COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
________
STATUTORY RESOLUTION (94) 3
RELATING TO THE SETTING UP OF THE
CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF EUROPE
(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 14 January 1994,
at the 506th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Articles 15.a and 16 of the Statute of the Council of Europe.
Having regard to the Parliamentary Assembly's proposal for institutional reforms within the Council of Europe;
Having regard to the proposals of the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe relating to the reform of its statute;
Having consulted the organisations representative of local and regional authorities of Europe, in particular the Assembly of European Regions and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions;
Considering that one of the bases of a democratic society is the existence of a solid and effective local and regional democracy in conformity with the principle of subsidiarity included in the European Charter of Local Self-Government whereby public responsibilities shall be exercised, in preference, by those authorities which are closest to the citizens, having regard to the extent and nature of the public tasks and the requirements of efficiency and economy;
Wishing to enhance and develop the role of local and regional authorities within the institutional structure of the Council of Europe;
Bearing in mind that the creation of a consultative organ genuinely representing both local and regional authorities in Europe has already been approved in principle by the Heads of State and Government of the member States of the Council of Europe at the Vienna Summit;
Considering that the provisions hereinafter set out are not inconsistent with the Statute of the Council of Europe;
Resolves as follows:
Article 1
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (hereinafter referred to as CLRAE) is the organ representing local and regional authorities. Its membership and functions are regulated by the present articles, by the Charter which will be adopted by the Committee of Ministers and by the Rules of Procedure which will be adopted by the CLRAE.
Article 2
1. The CLRAE shall be a consultative body the aims of which shall be:
a) to ensure the participation of local and regional authorities in the implementation of the ideal of European unity, as defined in Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, as well as their representation and active involvement in the Council of Europe's work;
b) to submit proposals to the Committee of Ministers in order to promote local and regional self-government;
c) to promote co-operation between local and regional authorities;
d) to maintain, within the sphere of its responsibilities, contact with international organisations as part of the general external relations policy of the Council of Europe;
e) to work in close co-operation, on the one hand with the national, democratic associations of local and regional authorities and, on the other hand with the European organisations representing local and regional authorities of the member States of the Council of Europe.
2. The Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly shall consult the CLRAE on issues which are likely to affect the responsibilities and essential interests of the local and regional authorities which the CLRAE represents.
3. Recommendations and opinions of the CLRAE shall be sent as appropriate to the Parliamentary Assembly and/or the Committee of Ministers. Resolutions and other adopted texts which do not entail possible action by the Assembly and/or the Committee of Ministers shall be transmitted to them for their information.
Article 3
1. The CLRAE shall be composed of representatives holding a local or regional authority electoral mandate or a mandate as a person directly responsible to an elected local or regional body. Delegates shall be appointed according to the criteria and procedure established in the Charter, which will be adopted by the Committee of Ministers, each State ensuring in particular, an equitable representation of its various types of local and regional authorities.
2. Each member State shall have the right to the same number of seats in the CLRAE as it has in the Parliamentary Assembly. Each member State may send a number of substitutes equal to the number of representatives appointed according to the same criteria and procedure.
3. Representatives and substitutes shall be sent for a period of two ordinary sessions of the CLRAE and shall maintain their functions until the opening of the following session.
Article 4
1. The CLRAE shall meet in ordinary session once a year. Ordinary sessions shall be held at the seat of the Council of Europe unless the Congress and the Committee of Ministers decide by common consent that the session should be held elsewhere.
2. The CLRAE shall exercise its functions with the participation of two Chambers: one representative of local authorities (hereinafter referred to as "Chamber of Local Authorities") and the other representative of regional authorities (hereinafter referred to as "Chamber of Regions"). The CLRAE may set up the following bodies: Bureau, Standing Committee, ad hoc working groups, which are necessary to perform its mission.