Improving participation, a clear distribution of competences between levels of governance, and dynamic dialogue between all actors can help ensure that effective multilevel governance counters populism and the polarisation of society.  These were among the key takeaways of a conference  organised in Vilnius on 25 September 2024 by the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

Aimed at promoting the Reykjavik Principles of Democracy and sharing multilevel governance practice to build resilience and strengthen democracy in Europe, the Conference was opened by Agnė Bilotaitė, Minister of the Interior of Lithuania, who recalled that the event was organised as a direct follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit to contribute to the work of the Council of Europe in developing new guidance, instruments, and co-operation formats to meet the challenges of the future.  Congress Director Claudia Luciani recalled the support in Reykjavik for the role of the Congress in promoting good multilevel governance.