Website: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE)

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.

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.

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) brought greater clarity to the functioning of the Congress.