COVID-19: Activities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Congress of the Council of Europe has launched several initiatives to support local and regional authorities which, because of their special responsibilities and their proximity to citizens, are in the front line. From the outset of the crisis, it has called for coordinated action by all levels of government and warned of the multiple consequences not only for human lives but also for the functioning of democracy. As a political assembly composed of local and regional elected representatives from 47 Council of Europe member states, the Congress has the capacity to pool the experiences of cities and regions in order to find answers that can be implemented on the ground in all European communities.
The Congress is currently preparing a transversal report on “Ensuring the respect of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in major crisis situations”, which is currently being prepared and will be presented at the Congress session in March 2021.
Congress calls for ensuring respect for electoral standards in major crisis situations
How to preserve local and regional elections during major crises? Congress members discussed this question on 28 September 2020 at a debate organised during the Statutory Forum, on the basis of a report prepared by co-rapporteurs Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG) and Jos Wienen (Netherlands,...
Congress calls for ensuring respect for electoral standards in major crisis situations
How to preserve local and regional elections during major crises? Congress members discussed this question on 28 September 2020 at a debate organised during the Statutory Forum, on the basis of a report prepared by co-rapporteurs Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG) and Jos Wienen (Netherlands,...
Covid-19 crisis at the centre of the debates of the three Congress committees
The Governance, Current Affairs and Monitoring Committees held their meetings respectively on 15, 16 and 17 September 2020 online (videoconference). Several debates on the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the stakes of major crises for European local and regional authorities were on...
Post-Covid recovery strategies must be adapted to the reality of cities and regions
Congress debates local referendums, post-Covid crisis recovery and protection of LGBTI people
Congress strategy to address pandemic-related challenges to local democracy
Local and regional authorities dealing with the challenges of the health crisis
The Congress has developed an online hub which presents a set of resources deployed by local and regional authorities, by partner networks and by other organisations. An interactive module allows cities and regions to contribute directly and share their initiatives.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has issued a toolkit for governments across Europe on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law during the COVID-19 crisis.
Covid-19 Toolkit
(available in several languages)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress has taken several steps to pursue its activities.
