“When a citizen has a problem, he goes to his Mayor. When a company is in crisis, workers go to ask the Mayor for help. When a family needs kindergarten for its children or care services for its elders, it goes to the Mayor. Who wants to live in a city with clean air and healthy water asks the Mayor to make relevant environmental policies. In short, the municipalities are the closest institutions to the citizens. And, indeed, in a time characterized by mistrust and hostility of a part of public opinion towards institutions and politics, the municipalities are the essential framework for maintaining a democratic fabric capable of gathering the trust of citizens”.

This was stated by Mr. Piero Fassino, President of the Socialist Group at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, when speaking in Brussels at the ceremony for the 25th anniversary of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. 

"Therefore- underlined Mr. Piero Fassino - it is essential to strengthen local democracy and ask governments and the European Union to make available to municipalities and regions the tools and resources necessary to meet the expectations of citizens. And at the same time to urge every municipal and regional administration to guarantee its citizens instruments of democratic participation, respect for rights, transparency and legality”. 

“For 25 years the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe - concluded Mr. Piero Fassino - promotes local democracy, supports the municipalities in their activity, constantly monitors respect for the autonomy and rights of local communities. A precious work that we want to continue in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions and with every local community ".