Armenia to participate with new delegation at 50th session of CoE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

From March 31 to April 2, Strasbourg, France, will host the landmark 50th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. This session marks a pivotal moment for European local self-government, as it inaugurates a new five-year mandate for national delegations. The Republic of Armenia will participate with its renewed delegation, ready to engage in this high-level democratic process, the Communities Association of Armenia said in a press release.

The newly appointed Armenian delegation, comprised of local community representatives, will have the opportunity to participate in the election of the Congress’s new leadership and advocate for Armenia’s interests within this vital European platform.

Key Agenda Highlights

The 50th Session will focus on the grave challenges currently facing modern democracy:

Local Democracy in Crisis: Special attention will be given to the reconstruction of Ukraine and the critical role of local authorities in overcoming the consequences of the war.

Safety and Protection: The agenda includes a debate on the rising instances of violence against elected local officials and international strategies to ensure their protection.

Regional Developments: Members will discuss the state of local democracy in Georgia, alongside the results of election observation missions in several European countries.

New Technologies and Social Rights: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on local governance and the provision of social rights under pressure will be key thematic areas.

High-Level Discussions

The session will feature addresses by Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human Rights; and various government ministers and mayors from across Europe.

The Communities Association of Armenia (CAA), as the coordinator of the Armenian delegation’s activities, will closely monitor the session proceedings. The Association will provide regular updates on the activities of Armenian delegates, their interventions, and the key decisions adopted during the session.