Thursday 17 October 2024

Plenary Sitting

10.00 – 13.00, Hemicycle

Marc COOLS, President of the Congress, took the Chair at 10.03.

1.

Adoption of the minutes of the sessions of the Chambers and of the sitting of the Congress on 16 October 2024

The minutes of the sessions of the Chambers and the sitting of the Congress on 16 October 2024, in documents CPL(2024)47-PV, CPR(2024)47-PV and CG(2024)47-PV-02, were adopted.

2.

Ceremony awarding the Congress medal to honorary members

The President awarded the Congress medal to the honorary members Leendert VERBEEK (Netherlands), Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ (Belgium) and John WARMISHAM (United Kingdom) and thanked them for their work with the Congress.

Leendert VERBEEK, Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ and John WARMISHAM made a speech, and thanked the President and the members of the Congress.

The President invited the honorary members for a photograph.

3.

The situation in Georgia

The rapporteur Xavier CADORET, France (L, SOC/G/PD), on behalf of the Bureau of the Congress, presented the draft declaration in document CG(2024)47-22.

The debate opened.

Speakers: Sevdia UGREKHELIDZE, Georgia (L, EPP/CCE); Zurab ABASHIDZE, Georgia (R, NR); Heiner KLEMP, Germany (R, SOC/G/PD); Bryony RUDKIN, United Kingdom (L, SOC/G/PD); Otar GRIGOLIA, Georgia (R, SOC/G/PD); George TKEMALADZE, Georgia (R, SOC/G/PD); Sandra SLUSNYTE, Lithuania (youth delegate); Andrew BOFF, United Kingdom (R, ECR); Elianne DEMOLLIN-SCHNEIDERS, Netherlands (R, EPP/CCE); Soeren SCHUMACHER, Germany (R, SOC/G/PD); Amadej PETAN, Slovenia (youth delegate); Gudrun MOSLER-TOERNSTROEM, Austria (L, SOC/G/PD).

The rapporteur replied to the debate.

The debate was closed.

The Congress proceeded to vote on the draft declaration in document CG(2024)47-22.

The draft declaration was adopted.

4.

Observation of local elections in Türkiye (31 March 2024)

The co-rapporteurs David ERAY, Switzerland (R, EPP/CCE) and Vladimir PREBILIC, Slovenia (L, SOC/G/PD), on behalf of the Monitoring Committee, presented the draft recommendation in document CG(2024)47-16.

The debate was opened.

Speakers: Jonathan DENIS, United Kingdom (L, SOC/G/PD); Ilgin PASLI-BROMBACH, Türkiye (youth delegate); Hasan AKGUN, Türkiye (L, SOC/G/PD); Elianne DEMOLLIN-SCHNEIDERS, Netherlands (R, EPP/CCE); Hilmi GULER, Türkiye (L, EPP/CCE); Kader UZUN MADENKUYU, Türkiye (R, NR); Ayse UNLUCE, Türkiye (R, SOC/G/PD); Marie FRITSCH, France (youth delegate); Mustafa PALANCIOGLU, Türkiye (R, EPP/CCE); Emrah OZDEMIR, Türkiye (R, NR); Ahmet Bilal KIYMAZ, Türkiye (L, NR); Ozkan YALIM, Türkiye (L, SOC/G/PD); Emine Helil INAY KINAY, Türkiye (R, SOC/G/PD); Rasim ARI, Türkiye (L, ILDG); Aleksandra GAYTANDJIEVA, Bulgaria (youth delegate); Grigore RINJA, Republic of Moldova (youth delegate).

The co-rapporteurs replied to the debate.

The debate was closed.

The Congress proceeded to vote on the draft recommendation in document CG(2024)47-16.

The draft recommendation was adopted.

5.

Local outreach of the Congress

The President opened the debate on the Presentation of the declaration of the Conference of National Associations of Local and Regional Authorities, organised by the Congress on 12-13 September 2024, in document CG(2024)47-11.

A short video was played to the Congress.

The President welcomed the following speakers, and invited them to make a statement:

– Fabrizio ROSSI, Secretary General, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR);

– Kelmend ZAJAZI, Executive Secretary, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South East Europe (NALAS);

– Zsuzsa VIDÓ, Hungary (youth delegate).

Fabrizio ROSS, Kelmend ZAJAZI and Zsuzsa VIDÓ made statements.

The President thanked Fabrizio ROSS, Kelmend ZAJAZI and Zsuzsa VIDÓ.

6.

Adoption of the abridged report of the 47th Session

The abridged report of the 47th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in document CG(2024)47-DEC, was adopted.

7.

Close of the 47th Session by the President of the Congress

The President thanked members for their participation in the work of the Congress and the two Chambers.

The President thanked all the staff who had contributed to the work of the Session.

The President noted that the 48th Session would take place from 25 to 27 March 2025.

The President declared the 47th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe closed at 12.59.

The European anthem was played.