Text revised May 2026
About the Congress and the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe (CoE) was created in 1949 as a UK initiative, and works to defend democracy, rule of law, good governance and human rights. It has 46 member states with over 800 million people, from Iceland to Azerbaijan. It is not an EU institution, therefore UK membership was not affected by Brexit. It is financed by national government contributions.
The Congress is the local government arm of the CoE:
- it comprises 300+ local/regional elected politicians from 46 countries. England has 12 full and 14 substitute places, shared equally between LGA and the UK Mayors’ Secretariat.
- its objectives are to promote good local governance and defend local democracy through election observation and peer review of compliance with the Charter of Local Self-Government Congress also defends human rights at the local level and promotes the exchange of ideas, innovation and good practice.
Congress members:
- appointments are for five years (2026-31). Members losing their local mandate in this period have up to six months grace to complete current activities.
- members meet in plenary session twice a year (March and October), always in Strasbourg and lasting 4 days+travel time.
- additionally members are assigned to one of three thematic committees, which meet 1-2 times per year for 1 day, often outside Strasbourg. Opportunities also arise to attend meetings, conferences etc, and to observe local elections.
- substitute members can only attend committees or plenaries if a full member is absent, but can draft reports, participate in election observation, and represent Congress at events.
- member attendance is financed by the Congress, covering actual travel costs and a fixed-rate daily allowance of approx. £175 (to cover hotel and meals). There is no cost to LGA.
LGA members’ obligations:
- to attend meetings regularly and report back to the LGA
- to promote LGA positions on given topics
- to engage in the exchange of good practice
- to network with other countries and develop good working relationships
LGA officer support
LGA staff currently provide the all-UK secretariat. LGA staff provide briefing packs for plenary sessions and on key topics at committee meetings, on-the-spot assistance at meetings, and will organise a UK Delegation meeting at each plenary session.
NOTE: prior to appointment members will be obliged to submit to Congress a signed declaration:
“The aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress. “Every member of the Council of Europe must accept the principles of the rule of law and of the enjoyment by all persons within its jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and collaborate sincerely and effectively in the realisation of the aim of the Council.
“I, the undersigned, hereby affirm and state that I will subscribe to these aims and basic principles of the Council of Europe.”
LGA contact: [email protected]