Convinced that a stronger grassroots democracy entails better governance at local level, the Congress promotes the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) awarded to municipalities across Europe which have achieved the required standards of good democratic governance. The Congress invites national associations of local and regional authorities to follow the example of their counterparts in Italy and Croatia by applying for accreditation to deliver ELoGE to local authorities in the Council of Europe member states.
ELoGE helps local authorities improve their governance through a self-assessment tool in the form of a European Good Democratic Governance Benchmark and a series of questionnaires aimed at citizens, elected representatives, and local officials. This self-assessment tool (the ELoGE Benchmark), composed of 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance, 36 targets and 72 indicators, should be translated and adapted to the local context.
The ELoGE Accreditation Platform at the Congress is responsible for granting accreditation to deliver ELoGE. The Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress is ready to support national associations to launch the ELoGE process. An introductory workshop and peer learning opportunity will be organised on Friday 25 April 2025. National associations are invited to express their interest in participating by completing this form and applying by 31 March 2025.
Since it was first piloted in Norway by the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), ELoGE has been awarded to over 300 different municipalities in 21 member states. On 7 March 2025, some 40 local authorities in Italy will receive the ELoGE award at a ceremony in Gorizia, Italy organised by AICCRE – the Italian association of European Cities and Regions. Croatian cities will also be awarded the label in the context of the European Local Democracy Week organised by the Association of Cities of the Republic of Croatia in Šibenik on 19 March 2025.
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