The Annual Coordination Meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), held on 27 February 2024 in Strasbourg, France, brought together representatives of municipalities and associations of local authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Türkiye and Ukraine that took an active part in this Congress initiative ...

To promote the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) among local authorities and associations of local authorities, an online meeting was held on 3 October 2023, moderated by Bryony Rudkin (UK, SOC/G/PD), Congress Thematic Spokesperson on the ELDW. The meeting brought together representatives from municipalities and associations that have been actively ...

Local and regional authorities of the 46 Member States of the Council of Europe are invited to register on our website to take part in the 2023 edition of the ELDW, a pan-European initiative aimed at boosting local democracy and citizen participation, which is coordinated by the Congress since 2007.

On 20 March 2023, the Congress ...

The Annual Coordination Meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) was held in person on Tuesday 28 February 2023 in Strasbourg, France. It brought together local representatives from Council of Europe member states, coming from municipalities that have taken an active part in this Congress initiative in the past year. The participants ...

As you know, the Reflection Group on the ELDW created the new title of “Partner of the European Local Democracy Week” for the most active municipalities. This title is granted a posteriori upon the actual participation and report of activities.

In order to receive this title, municipalities and other local entities must fulfil ...

Local and regional authorities of the 46 Member States of the Council of Europe are invited to register on our website to take part in the 2022 edition of the ELDW, a pan-European initiative aimed at boosting local democracy and citizen participation, which is coordinated by the Congress since 2007.

On 24 March 2021, the Congress ...

As you know, the Reflection Group on the ELDW created the new title of “Partner of the European Local Democracy Week” for the most active municipalities. This title is granted a posteriori upon the actual participation and report of activities.

In order to receive this title, municipalities and other local entities must fulfil ...

Local and regional authorities of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe are invited to register on our website to take part in the 2021 edition of the ELDW, a pan-European initiative aimed at boosting local democracy and citizen participation, which is coordinated by the Congress since 2007.

On 24 March 2021, the Congress ...

The Annual Coordination Meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) was held online on 26 February 2021. It brought together some 85 representatives from member States of the Council of Europe, Morocco and Tunisia.

Participants evaluated the 2020 ELDW edition under the theme “Local Democracy – Building trust” and shared ...

The Congress spokesperson on the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), Bryony Rudkin (SOC/G/PD, United Kingdom), has released a message on the occasion of the week of 15 October during which flagship events by ELDW partners are being organised all over Europe.

“I congratulate the cities, regions and associations from Council of Europe member ...

Flagship events of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) 2020 edition, coordinated by the Congress, are being organised in the week of 12 - 18 October. This year, the theme of the ELDW is “Local democracy: building trust”, focused on co-designing local democracy together with citizens and practicing open government. Its objective is ...

Local and regional authorities of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe are invited to register on our website to take part in the 2020 edition of the ELDW, a pan-European initiative aimed at boosting local democracy and citizen participation, which is coordinated by the Congress since 2007.

Under the theme “Local democracy: ...

This new video clip has been produced to promote local democracy and citizen participation.

In less than three minutes, the clip presents the tools available and concrete examples of initiatives implemented in the framework of the ELDW. 

The annual coordination meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) was held on 25 February 2020 in Strasbourg, France. Chaired by the thematic spokesperson on the ELDW, Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), the meeting brought together around 45 local elected representatives and municipal officials representing 5 European countries ...

As you know, the Reflection Goup on the ELDW created the new title of “Partner of the European Local Democracy Week” for the most active municipalities. This title is granted a posteriori upon the actual participation and report of activities.

In order to receive this title, municipalities and other local entities must fulfil the following ...

The 12 star status does not exist anymore. The reflection group on the ELDW approved last year a resolution on the new modalities of the ELDW initiative.

However, it created the title of “Partner of the European Local Democracy Week” for the most active municipalities. This title is granted a posteriori upon the actual participation ...

Local and regional authorities of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe are invited to register on our website to take part in the 2019 edition of the ELDW, a pan-European initiative aimed at boosting local democracy and citizen participation, which is coordinated by the Congress since 2007.

Under the theme “Local democracy: ...

