On October 16, Marc Cools, liberal President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, gave an interview to Agence Europe, an independent international news agency specializing in European integration. In this interview, Marc Cools discussed the role of the Congress in addressing current challenges, particularly the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. He emphasized that the Congress is focusing on the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and the protection of its cultural heritage. He noted that the Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe, held in May 2023, created new momentum to strengthen the local dimension of democracy and human rights. Marc Cools also mentioned some of his priorities, such as enhancing dialogue with the democratic forces of Belarus and Russia, creating a standing invitation for election observation by the Congress, and ongoing discussions to allow non-member states of the Council of Europe to join the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Finally, he addressed the Congress's efforts to monitor the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the revision of the Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, scheduled under the Maltese presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2025.

Full interview