What is ELoGE?

ELoGE is a diagnostic tool which can help a local authority identify areas for improvement in the local administration and in the implementation of policies.

ELoGE is a political communication tool which enables a local authority or local representative to reach out to citizens and staff to help them feel more engaged in local decision-making.

ELoGE is a municipal management tool which can help streamline procedures and promote more efficient governance practice.

ELoGE is a measurement tool which can help demonstrate to officials, stakeholders, and citizens the improvements that have been delivered by good democratic governance in your municipality.

ELoGE offers a 3600 evaluation of good democratic governance of a municipality.  It includes

  • Self-assessment by local officials.
  • Political evaluation by elected leaders.
  • Citizen feedback through surveys and questionnaires

ELoGE is a means of “securing and strengthening democracy and good governance at all levels throughout Europe.”

Who can apply for ELoGE?

ELoGE is awarded to local authorities that can demonstrate their compliance with the Twelve Principles of Good Democratic Governance in the Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the principles of good democratic governance, and further detailed in its explanatory memorandum.

Why should a local authority apply for ELoGE?

ELoGE is both an acknowledgement of achievement and a powerful learning and improvement tool.

In committing to applying the evaluation tools and measuring democratic governance performance, a local authority is embarking on a journey of discovery that will help build people’s confidence and trust and their sense of ownership of the local authority.

Obtaining the Label is a reason for celebration: it acknowledges that a municipality has achieved a high level of good governance, of which the entire community can be proud. 

A local authority that applies for ELoGE but does not obtain the level will have benefited from the process and will have identified areas for improvement.

How can my local authority apply for ELoGE?

ELoGE is awarded by a national, regional, or transnational ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform that has applied for and received accreditation to oversee implementation of ELoGE within the designated territory.

The ELoGE Accreditation Platform at the Congress is the Council of Europe body responsible for granting accreditation to implement and award the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) to a national (or regional) body known as the national (or regional) “ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform.”

Who can request accreditation to implement ELoGE in my designated territory?

The ELoGE Accreditation Platform at the Congress grants accreditation to deliver ELoGE to a reputable national, regional, or transnational entity which has demonstrable capacity and competence to oversee implementation of ELoGE within the designated territory - the national ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform.

What if there is no accredited ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform in my designated territory?

You can invite your national association of local authorities to submit an accreditation request to the ELoGE Accreditation Platform.

In exceptional circumstances, where there is no accredited platform and with the agreement of the ELoGE Accreditation Platform, the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance may award ELoGE in co-operation with a national, regional or transnational entity if:

  • the local authorities in question have successfully run the ELoGE benchmark;
  • have fulfilled all the conditions which are normally required for being awarded the label; and
  • are actively participating in the European Local Democracy Week.

How long is ELOGE valid for?

ELoGE can be awarded for a period of up to three years, subject to an implementation procedure adopted by the accredited entity and approved by the national ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform.

How can I know more about the concrete experience with ELoGE by other municipalities?

The webpage of the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance regularly updates the list of local authorities that have been awarded ELoGE.

The EDEN Database also contains links and information to local authorities that have been awarded the label.

The new ELoGE Accreditation Platform established at the Congress in 2024 has also adopted a reporting template that invites accredited entities to submit contact details of awarded local authorities in order to facilitate networking among these local authorities across Europe.

How can I request accreditation to implement ELoGE?

  • Who are you?

I am a representative of a national or regional association of local authorities in a Council of Europe member state.

You should review, translate and adapt (if necessary) the ELoGE Benchmark and questionnaires to reflect the specific situation in your member state.

You should establish a national ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform involving your Association of Local/Regional authorities, civil society actors, representatives from central / regional authorities, academia, independent experts etc.

You should prepare an implementation plan which includes the following steps:

  • Awareness raising
  • Deadline for expression of interest from participating municipalities
  • Implementation phase – local authorities apply the benchmark and conduct the questionnaires
  • Evaluation and awarding phase – national ELoGE Stakeholders’ Platform reviews submitted applications and decides which municipalities meet the criteria for the award of ELoGE.

You complete the ELoGE Accreditation Request form and submit it to the ELoGE Accreditation Platform via the secretariat of the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance.

What support can be offered by the ELoGE Accreditation Platform?

The Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress can deliver capacity-building activities for local experts and accredited entities upon request and subject to availability.