The website of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) – a pan-European initiative aimed at fostering citizen participation and local democracy – is from now on equipped with a brand new interactive platform. All the registered local and regional authorities and associations now have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas and good practices. ...

“Local democracy: building trust”

Co-designing local democracy together with citizens and practicing open government

At its meeting in Strasbourg on 4 April, the Congress Bureau approved the biennial theme of European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) 2019-2020, based on the proposals of the coordination meeting participants:

Our ...

The coordination meeting of the ELDW was held in Strasbourg (France) on February 19 2019. Around 60 local elected officials from our partner cities from different European countries assessed the 2018 edition, shared their best practice and debated on new perspectives for the 2019 edition. During this meeting, we announced the new Thematic Spokesperson ...

“The European Local Democracy Week is very important for citizens and their elected representatives, it contributes to democratic education and is a valuable tool for strengthening local democracy,” said Gaye DOGANOGLU (Turkey, EPP/CCE), Congress spokesperson on European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), presenting a report on developments in the ...

In an interview following the first meeting of Reflection Group of the Congress on the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) held on 27 March 2018, thematic Spokesperson on ELDW Gaye Doganoglu (Turkey, EPP/CCE), reaffirmed the commitment to give this pan-European initiative a new momentum.

The various points debated during this meeting aimed ...

Local and regional authorities and their associations across Europe and beyond are invited to celebrate the 11th editon the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), officially held from 15 to 21 October 2018, under the same theme “Citizen participation, consultation and commitment: for a thriving local democracy”, with a specific focus on ...

The Reflection Group on the European local democracy week (ELDW) met on 27 March 2018, in Strasbourg. This first meeting was the occasion to launch discussions on a new strategy to advance this pan-European initiative.

Chaired by Gaye DOGANOGLU (Turkey, EPP/CCE), Vice-president of the Congress and thematic Spokesperson of the ELDW, ...

The annual coordination meeting of the European Local Democracy Week was held on 5 February in Paris. Forty-five participants from participating cities from 6 countries (France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine) and national associations of local authorities was on hand to evaluate the 2017 edition of ELDW on the occasion of the 10th ...

To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the European Local Democracy Week, the city of Kyiv, a twelve star participant of the ELDW, organised a broad range of activities both in the city itself and in the surrounding districts. Over 34 citywide and 137 district-wide activities took place in nearly 350 locations, promoting local democracy and tools ...

The 2017 edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), which marks the 10th anniversary of this initiative, will take place from 9 to 15 October 2017 – the official week of the ELDW – and also during the entire month of October. Towns and cities in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe and beyond, together with their national ...

The Association “Cities and Municipalities of Brussels” (Brulocalis) will open its official European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) in the Parliament of Brussels, on 9 October 2017, to mark the ELDW’s 10^th anniversary. During the event, the 19 municipalities from the Brussels-Capital Region participating in the initiative will present their Local ...

Three Serbian cities are holding a wide range of activities to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the European Local Democracy Week between 9th and 13th of October. Participants are invited to join diverse local initiatives promoting active citizenship, greater participation and better governance. The activities in Belgrade will include, among others, ...

Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, will welcome the participants of the Citizens Summit of Strasbourg in the Palace of Europe, on 14 October 2017. Organised in the framework of the 10th anniversary of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), the Summit aims to shape a new Pact of Local Democracy, ...

"Citizen participation is the bedrock of democracy and good governance, beause the citizen must be in the center of any public action and policy" stressed Congress Seretary General Andreas Kiefer on a conference held in Reykjavik on 5 September 2017. Administration staff from various Icelandic municipalities attended this conference on citizen ...

The ELDW administrator's website is currently under development to provide ELDW partners with a more user-friendly and simple platform for registering and promoting their ELDW activities. Due to these changes, ELDW partners may encounter technical problems when entering data after logging in to their personal profiles. Registered activities ...

A conference on the future of education for citizenship and human rights in Europe was organised from 20 to 22 June at the Palais of Europe in Strasbourg (France). In the framework of the Council of Europe's Charter on Education for Citizenship and Human Rights, presentations, round tables and debates took place with the participation ...

"Local authorities should be supported by a framework enabling them to effectively take care of their citizens, analyse their ideas and ensure that these voices are projected into decision-making" affirmed David Narmania, Head of the Delegation of Georgia to the Congress and Mayor of Tbilisi, when addressing participants of the conference on ...

