25-27 January, the Congress carried out a series of remote meetings to assess the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the Netherlands. The Congress delegation included Vladimir Prebilič (Slovenia, SOC/G/PD) and Róbert-Csongor Grüman (Romania, EPP/CCE).

The delegation held online meetings with the national associations of municipalities (VNG) and of Provinces (IPO) as well as the national delegation of the Netherlands to the Congress. It also met with the Mayors of the Hague and of Gemert-Bakel, and with the Deputy Mayor of Enschede.

Meetings were also held with national authorities including the Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Chair of the Standing committee on the Interior, the Vice-President of the Council of State and the National Ombudsman; and with regional authorities including the Director of the Court of Audit of the Randstad and the Regional Minister of the Province of South Holland.

The ensuing report will be submitted to the Monitoring Committee of the Congress.

The Netherlands ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1991. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter demands the implementation of a minimum set of rights which constitute the core basis for local self-government in Europe. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures that these principles are respected in the 47 member States of the Council of Europe.

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