Meeting in Strasbourg on 26-27 September 2024, the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government – an advisory expert body for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe – examined the questions of foreign interference with local and regional electoral processes in Europe, a proposal for a report on combatting violence against local officials, and a proposal for an Additional Protocol on environment to the European Charter on Local Self-Government, among priority issues for future Congress reports and recommendations.

Chaired by Angel M. Moreno (Spain), the Group of 46 experts (one for each Council of Europe member state) also considered preparation of reports on recurring issues with the application of the Charter in Europe, the situation of human rights at local and regional level, the role of local and regional authorities in the execution of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as artificial intelligence and digitalisation of local governments. The Group heard a presentation by Andrew Forde from the Dublin City University (Ireland) of his book “European Human Rights Grey Zones – the Council of Europe and Areas of Conflict Zones” In addition, the experts discussed future co-operation with the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission in strengthening the rule of law at the grassroots, based on the presentation of Congress Constitutional Advisors Tania Groppi (Italy) and Nikos Chlepas (Greece).