Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

The Congress welcomes the peace agreement signed between #Armenia and #Azerbaijan. 🇦🇲🇦🇿
🤝We stand ready to continue our cooperation with local communities of both countries to make this peace a reality at the grassroots level.
@coe.int

📍Next up: “Advancing Participatory & Human Rights-Based Local Democracy in Georgia” 🇬🇪
🔍The focus? Better services, decentralisation, inclusive governance & giving a voice to the youth & underrepresented groups.
🌍Contributes to 🇺🇳 #SDGs
🔗https://go.coe.int/qZui7
🧵[6/11]

✊🕊 The #COECongress stands with the Belarusian democratic forces.
💬Congress Vice-President and Bureau Rapporteur for a Democratic #Belarus @dalmaneek.bsky.social: “On this Solidarity Day, I would like to stress the Congress' call for freedom of all Belarusian political prisoners."
#StandWithBelarus

📽️Watch now: Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, has made the following statement on the arrest of Congress youth delegate Enes Hocaoğulları, urging his immediate release.

#Türkiye #HumanRights #Freedom4Enes @coe.int

Council of Europe Congress President calls for the immediate release of the Congress youth delegate arrested in Türkiye - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities - www.coe.int Strasbourg, France 06 August, 2025

Congress President Marc Cools calls for the immediate release of Congress youth delegate, Enes Hocaoğulları, who was arrested in Ankara on 4 August 2025.

🔗Read the statement: go.coe.int/IaCkw

#türkiye #humanrights @coe.int

📍Next up: “Enhancing the Local Government Reform in Cyprus” 🇨🇾
🎯Aim: Better governance, training & expert support for local authorities.
🧠Quiz: When did Cyprus’ local gov reform take effect?
A) 2004 B) 2024 C) 2024
Comment your guess!
🔗More: go.coe.int/1wstG
🧵[5/11] @coe.int

On 28 July, the @COECongress supported the Municipality of Leova, Republic of Moldova, in launching its first Open Government Action Plan. 🇲🇩

🔗Read more: go.coe.int/J4tLm

#opengovernment #civilsociety #publicparticipation

📍Next up “Strengthening democratic innovations and promoting human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” 🇧🇦
The aim? To support local #democracy with citizen participation, leadership & open government.
Learn more👉: go.coe.int/fc4Er
🧵[4/11] @coe.int

📍Next in our Centre of Expertise series: “Support to Communities Hosting Refugees in #Armenia” 🇦🇲
Helping local communities with tailored services & resilience for lasting impact.
Learn more: go.coe.int/EGzCu
🧵[3/11]
@coe.int

💬“Access to housing, culture, water, education, mobility for seniors and young people... these aren't just local policy issues — they're human rights.” — Mélanie Lepoultier, Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights for the @congress.coe.int in Geneva at Local Governments for #HumanRights. 🇪🇺 🇺🇳

Our project “Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in #Armenia – Phase II” aims to boost local governance by aligning laws with 🇪🇺 standards, building community capacity and fostering cross-border cooperation.
🔗Learn more: go.coe.int/LvqQg
🧵[2/11]

🚀 We're launching a new series: introducing our Centre of Expertise projects!
First up: "Promoting deliberative #democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe"
🎯 The Goal? To engage citizens, build inclusive institutions & boost trust.
Learn more: go.coe.int/n5eaN

United Nations High-Level Political Forum 2025: Cities and regions leading the way in global solutions - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities - www.coe.int New York, United States 18 July 2025

💬“Local and regional authorities can ensure that social policies are rights-based."—Nazia Rehman, Chair of the Social Inclusion Committee of the #COECongress at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum 2025 in New York. 🇺🇳

🔗Read more: go.coe.int/1MiBo

@coe.int #HLPF2025 #SDGs

⏪Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 Recap 🇺🇦 🇮🇹

From decentralisation to youth engagement and cross-border partnerships, see how local democracy is at the heart of #Ukraine’s recovery.

📽️Watch the highlights of the @COECongress at the #URC2025 in Rome (📆10-12 July).

#Recovery #LocalDemocracy @coe.int

Congress President Marc Cools:"I strongly condemn today’s violent attack against Mayor of Skopje & head of the North Macedonia delegation to the Congress Danela Arsovska. Violence, especially against elected politicians is unacceptable. We will continue to combat violence against women in politics."

📆 On 9 and 10 July, the #COECongress launched innovative Community Talks in Ambrolauri and Oni municipalities, as part of its efforts to promote inclusive, participatory and rights-based local democracy in #Georgia. 🇬🇪

Read more➡️: go.coe.int/04Paw

#citizenengagement @coe.int

Council of Europe Congress President calls for action to stop the purge of opposition mayors in Türkiye - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities - www.coe.int Strasbourg, France 11 July 2025

Congress President Marc Cools: “I deplore in the strongest terms the continued purge of opposition mayors in Türkiye, with the suspension from office of 15 more mayors – adding to almost 150 mayors dismissed and, including several Congress members”.

Read the full statement 👉 go.coe.int/5wmx0

Remembering Srebrenica 11 July

The Srebrenica genocide is one of the darkest pages of European history.

In July 1995, 30 years ago, thousands of men and boys were murdered solely because of their ethnicity and religion.

Let us remember and learn from it.

#NeverForget

📣 We’ve landed on Bluesky! 🦋

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is now on Bluesky.

Follow us for the latest updates on local and regional democracy across Europe.

#Democracy #HumanRights #RuleOfLaw