BUILDING EUROPE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW FROM THE GRASSROOTS: THE ROLE AND RESPONSES OF THE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

Municipalities, cities, regions, and the elected politicians at the grassroots implement pluralist democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, the key elements of what the Council of Europe considers the European model of society. This essay explains the role and responses of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, an organ of the Council of Europe not only dealing with local governance in an abstract way, but rather uniting crosscutting and horizontal experiences from mayors, councillors, regional parliamentarians, and government members from 46 European countries. Contributing to the proceedings of an inter-disciplinary conference, the institutional, and multi-level context of selected action of municipalities, cities and regions, represented by the Congress, in implementing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law will be addressed. Legal instruments, notably steps taken to ensure a contemporary application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, in force since 1988, and proposals to empower local self-government to address current crises and environmental challenges, will be covered. The action of the Congress in selected policy areas is presented in the context of the institutional architecture of the Council of Europe with a focus on core business of the Organisation. Some historic references, which are useful for an audience not so familiar with the history of the European integration process, complete the essay.