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"For the last 35 years, the Congress has protected local and regional democracy with the help of this important charter. It has led to in-depth legislatives and territorial reforms that have improved the rights of local authorities.
"Every day, local and regional authorities are at the forefront of increasing challenges for their citizens and their communities. At a time when local representatives are facing multiple crises such as the return of war in Europe, climate change, the consequences of the pandemic and pressure on local representatives, the Charter is more vital today than ever," he said
35th anniversary of the European Charter of Local Self-government: Initial defence against democratic backsliding
Strasbourg, 1 September 2023 - On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Charter’s entry into force, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Verbeek, issued the following statement:
“For the last 35 years, the Congress of the Council of Europe has protected local and regional democracy in the 46 member States of the Council of Europe which have ratified the Charter. More than 200 recommendations were addressed to the member States and led to in-depth legislatives and territorial reforms improving the rights of local authorities. Through regular political dialogue with national and sub-national authorities, the Congress makes sure that the principles set out by the European Charter of Local Self-Government are implemented.
It is crucial to equip local representatives with the necessary tools. Every day, they are at the forefront of increasing challenges for the citizens and their communities. The Charter lays down standards for protecting the rights of local authorities. It is a pioneer instrument that requires among others that local authorities manage a substantial share of public affairs, have sufficient competences and concomitant financial resources, and have the right to recourse to court. At a time when local representatives are facing multiple crises such as the return of war in Europe, climate change, pandemic, pressure on local representatives, the Charter is more vital today than ever.”
On 24-26 October 2023, during its 45th session, the Congress will examine 3 monitoring reports of the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Estonia, Ireland and the Slovak Republic.
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Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Institutional Communication Unit
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 63 76 - congress.web@coe.int - www.coe.int/congress
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Leendert Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC/G/PD), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Harald Sonderegger (Austria, EPP/CCE).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states and assessing the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. As the voice of Europe’s municipalities and regions, it works to foster consultation and political dialogue between national governments and local and regional authorities, through cooperation with the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.
The Congress is made up of two chambers: the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions. It has 306 representatives and 306 substitutes, all appointed for five years, representing over 130,000 local and regional authorities in the Council of Europe’s 46 member states. The Congress’s work is organised with three committees: a Monitoring Committee, a Governance Committee and a Current Affairs Committee.