On the occasion of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW)’s 10th anniversary, a video clip has been produced to promote local democracy and citizen participation. In less than three minutes, the clip presents the tools available and concrete examples of initiatives implemented in the framework of the ELDW, notably by the city of Katowice (Poland) ...

In the context of its 32nd Session, the Congress held an exchange of views on European Local Democracy Week (ELDW). The Week celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2017 and the theme is: “Citizen participation, consultation and commitment for a thriving local democracy” – Since it was first launched in 2007, the ELDW has helped to bring citizens ...

The 2017 World Forum for Democracy (WFD) will be held in Strasbourg on 8-10 November. This year, the role of political parties and the media in the context of rising populism will be at the centre of discussion, with themes such as “From democracy of parties to democracy of citizens?” and “Media - friend or foe of democracy?”. Debates will ...

At its meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 10 February, the Congress Bureau approved the annual theme of European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) 2017: “Citizen participation, consultation and commitment: for a thriving local democracy”. From 9 to 15 October 2017 – the official dates of ELDW – but also during the entire month of October, the towns ...

The 2017 co-ordination meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), held in Strasbourg (France) on 30 January, brought together mayors and local councilors of the cities participating in the 2016 edition, as well as project co-ordinators, national ELDW co-ordinators and partner organisations. “The ELDW is a tool for making local democracy ...

An evaluation workshop gathering the most active cities over the last 5 years was held on 18 November 2016 in Budapest (Hungary). Representatives from Amadora (Portugal), Bydgoszcz and Katowice (Poland), Chania and Domokos (Greece), Mioveni (Romania), Reggio Calabria (Italy), Stockton-on-Tees (United Kingdom) and Valongo (Portugal) took stock of ...

Congress President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström met, on 7 November 2016 in Strasbourg, with a delegation of twenty Ukrainian young local leaders involved in a study visit organised in the context of the World Forum for Democracy. “We believe that a good local governance system is key to restore people's confidence in their institutions. Engaging ...

Interior Minister of Estonia, Hanno Pevkur, addressed Congress members at their 31st Session, on 20 October 2016, in Strasbourg (France). During his intervention, he stressed the role of local and regional authorities in tackling radicalisation and extreme violence. The Minister said “A welcomed example is the theme of the European Local Democracy ...

As part of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) 2016 organised in the municipality of Patras (Greece), citizens will be invited - among numerous activities - to a seminar on anti-discrimination and solidarity, and a narration of intercultural stories revealing common cultural heritage. A specific radio program will also be dedicated to the ELDW ...

Since 2007, the Congress invites local and regional authorities from all 47 Council of Europe Member States to participate in “the European Local Democracy Week” (ELDW), held annually around the 15 October. “The ELDW is a way to reach out to all European citizens, to involve them at the closest level” stresses Jean-Claude Frécon, Congress ...

The COSLA annual Conference was partially devoted to the main theme of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) 2016, “Living together in culturally diverse societies”. “In the framework of the ELDW, local authorities from almost 30 Member States of the Council of Europe and beyond organise public events to meet and engage with their citizens ...

The Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Andreas Kiefer, gave an interview about the ELDW, its origin, functioning and future development, with a view to its upcoming 10^th anniversary in 2017. The ELDW constitutes a way of making European democracy a reality so that citizens can “feel it” at local level. The launch ...

The ELDW is now on Facebook and Twitter!

The Facebook page is “European Local Democracy Week”. This page will allow you to follow all the activities and latest developments of the ELDW and its partners. You will also be able to do so on our Twitter account (@democracy_week) and actively tweet using the hashtag #eldw. These are ...

The integration of migrants and refugees at local level has been a priority for the Council of Europe since 1992, marked by the ratification of the Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level.  Since then, the Congress has developed a specific approach, promoting cooperation between all levels of governance and ...

Several new functions have been made available on the ELDW events website, in order to make the platform more informative and user-friendly. The developments include the set-up of an interactive map featuring all participating cities in Europe and beyond, the option of Google Translate (also available on the main ELDW website), and the possibility ...

