The 32nd Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities took place in Strasbourg from 28 to 30 March and included debates focusing on the role of local authorities facing migration, the reception of unaccompanied child migrants and border regions facing migration flows.

The agenda examined various issues such as: (1) local and regional democracy in Finland, the state of local democracy in Malta, Estonia and Iceland, (2) a report on the observation of local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (October 2016), (3) following a fact-finding mission to Turkey in October and December 2016, members of the Congress adopted a report on the situation in that country and, in particular, regarding the detention of elected mayors and their replacement by persons appointed by the Government, (4) adoption of a checklist for preventing the misuse of administrative resources during electoral processes at local and regional level, as well as (5) other thematic debates on citizen participation, youth autonomy and access to employment, open data, human rights at local and regional level, and on the fight against anti-Gypsyism. You can read more on the reports at the following link: https://mycloud.coe.int/index.php/s/5kQnNJlBM2sQ2Sy

Guest speakers included:

•       Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers,
•       Mihhail KORB, Minister of Public Administration of Estonia,
•       Jón Gunnarsson, Minister of Transport and Local Government, Iceland,
•       Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Youth delegates were seated next to the elected representatives at the hemicycle of the Plenary. Although youth delegates did not have the right to vote, they actively participated by entering in the speakers’ list and stating their own views on the thematic issues.

An important issue for the youth delegates was the subject ‘Forever young? The role of youth policies and youth work at local and regional levels in supporting young people’s transition to autonomy and working life’. This report  was analysing  the  current  situation  of  young  people  in  Europe  in  their  transition  to  adulthood and reviewed the main challenges to this period,  with  examples of good  practices. Recommendations  were  addressed  to  local  and  regional  authorities  concerning  the  design  and implementation  of  innovative  youth  policies  and  as  regards  co-operation  around  youth  work,  youth policy, youth research and with the young people themselves. The report was widely accepted by positive vote.

The 33rd Session will take place on the 18-20 October and it is expected to be even more fascinating as youth delegates will present their projects at the Plenary. Therefore, #youthUsCy in an effort to present the views of all young Cypriots will post a questionnaire to collect data regarding the agenda of the session.

Stay tuned!!!

You can find more information for the 32nd Session here: http://www.coe.int/t/congress/sessions/32/default_EN.asp?

Photos and videos of the 32nd Session are here: http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/32nd-session-of-the-congress

For your questions please fill the form: https://goo.gl/forms/ursuGdxabY97emGI2