News 2019
Xavier Cadoret: "Regionalisation in Morocco marks an important step towards decentralisation".
"Through the transfer of competences and resources to the regional and local levels, decentralisation brings public action back to the level that is closest to citizens," said Congress Vice-President Xavier Cadoret (France, SOC/G/PD) at the National Seminar on Advanced Regionalisation in Agadir,...
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: local experts to provide consultancy and expert support to Ukrainian municipalities implementing local initiatives on ethical, innovative and inclusive policies and practices
Within the project “Strengthening democracy and building trust at local level in Ukraine”, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is launching a call to local experts for consultancy and expert support to selected Ukrainian municipalities implementing local...
Anders Knape: “2020 to focus on political dialogue to deepen local and regional democracy”
“The year 2019 ends with a number of Congress achievements in favour of local and regional democracy in our 47 member states of which we can be rightly proud,” stated Congress President in a message sent to Congress members on 19 December 2019. “I am thinking in particular of the monitoring of...
Turkey: Statement by the President of the Congress following the arrest of the Mayor of Urla District
The President of the Congress made the following statement: "The mayor of Urla district in Izmir District, Burak Oğuz, was elected following the expression of the will of the Turkish people in the local elections of 31 March 2019, which were observed by the Congress. His arrest yesterday by the...
Harald Bergmann: "Cities and regions, at the forefront of ensuring the reception and rights of migrants"
"If migration policies are decided at European or national level, on the ground, it is cities and regions that are in the front line to welcome migrants and guarantee their rights," said Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG), spokesperson for the Congress on Human Rights, on the occasion of...
Best wishes from the Congress
This year, the Congress greetings card highlights the role of cities and regions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030. Within the Council of Europe, the approach of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is based on three key principles:...
The Association of Ukrainian Cities’ new strategy to better defend the interests of the communities
“The Association of Ukrainian Cities should base its advocacy before national authorities on a participatory process and by developing strong internal structures and consensual strategic approaches with its members”, stressed Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress, on the occasion of...
Fostering effective dialogue between national, regional and local authorities in Ukraine
During the meeting of the Community of practice on local democracy in Ukraine held in Kyiv on 12 December 2019, Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress underlined the vital contribution that national associations of local and regional authorities can make representing local interests in...
13 municipalities to implement ethical, innovative and inclusive policies and practices at local level in Ukraine
The Congress has signed joint agreements with 13 Ukrainian local authorities on 12 December 2019 to implement local initiatives on ethical, transparent and participatory decision-making; engagement of under-represented groups; and equal opportunities for women and men to participate in local...
Gudrun Mösler-Törnström: “Making gender equality a reality at local level is about ensuring democratic sustainability”
“Gender equality is at the very heart of human rights and the Council of Europe values, and, in this regard, local and regional authorities have a key role to play,” stated Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) at the Third Ukrainian Women’s Congress on 10 December 2019 in Kyiv, Ukraine....
President of the Congress: The quadrilogue of the North-South Centre makes it possible to bring the voice of local and regional authorities to all levels of governance
“During the 30 years of its existence, the Centre has become an indispensable platform of dialogue for the members of the quadrilogue on both sides of the Mediterranean,” declared Congress President Anders Knape in a communication that was addressed to the participants of a conference organised...
Human Rights Day: "Raising awareness among local and regional elected officials to ensure their implementation in the territories"
"Good local and regional governance cannot exist without full respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights," said the Congress President on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2019. "The elected representatives of local and regional authorities are the guarantors of these rights for citizens, with...
Congress Secretary General meets the Minister for local government and transport of Iceland
“Local authorities in Iceland contribute around 60 % of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of Iceland as a whole. Therefore, the Icelandic government wants to strengthen the capacity of the municipalities to be able to deliver”, Mr Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister for local...
Congress Secretary General Andreas KIEFER speaks to the CDDG
“Dialogue with the main Council of Europe institutions is an essential part of our work”, declared Andreas KIEFER in his exchange of views with the Council of Europe’s European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) on 9 December 2019, in Strasbourg. Mr Kiefer drew attention to the recent...
Congress made a monitoring visit to Austria
A Congress delegation carried out a monitoring visit to Austria from 10 to 12 December 2019, in order to assess the implementation of the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which the country ratified in 1987. On the first day of the visit, Congress co-rapporteurs Marc...
Bryony Rudkin: “Involving citizens to restore confidence in institutions”
“To overcome the crisis of confidence in democratic institutions, it is essential for citizens to be able to participate in decision-making at the local level,” stated Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD) at the closing conference of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) organised by...
Congress fact-finding visit to Latvia
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities carried out a fact-finding visit to the Republic of Latvia on 4 December 2019. The visit was organised following a complaint from the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG) concerning the ongoing territorial...
Call for applications: local and international experts to provide consultancy and support to Ukrainian municipalities
Within the project “Strengthening democracy and building trust at local level in Ukraine”, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is launching a call to international and local experts for consultancy and expert support to selected Ukrainian municipalities...
Congress’ Contribution to the Georgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
The Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was transferred from France to Georgia during a meeting held in Strasbourg, the Organisation's headquarters, on 27 November 2019, in the presence of representatives of its 47 member States, and attended by Gunn-Marit...
Georgia ratifies the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority
“The Congress welcomes the ratification by the Georgian authorities of the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority”, said Mrs. Gunn-Marit Helgesen, First Vice-President of the Congress, on 27 November...
