"If local democracy is strengthened, if human rights are implemented at all levels, if young people regain a taste for political involvement, and if our democracies put in place new forms of citizen participation, this will mean that we are ensuring a genuine follow-up, in the field, to the commitments made in Reykjavik - and the Congress is ready to take up these major challenges", stressed Congress President Marc Cools during his exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers' Deputies on 14 February 2024 in Strasbourg.

The President welcomed the increased capacity of the Congress to protect local democracy by monitoring the Charter and observing elections.

He also referred to the enhanced high-level dialogue on decentralisation and local elections in Ukraine, as well as to the promotion of the Register of Damage through its networks to ensure the contribution of local authorities and citizens, which feature also among Congress priorities.

He also mentioned cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to encourage democratic participation of citizens in Mostar and Banja Luka, and assistance to democratic forces in Belarus in the field of local democracy.

The President concluded by stressing that this year, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Congress and the 10th anniversary of its Youth Delegates initiative, emphasis will be placed on the importance of greater involvement of all the forces that drive the territorial level: elected authorities, associations, civil society, young people and women, with the organisation in particular of the conference of national associations of local and regional authorities to disseminate the Organisation’s work and values to all local communities and regions of Europe.