The 7th Children's Festival of the University of Patras expanded its horizons to include young refugees. Thirty refugee children visited the University of Patras and enjoyed moments of carefree play and learning together with hundreds of other children from kindergartens and nurseries around Patras. The University of Patras will participate ...

With a view to the 2016 edition of the ELDW on “Living together in culturally diverse societies: respect, dialogue, interaction”, the “More than one story” card game is a tool of great interest. This game was developed by the Department of Culture and Leisure of Simrishamn, Sweden back in 2012. In the tough context of the rise of extremism ...

With the aim of teaching children the core values shared across Europe, such as the freedom of expression, a fair justice system, gender equality and diversity, the Council of Europe offers a new educational game entitled “Europe Matters – A Question of Values”. The game, intended for primary and secondary school pupils (8-12 years old), is ...

Speaking at the 2016 Congress of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, on 21 April in Nicosia, Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress, highlighted the importance of showing citizens the positive aspects of the work of European and international institutions. "We should not take for granted what Europe offers us in terms ...

Since 2007, more than 1000 cities, regions and associations across the 47 Council of Europe member states and beyond have organised public events in the framework of the European Week of Local Democracy (ELDW) - an annual initiative co-ordinated by the Congress to celebrate democracy and foster citizen participation at grassroots level. The main ...

In the current context of rising extremism, it is essential to promote intercultural and inter-faith dialogue in towns, cities and regions to prevent radicalisation. This was reasserted by members of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities during the 30th Plenary Session in Strasbourg (France) on 22 March 2016. They ...

The promotion of intercultural dialogue – also the main theme of the European Local Democracy Week in 2016 – will be at the core of the 30th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, to take place in Strasbourg, France, from 22 to 24 March 2016. Among other items on the agenda, the members (local and regional elected representatives) ...

“Living together in culturally diverse societies: respect, dialogue, interaction” will be the theme for the 2016 European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), as approved by the Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its meeting in Paris on 8 February 2016 on a proposal from the ELDW partners. The 2016 theme follows on from that ...

The annual co-ordination meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) was held in Paris (France), on 1 February 2016. This meeting brought together the most active cities, European and national associations of the 2015 edition, in order to assess last year’s European Local Democracy Week, exchange of experiences and good practices, as well ...

The first Democracy Innovation Hackathon, organized by "Démocratie Ouverte" in co-operation with the Council of Europe, took place on 20 November during the World Forum for Democracy 2015, dedicated to the theme “Freedom vs control: For a democratic response”.

This participatory democracy workshop gathered experts, researchers, elected ...

From 12 to 18 October, local and regional authorities and their associations across Council of Europe Member States were invited to organise activities within the framework of the European Local Democracy Week, a pan-European initiative created for boosting citizen participation at the grassroots level, co-ordinated by the Congress. While registration ...

This week (12-18 October) more than 130 events and activities are taking place at local level across 23 Member States of the Council of Europe to celebrate the 2015 edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW). Participating municipalities are organising a wide range of events on this year’s theme "Living together in multicultural societies: ...

The ELDW 2015 will officially take place between 12 and 18 October. The theme “Living together in multicultural societies: respect, dialogue, interaction” for this year’s Week of Local Democracy has been chosen to reflect on the terrorist attacks in several European cities earlier in 2015, and the current challenges related to migration. Around ...

Since 2007, more than 1000 cities, regions and their associations across the 47 Council of Europe Member States have celebrated the European Week of Local Democracy (ELDW) – an annual event created for boosting citizen participation at local and regional level, co-ordinated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The week around 15 ...

In the framework of the World Forum for Democracy 2015 (Strasbourg, 18-20 November), a Democracy Innovation Hackathon (participatory democracy workshop) will take place, with the aim of designing a Participatory Democracy Incubator. Two of the ELDW “12 Star” cities, Falun (SE) and Katowice (PL) were also selected to participate in the hackathon ...

Local authorities and civil society organisations from Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Slovakia and the Netherlands are offered an extraordinary opportunity by the European Association for Local Democracy. ALDA opened a call for proposals for related activities and events which aim at promoting good governance ...

“Living together in multicultural societies: respect, dialogue, interaction” was the topic of the debate held on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of the Europe Prize (Strasbourg, 22 June 2015). In this connection, Congress President Jean-Claude Frécon stressed the important link between the Europe Prize and European Local Democracy Week, ...

