The impact of rapid technological developments, such as the expansion of the Internet and social media, on the way regional and minority language media work in Europe, as well as other new challenges they bring in the context of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages is the theme of an expert meeting taking place in Brussels on 6-7 April 2017. The meeting participants working with the European Charter, as well as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, will discuss how to take into account these technological and social developments when monitoring the language situation in member states in the future, and will seek to come up with conclusions for the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the language charter. More...

Today, in the framework of the debate on the fight against anti-Gypsyism, the Congress for Local and Regional Authorities adopted a Declaration of Mayors and Elected Local and Regional Representatives of Council of Europe Member States against anti-Gypsyism. More...

In its latest annual report, published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), has highlighted important shortcomings in a number of European countries related to the trafficking of children. More...

On 29 March 2017, the Congress adopted a recommendation and resolution on the situation of mayors and councillors in Turkey, and, in particular, on the detention of elected mayors and their replacement by mayors appointed by the central authorities. More...

“The Irish government should ensure that the economic upturn benefits the most vulnerable groups and should promote equality of Travellers, women and children by removing the barriers that disproportionately hinder them from fully enjoying their rights”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in a report released today based on a visit to the country carried out in November 2016. More...

Local authorities are in the front line when it comes to dealing with the increase in the number of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe and must have adequate resources to meet these needs. That was the conclusion reached by Congress members at their 32nd session in Strasbourg on 28 March 2017, on examining a report by György Illes (Hungary, ILDG) and Yoomi Rentröm (Sweden, SOC), with the participation of Statement by Tomáš Boček, Special Representative of the Secretary General on migration and refugees, and Malgorzata Galinska (Poland), youth delegate. More...

In her communication at the opening of the 32nd Session of the Congress of local and regional authorities (Strasbourg, 28-30 March  2017), President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström recalled that “local and regional authorities are responsible for carrying out a considerable share of public action in their States”. More...

The ROMED2 programme aims to boost the participation of Roma in local decision-making. The project has led to the creation of Roma community action groups in over 50 municipalities, working with local authorities in many areas to help shape municipal plans and the distribution of resources. More...

The Minister of Justice and Liberties of Morocco, El Mostafa Ramid, chaired the launching event of Morocco’s participation in the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) evaluation cycles on 27 March 2017. On this occasion, the President of the working group on evaluation of judicial systems, Jean-Paul Jean presented the potential benefits for Morocco in using the new tool of CEPEJ-STAT. A meeting with all relevant stakeholders who will be involved in data collection for the next evaluation cycle will also take place on 27 and 28 March 2017 in Rabat. More...