Newsroom
Spain ratifies the Macolin Convention
Juan Ignacio MORRO, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Spain to the Council of Europe, has deposited, this 17 October 2024, before the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn BERGE, the instrument of ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of...
New guide published to enhance minority rights via inclusive education
Inclusive educational environment recognising diversity, promoting a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect, addressing discrimination and segregation is crucial for enhancing the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. What should be done in practice by European states, civil society...
Statement from the Secretary General on European Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October
In 2024, armed conflict and humanitarian crises are intensifying, with ongoing violence in Ukraine and the Middle East. Migrants and asylum seekers, especially those traveling under unsafe conditions, always increase in number during such conflicts. They are particularly exposed to trafficking...
Congress urges Georgia to recommit to democracy
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has reiterated its call on the Georgian authorities to reverse the recently adopted anti-human rights legislation and to refrain from taking any action that would further threaten political pluralism, infringe on human rights...
Local self-government in Iceland, Latvia and Malta: Congress adopts new recommendations
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at its 47th session has adopted recommendations on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by Iceland, Latvia and Malta. The Congress has called on Iceland to incorporate local self-government into...
Congress calls for investing in more age-friendly communities
2024 will be the year when Europe will count more people aged over 65 years than those younger than 15 years, and most Council of Europe member states are affected by this trend. These demographic changes are not without consequences, in particular for local and regional authorities, who face a...
Lithuanian Vice-Minister of the Interior: Congress plays an important role in protecting Council of Europe values
Addressing the 47th session, Vice-Minister of the Interior of Lithuania Arnoldas Abramavičius, speaking on behalf of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, underlined the paramount role of the Congress in protecting the values of the Council of Europe. He acknowledged the Congress's...
Efficiency and quality of justice in Europe: the Council of Europe publishes its 2024 report
Through a report, country profiles and an interactive database, the Council of Europe's European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) identifies the main trends in the judicial systems of 44 European countries and two observer States (*). This tenth evaluation report since CEPEJ was...
Congress: Good level of local democracy in Finland but the new tier of self-government needs strengthening
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has noted the overall positive application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government principles in Finland, but expressed concern about the weak constitutional foundation for the new tier of local self-government at regional level and its...
Preserving and restoring Ukraine’s cultural heritage is our common duty
The destruction of Ukraine’s cultural heritage by the Russian Federation was at the heart of the debate of Congress members on Tuesday 15 October. Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, stressed that “the destruction and looting of cultural heritage is a...
South-East Europe: 20 years of local authorities’ co-operation paves the way for the region’s future
During its 47th session, the Congress held a debate on 15 October 2024 on local democracy as a pillar of stability in South-East Europe. Dušan Raičević, Mayor of Bar (Montenegro) and President of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), recalled that the...
Parliamentary Assembly President: ‘Our weapons to fight battles are not bullets, but the words that combine to create arguments‘
Addressing the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its 47th plenary Session, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos highlighted the most pressing challenges the Assembly and the Congress both needed to face, including democratic backsliding, Russia’s aggression against...
Congress calls for partnerships to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities adopted on 15 October 2024 a Declaration on the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine, presented by Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, L, ILDG) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen (Norway, R, EPP/CCE). The Congress reiterated its condemnation of the...
Anti-racism commission assessed the implementation of its priority recommendations by Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Monaco and Hungary
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its conclusions on implementing its priority recommendations for Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Monaco, and Hungary. The recommendations concerned the human rights of LGBTI persons, migrants and asylum seekers, inclusive...
Stopping violence against women: New report stresses need for risk assessment to keep women safe from violence
The Group of Experts on combating violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO) has published its 5th general report on activities for 2023, which presents the major achievements of its work and includes a thematic section on “the role and importance of risk assessment and risk management...
Congress session: European towns and regions standing firm for democratic values
“At a time of the continued war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, at a time of growing concerns over democratic backsliding in some member states, we must stand firm in defence of democratic values in our towns, cities and regions,” stressed Congress President Marc Cools at...
Venice Commission publishes opinions from October plenary session
The Venice Commission has published a number of opinions this week that had been adopted at its third plenary session of the year in Venice on 11 and 12 October. Highlights include two rule of law opinions on Poland: Opinion on draft amendments to the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office in...
Congress committees approve reports on water resources and fight against human trafficking
The three statutory committees of the Congress met in Strasbourg on 15 October 2024, on the first day of the 47th session and all held exchanges on Congress action on human rights at local and regional levels. The Monitoring Committee was updated about post-monitoring in Türkiye and Ireland, and...
Congress to hold an urgent debate on the situation in Georgia during its October session
Meeting on 14 October 2024 in Strasbourg, the Congress Bureau decided to hold an urgent debate on the situation in Georgia during the 47th session (15-17 October). Prompted by the deep concern over clear signs of democratic backsliding and the weakening of human rights in Georgia, the debate will...
In European Youth Capitals, young activists discuss new initiatives in times of war
How to best support young people in Ukraine facing the challenge of the ongoing war of aggression by the Russian Federation was the key theme of a visit by a group of some 30 young activists from all over Europe to Lviv, Ukraine and Lublin, Poland on 10-15 October. The visit was organised by the...