At the 60th-anniversary Europe Prize ceremony on 22 June 2015, Jean-Claude Frécon, President of the Congress, congratulated the two prize-winning cities for 2015, Dresden (Germany) and Vara (Sweden), for their commitment to promote Europe. He pointed out that the prize was the “fruit of a highly innovative initiative on the part of the Parliamentary ...

“The Congress welcomes the signing on 23 April 2015 of a partnership agreement between the cities of Strasbourg (France) and Kairouan (Tunisia) under the patronage of Congress,” said Andreas Kiefer, Congress Secretary General on behalf of President Jean-Claude Frécon. “The Congress is engaged in fruitful cooperation with the city of Kairouan, ...

Driven by its 2015 theme "Living together in multicultural societies: respect, dialogue, interaction", the ELDW project reinforced co-operation with the Intercultural Cities Programme (ICC) of the Council of Europe. The ICC supports cities in reviewing their policies through an intercultural lens and developing comprehensive intercultural strategies ...

The fourth edition of the World Forum for Democracy, to take place in Strasbourg on 18-20 November 2015, will be dedicated to the theme "Freedom vs control: For a democratic response". For the first time, the Forum will not only showcase already existing initiatives, but also innovative, untested ideas to maintain and develop democracy’s basic ...

 “Living together in multicultural societies: respect, dialogue, interaction” will be the theme for the 2015 Week of Local Democracy, as adopted by the Bureau of the Congress at its meeting held in Strasbourg, on 23 March 2015 – on the eve of the 28th Session of the Congress. “This topic echoes recent events, in particular the terrorist ...

The annual co-ordination meeting of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) was held in Paris (France), on 16 February 2015 with the participation of the most active cities and associations of the 2014 edition. The participants assessed last year’s edition, exchanged good practices and discussed the main theme for 2015. ''I am amazed ...

The European Youth Forum has launched a call to find its European Youth Capital (EYC) 2018. This title is awarded to a European municipality for a period of one year, during which it is given the opportunity to showcase its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic policies. Since 2014 the Congress has been endorsing partner of the ...

"This week (13-19 October) we celebrate European Local Democracy Week for the eighth time in the Council of Europe Member States. I am impressed by the creativity of the ELDW participants – the neighbourhood meetings, public debates, actions for involving disadvantaged groups, school competitions, exhibitions, film festivals, sport and dance events ...

The Joint European Union/Council of Europe Regional Project “Promoting Human Rights and Minority Protection in South East Europe” has issued a call for expression of interest for small grants for multi-ethnic municipalities in South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of ...

A Joint Meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Coordinators for Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education and of the Pedagogical Club of European Capitals will be held in Strasbourg on 21-22 October in the framework of the ELDW, with the participation of Gaye Doganoglu (Turkey, EPP/ECC) political coordinator of the Week. ...

Gaye Doganoglu, (Turkey, EPP/CCE), political coordinator of the Democracy Week presented the ELDW project at the 21st meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Coordinators for Citizenship and Human Rights Education (Baku, 20-21 May 2014), and took active part in the discussions, which focused on the topics of children in vulnerable situation ...

The European Local Democracy Week was the main topic of a round table on 24 June, organised by AMSED in Strasbourg as part of a 10-day-training course, with the participation of around 40 youth workers and young members of associations from France, Italy, Sweden, Morocco, Algeria, Ukraine, Turkey and Georgia. With the assistance of young elected ...

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) arranged its annual Democracy Day on 3 April 2014. More than 350 local elected representatives and officials from all over Sweden participated at the event, which was also a good opportunity to promote the benefits of the European Local Democracy Week. For the occasion of the Democracy ...

On 24 March 2014, the Bureau of the Congress decided to dedicate the 2014 Edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) to participatory democracy and adopted a new slogan: ''Participatory democracy: sharing, proposing, deciding''. A special emphasis will be given to youth participation, which will also give the opportunity ...

Andalusia (Spain) participated for the first time in the ELDW and chosed the status of “12 Star City”, with particular focus on youth and education. On the occasion of the Democracy Week 2013, students had the opportunity to meet local elected representatives, and participate in conferences and debates on local democracy, local commerce and ...

The Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium) has been part of the ELDW initiative since 2008. Along the three main objectives defined –engaging youth, working with elected representatives on good governance and promoting the ELDW at local level -, round tables were organised, inviting young citizens ...

In the occasion of the ELDW 2013, Dionysos (Greece) mobilised its schools, municipal officials, local associations and elders houses. At the general coordination meeting of ELDW, held on 14 February 2014, Sophie Katsigianni, Municipal Councillor, presented the diverse events organised: “open spaces”, creative workshops, World Café and many ...

Tbilisi (Georgia) has been part of the ELDW since 2007 and as a “12 Star city” since 2010. Svedia Ugrekhelidze (Georgia, EPP/ECC), Mayor of Tbilisi and Member of the Congress, participated in the general coordination meeting of ELDW in February to present the events organised in her city during the 2013 Democracy Week. In Tbilisi, students were ...

Between 14-20 October 2013, Huddinge (Sweden) municipality held its third Democracy Week, giving special focus to education and youth. In the occasion of ELDW, students had the opportunity to meet local elected representatives, hear lectures on democracy and equality, and share their thoughts about their previous visit to the European Youth Centre ...

Metz (France) has taken part in the ELDW since 2011 and held the status of “12 Star City” for the second time. Patricia Sallusti, Deputy Mayor of Metz, presented the events organised by the city in the 2013 edition of ELDW. One of these was the “citizen coffee” on “Active citizenship: voting, sharing, participating” which took place ...

The municipality of Ordu (Turkey) took an active part in the 2013 Local Democracy Week, by organising a great number of events and activities in its community, in order to boost citizen participation at local level. In the spirit of active citizenship, Ordu organised and coordinated interactive meetings with the inhabitants of its neighbourhood, ...

Iasi (Romania) is one of the oldest and most active partners of the ELDW project, working together with the Congress in promoting active citizenship at local level. In 2013, the municipality chose the status of “12 Star City” to give special prominence to its participation. Elena Farca, Head of International Cooperation Office of Iasi City Hall ...

At the general coordination meeting of ELDW held in Paris, 14 February 2014, Linnea Risinger, Member of the Democracy Council of Falun (Sweden) presented its first experience of participation in the ELDW as a “12 Star City”. Falun celebrated local democracy with a 5-day program in September 2013, devoting each day to a different level of civic ...

The annual coordination meeting of the European Local Democracy Week was held in Paris, France on 14 February 2014. Representatives of the “12 Star Cities”, national associations of local and regional authorities, as well as European and international organisations were invited to assess the 2013 edition, discuss the leading theme for 2014 and ...

The No Hate Speech Movement is a youth campaign by the Council of Europe to combat hate speech online and offline. In partnership with the ELDW, it is organising an Action Week from 14 to 20 October to highlight the risks of hate speech to the cohesion of local communities and to mobilise support for local democracy.

Motivating citizens to take part in decision-making processes at the grassroots level will be at the center of the new edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) which will be organized, this year, from 14 to 20 October in Europe and beyond. The leading theme of this event in 2013 -“Active citizenship: voting, sharing, participating”- ...

This week events and activities are taking place in some 100 towns and regions in the Member States of the Council of Europe to celebrate the 2013 edition of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) under the theme: “Active citizenship: voting, sharing, participating” (14-20 October). In addition, for the first time, ELDW welcomes as a partner ...

A general meeting of the European Local Democracy Week was held in Paris (France) on 28 January 2013. ''This meeting aims at choosing a general theme for the new edition of the ELDW and will be an opportunity for exchanging views and best practices between representatives of municipalities who participated or intend to do so. Representatives ...

On 7 October, information material about the ELDW was distributed during the Conference of INGOs on "Inclusive democracy". It was the first contribution to the annual European Local Democracy week by the international network of the Council of Europe representing the NGOs.

On 9 October, the European Local Democracy Week was presented ...

As part of the neighbourhood policy of the Council of Europe, the Congress has encouraged the diffusion of the ELDW in Morocco and Tunisia. Because it strengthens citizens participation in decision-making, the ELDW is a relevant tool to accompany the decentralization reform ongoing in Morocco. It can also fit the need for more participation and ...