At their first meeting of the year, on 10 February, members of the Congress Bureau held an exchange of views with Ambassador Ellen Berends, Chair of the Committee of Ministers’ Group of Rapporteurs on Democracy (GR-DEM). They also discussed the situation of Leyla Güven following a visit to her in detention by the Congress’ two rapporteurs Anders Knape and Leen Verbeek. Members focused on local and regional democracy in, amongst other countries, Ukraine and Georgia and examined the situation of minority languages in Europe. Other items on the agenda included the 26th session, the activities of Congress committees, the observation of local and regional elections, the neighbourhood policy, revision of the Congress’ Charter and Rules of Procedure and an update on the Congress’ work on co-operation activities and Roma issues.