclusive...
Group of Experts on combating violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO)15 October 2024Strasbourg
The Group of Experts on combating violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO) has published its 5th general report on activities for 2023, which presents the major achievements of its work and includes a thematic section on “the role and importance of risk assessment and risk management...
“At a time of the continued war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, at a time of growing concerns over democratic backsliding in some member states, we must stand firm in defence of democratic values in our towns, cities and regions,” stressed Congress President Marc Cools at...
The Venice Commission has published a number of opinions this week that had been adopted at its third plenary session of the year in Venice on 11 and 12 October. Highlights include two rule of law opinions on Poland: Opinion on draft amendments to the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office in...
The three statutory committees of the Congress met in Strasbourg on 15 October 2024, on the first day of the 47th session and all held exchanges on Congress action on human rights at local and regional levels. The Monitoring Committee was updated about post-monitoring in Türkiye and Ireland, and...
Meeting on 14 October 2024 in Strasbourg, the Congress Bureau decided to hold an urgent debate on the situation in Georgia during the 47th session (15-17 October). Prompted by the deep concern over clear signs of democratic backsliding and the weakening of human rights in Georgia, the debate will...
How to best support young people in Ukraine facing the challenge of the ongoing war of aggression by the Russian Federation was the key theme of a visit by a group of some 30 young activists from all over Europe to Lviv, Ukraine and Lublin, Poland on 10-15 October. The visit was organised by the...
The first weekend of Ukraine’s inaugural Citizens' Assembly, supported by the Council of Europe, successfully concluded on 6 October in Zvyahel. This historic event, the first-ever Citizens' Assembly held under wartime conditions, marks a significant step in advancing deliberative democracy in...
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will hold its 47th session from 15 to 17 October in Strasbourg, France. On this occasion, the Congress will hold a special debate on Wednesday 16 October to mark the 10th anniversary of its ‘Rejuvenating Politics’ pioneering initiative aimed at...
The Register of Damage is central to the Council of Europe’s work to ensure accountability for the crimes committed by the Russian Federation in its war of aggression against Ukraine. It was established quickly and efficiently and has already achieved a great deal in a very short time, with more...
The Council of Europe's Venice Commission holds its third plenary session of the year in Venice on 11 and 12 October. Agenda highlights include two rule of law opinions on Poland concerning draft amendments to the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office and European standards regulating the status...