The Congress in brief
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The Congress: making pluralist democracy grow
 The
Council of Europe has always recognised the crucial importance of
democracy at local and regional level. That is the reason for its
commitment to promoting a style of local self-government that meets the
needs of the citizens wherever they may be.
The Conference of Local
Authorities of Europe was created within the Council in
1957. It becomes then, the Conference of local and regional authorities, bringing together the elected representatives of the local and
regional communities. The European Charter of Local Self-Government is
its magnum opus. Opened for signature by Council of Europe member states
on 15 October 1985, it came into force on 9 September 1988. This is the
instrument in which the signatory States undertake to recognise the
principle of local self-government in domestic legislation.
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In 1994 the Congress of
Local and Regional Authorities succeeded the
Conference as a Council of Europe consultative body. Being intended to
genuinely represent both local and regional authorities, it comprises
two chambers: the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of
Regions. |
“Democracy begins in the
towns and villages of Europe. There is no democracy without local
democracy.” Giovanni Di Stasi, Past President of the Congress |
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To reinforce regional participation in the Congress,
as well as the stipulated electoral character of the mandate held by the
Congress members, a Statutory Resolution (2000) 1 brought greater
clarity to the functioning of the Congress.
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No democracy without local
democracy
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The Congress is therefore a political assembly
composed of representatives holding an electoral mandate as members of a
local or regional authority appointed each by a specific procedure. Its 318 full members and 318 substitute
members, representing over 200 000 European municipalities and regions, are
grouped by national delegation and by political group. Thus the Congress
offers an ideal forum for dialogue where representatives of local and
regional authorities discuss common problems, compare notes about their
experiences and then put their points of view to the national governments.
- As promoter of local and regional democracy,
since its inception it has produced a body of international treaties such
as the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which has become the
authoritative international treaty in this sphere. Likewise, a draft
European Charter of Regional Self-Government is expected to supplement this
machinery in order to establish the fundamental principles of regional
democracy more firmly while taking account of the specific circumstances of
the member states.
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A prime mover in
terms of furthering local democracy
 It helps the Organisation’s new member states in
tangibly introducing real local and regional self-government. Speaking for Europe’s regions and municipalities, it
delivers its support in founding the actual units of local and regional
self-government while encouraging consultation and political dialogue
between the national governments and the territorial entities.
The Congress moreover performs a function of keeping
watch on local democracy in Europe, by producing “monitoring reports” on
the situation in the member States. In this way, it verifies the
effective application of the principles set forth in the European
Charter of Local Self-Government, and of the major principles of local
democracy.
It is also in charge of local and regional election
monitoring and of setting the standards for Europe in electoral matters.
Now
that new states with varying political and economic profiles are coming
on the scene, a reappraisal and a redefinition of the goals of the
Congress is in progress. For instance, the Congress needs to aid
effective organisation of local and regional authorities in the new
democracies by encouraging regional and transfrontier co-operation.
 The
Congress organises hearings and conferences at the local and regional
levels to reach the general public whose participation remains essential
if true democracy is to be established, and acts in close co-operation
with the national and international organisations representing local and
regional authorities.
Lastly,
it advises the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe on all aspects of local and regional policy. |
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