The 42nd Session of the Congress will take place from 22-24 March. A debate on the situation in Ukraine will take place on Tuesday afternoon, March 22nd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to address the Congress by video conference and the Congress will adopt an institutional declaration.
Also on the agenda are reports on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Germany, Luxembourg, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The competent ministers have been invited to participate in the debates: Juliane Seifert, Germany, Taina Bofferding, Luxembourg, Süleyman Soylu, Turkey, and Michael Gove, United Kingdom. Congress members will also consider reports on the observation of the latest local elections in Armenia and Georgia, and local and regional elections in Denmark, and Morocco. They will hold two debates: one on the use of deliberative methods in European municipalities and regions, in which the Mayor of the City of Mostar Mario Kordić will participate, and the other on the situation of independent candidates and opposition in local and regional elections.
Debates are also planned on the participation of children in the sustainable development of their cities, democratic pluralism in regional governance, regions and diaspora, rural youth and the role of local and regional authorities, as well as on “Fake news, threats and violence – pressures on mayors in the current crises in Europe”. In addition, as at every session since the launch of the Congress’ “Rejuvenating Politics” initiative in 2014, youth delegates will participate in the debates.
Among the invited personalities are also Mariastella Gelmini, Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomy, on behalf of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, Tiny Kox, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Marija Pejčinović-Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome, Italy, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Jean-Claude Marcourt, President of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) and President of the Walloon Parliament, Belgium, and Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
Agenda and documents: 42nd Session webpage
Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine | special page