The participants of the Fifth Session of the High-Level Dialogue “Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in Post-War Period”, held in Strasbourg on 1-2 April 2026, have issued the following joint statement: go.coe.int/gZu1r
@coe.int
📣 Call for applications!
We’re excited to launch the first Local Citizens Engagement #ELDA Award🏆
ELDW 2024/25 partners: showcase your citizen engagement project at the European level!
🗓 Apply by 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Learn more: go.coe.int/SHhoK
On this year’s International Roma Day (8 April), @congress.coe.int Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Peter Drenth has made the following statement ⬇️
Read the full statement: go.coe.int/pRLKN
The @congress.coe.int #50thSession has ended.
🗓️ 3 days | ⏰21 hours | 📋 265 participants
Thank you to everyone who followed the live debates and contributed to the discussions.
Watch the the final recap ⬇️ and revisit all of our debates here: go.coe.int/dNBI2
@coe.int
Day 3 of the Congress #50thSession: Mattias Guyomar, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, Mélanie Lepoultier &
Peter Drenth on the ‘Implementation of the #ECHR by local and regional authorities.’
Join us live🎥https://go.coe.int/m8JgZ
Explore the agenda➡️https://go.coe.int/h56XJ
@coe.int @echr.coe.int #Pact
🗣️ Truls Gihlemoen and Annika Vaikla on ‘Strengthening the capacities of local and regional authorities in the use of artificial intelligence’ at the @congress.coe.int #50thSession.
Join us live 🎥 go.coe.int/m8JgZ
Explore the agenda ➡️ go.coe.int/h56XJ
@congress.coe.int #Pact
Learn more about our newly elected President below 👇
@commissionerhr.coe.int, Oleksander Korniyenko, Vitalii Bezghin, Oleksii Kuleba, Véronique Bertholle and Amelie Tarschys Ingre on the Strategic Support of #Ukraine's Recovery and Reconstruction at the #50thSession.
Join us live 🎥 go.coe.int/m8JgZ
Explore the agenda ➡️ go.coe.int/h56XJ
We warmly welcome the new President of the @congress.coe.int Gunn Marit Helgesen at the opening of the #50thSession!
Join us live 🎥 go.coe.int/m8JgZ
Explore the agenda ➡️ go.coe.int/h56XJ
AI isn't the future – it's already here.
At our #50thSession (31 March-2 April), the @congress.coe.int will debate: 'Strengthening the capacities of local and regional authorities in the use of artificial intelligence'.
Explore the full agenda ➡️ go.coe.int/h56XJ
@coe.int #Pact
✨Coming up at the @congress.coe.int #50thSession
We're pleased to showcase the debates and Chamber highlights of our upcoming session, taking place from 31 March-2 April.
Explore the full agenda here ➡️ go.coe.int/h56XJ
#Democracy #HumanRights #RuleOfLaw @coe.int
At the #50thSession (31 March to 2 April), the @congress.coe.int will address the challenges facing local and regional authorities, including the thematic debate:
'Health access under pressure: a challenge for all territories'
Explore the full agenda ➡️ go.coe.int/h56XJ
@coe.int
On the International Day of Solidarity with #Belarus, the @congress.coe.int stands with Belarusian democratic forces.
Vice-President @dalmaneek.bsky.social: “The ongoing resistance against the Lukashenka regime reminds us that human rights and local democracy must be defended.”
#StandWithBelarus
Violence is never acceptable.
At the #50thSession (31 March-2 April), the @congress.coe.int will address urgent challenges facing local and regional democracy, including the growing threat of violence against elected officials.
Explore the full agenda➡️: go.coe.int/h56XJ
📆 From 31 March-2 April, the @congress.coe.int will address urgent challenges facing local & regional democracy – including #Ukraine’s recovery & reconstruction.
📽️ Watch the video below and follow the #50thSession for key updates.
👉 Explore the full agenda: go.coe.int/h56XJ
Just 10 days to go until the Congress' #50thSession!
📅 31 March-2 April in Strasbourg: local & regional leaders will come together to address key challenges and share solutions.
Discover what’s on the agenda⬇️
🔗 go.coe.int/W4Kc2
#Democracy #HumanRights #RuleOfLaw
📣CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Apply now to participate in the training course for lead facilitators of citizens’ assemblies. 🇦🇱🇧🇦🇽🇰🇲🇪🇲🇰🇷🇸
⌛️Don't miss out! Applications close on 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.
Learn more: go.coe.int/A3Ohm
Marking one year since the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, @congress.coe.int President Marc Cools has made the following statement ⬇️
Read more: go.coe.int/hYEx3
On Thursday 19 March 2026, @congress.coe.int President Marc Cools addressed the @coe.int High-level Conference on Social Rights: The European Social Charter in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova.
This initiative is a contribution towards the Council of Europe's #NewDemocraticPact for Europe.
On 16 March, @congress.coe.int Secretary General @mathieu-mori.coe.int addressed the Joint Meeting of the Governing Board and the Administrative Council of the @coebank.bsky.social in Warsaw.
Read more: go.coe.int/RqURt
✨ We are proud of this milestone decision by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers 👇
#youthparticipation
✨ We are proud of this milestone decision by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers 👇
#youthparticipation
@congress.coe.int President Marc Cools calls for action as Register of Damage for #Ukraine opens new claims category for Ukrainian refugees abroad, in a letter addressed to heads of delegations and associations’ presidents.
📄Read more: go.coe.int/FJW05
🔗Visit the website: go.coe.int/ZC8kL
#RD4U
Ahead of International Women's Day 2026 (8 March), @congress.coe.int Spokesperson on Gender Equality Nazia Rehman has made the following statement.
Read more: shorturl.at/YvV5i
#Rights #Justice #Action
@congress.coe.int President Marc Cools has made the following statement regarding yesterday's attack allegedly by Iranian drones on the Azerbaijani region of Nakhichevan ⬇️
On 5 March 2026, the @ec.europa.eu and @congress.coe.int formalised their partnership in Brussels to launch the Local Observatory for Reform Agendas Implementation (LORAI) in the #WesternBalkans, strengthening local authority engagement in EU reforms and ensuring inclusive governance.
With PM Macut, we discussed European security and the importance of the rule of law. Trust in democratic institutions is vital — I welcome the openness to inviting the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to observe Serbia’s local elections on 29 March.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, detained in Türkiye since March 2025, was awarded the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award at the EU European Committee of the Regions for his courage and commitment to democracy.
Congress Pdt Marc Cools calls for an end to prolonged pre-trial detentions of elected officials.
On 27 February, first Vice-President of the @congress.coe.int and President of the Chamber of Regions @dalmaneek.bsky.social welcomed the signing of a Memorandum between the "Lviv Agglomeration" (Ukraine) association and her home Gothenburg Region (Sweden).
Read more: go.coe.int/OKOKj
Middle East - The Congress echoes the call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the respect for international law by the Council of Europe Secretary General.
The Congress will play its part in the reflection at the next Committee of Ministers.
@coe.int
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