The Congress Connect is a database containing detailed and general information on all members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Maria Bigday
The Independent Liberal an Democratic Group (ILDG) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe brings together 92 members. It is chaired by Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom).
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. It brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities and divided among several political groups.
Date(s) the 30/06/2025
ILDG members played a central and dynamic role in the meeting of the Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity of the Congress, held in Strasbourg on 30 June 2025.
Aida Karimli (Sweden, ILDG) co-authored the report underpinning the revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, while ILDG Vice-President Jimmy Moloney (Ireland) co-prepared the report on social housing innovations. Both texts were approved by the Committee and are set for debate [......]
written the 12/06/2025
Congress Work Spring–Summer 2025: A Liberal Perspective
Highlights of the spring session: ILDG exchanges views with Yuliia Ovchynnykova
ILDG address Congress’s high-level guests
ILDG reports during the 48th session
Marc Cools: a new mission to Kyiv
Election observation: Finland
Human rights rapporteurs’ mission to Austria
Community of Practice on deliberative democracy
written the 06/06/2025
On 6 June, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Congress Marc Cools opened the 3rd International Summit of Cities and Regions in Kyiv. Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Melanie Lepoultier (ILDG, France) was also part of the high-level Congress delegation visiting Kyiv.
“Showing democratic resilience by improving citizens’ daily lives and strengthening their trust in public institutions, having strong and vibrant communities is the best answer to [......]
written the 24/03/2025
The next ILDG group meeting will take place on Monday 24 March from 15:45 to 17:45. We shall exchange views with Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and have a focused discussion with Yuliia Ovchynnykova, PACE General Rapporteur on Local and Regional Authorities.
We will also continue our exploration of the Council of Europe’s institutions and instruments. This time we have invited Stéphanie Poirel, Executive Secretary of the Congress, to discuss the Congress’s [......]
