Grassroots democracy given a voice

Grassroots democracy had always been central to the Council of Europe’s mission as a way of taking decisions as close to the people as possible. With the inauguration of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities – a decision of the Vienna Summit - the Council of Europe was ready to face the challenge of helping the newly democratised countries of central and Eastern Europe adapt their highly centralised systems. The Congress also became a key player in conflict resolution both in South East Europe and the Caucasus thanks to its support for network of Local Democracy Agencies. View a short video on Congress of Local and Regional Authorities​​​​​​​ work.