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On December 2, at the regular Meeting of the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development held in Paris as a key rapporteur on PACE Local and Regional Authorities, the Member of the NA Delegation to PACE Armen Gevorgyan made a final report.

“Dear colleagues:

Following the break, imposed by COVID-19 restrictions, the 43^rd Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe was held in offline format. Apart from a set of traditional issues concerning the monitoring missions, post-electoral reports, and implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government the participants also focused attention on issues of preservation and development of regional identity in Europe as a whole, as well as issues of hate in society and its negative impact on the work of local self-government bodies. Among other issues discussed I would also like to highlight climate change and environmental protection. It may be rather interesting and helpful for PACE to study the experience of the Congress to have a green reading of certain European Charters and Conventions.

The participants of the Congress have also elected a new Secretary General of the Organisation.

A lively and engaged discussion was held concerning the report about the 4^th Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government (GT-SOM4). Many have pointed at the importance and necessity of holding the Summit, with a special emphasis on development and empowerment of institutions of local democracy in this framework.

A very visible, rather useful, and proactive role in the Congress was carried out by the younger delegates. I would respectfully suggest to consider such experience also for the purposes of the Parliamentary Assembly.

The past 10^th World Forum for Democracy highlighted a significant trend in the modern global affairs - the growing tensions, escalation, and uncertainty in the world.It was noted that the underlying factor for such trends is the growing inequality - among citizens, among states and inside our societies. This, in turn, triggers more challenges, such as: a higher concentration of resources; more potential for influence and power among a group of people and corporations; a higher degree of unfair redistribution of public goods and wealth; and finally - the decline of the overall welfare situation among people. We also observe a worsening situation in the field of education in the world and, in particular, decline in human capital as a whole.

There is a certain departure from the principles and practice of representative and direct democracy, and, on the other hand, geographic expansion of hybrid political regimes, their perception as a “new normal” and something natural, which in and of itself is already an anomaly. Europe gradually ceases to be the best role model as it also demonstrates the deterioration of overall situation with human rights and centralisation of power in a number of countries. This results in the decline of democratic culture across the world.

The above cited challenges are further triggered by the following:

•The social networks and the media, which have become sources of fake news, spreading hate speech and vehicles of manipulations of the public opinion;

•The expansion - both in terms of geography and its social environment - of political populism.

Yet, despite the above mentioned long list of challenges and hardships, the continuous efforts of so many citizens to build or re-build their free and democratic societies shall be appreciated and acknowledged. New ideas and projects, especially those with participation of the youth, shall encourage us all and our task is not only to inspire them, but also create all the necessary conditions for the implementation of this aspirational ideas. PACE must become their better partners in terms of the protection and safeguarding of human rights and the rule of law.

Concerning the 16^th plenary meeting of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance, I shall first and foremost mention the institutional nature of the issues discussed. The document on the deliberative democracy is being finalised. Committee works on defining the main set of criteria for the assessment of best practices of democratic governance, relying on the experience with the 12 Principles of Good Governance at local level. In its work, the Committee is also guided by the fact that the quality assessment of democratic processes in the Member States of the Council of Europe is becoming a new priority, based on the conclusions and recommendations presented by the High-Level Working Group. Committee will pay more attention to the issues of green public administration. In this regard a special working group was created and a conference will take place in April 2023.

Dear colleagues,

To conclude, let me assert the following: the 43^rd Congress and the 10^th World Forum for Democracy have shown that the local democracy continues to serve as the foundation for democratic governance as a whole, where the European citizenry still continue to fully feel the effectiveness and benefits of direct and immediate participation in the preparation and adoption of decisions in local and regional levels. Through this process the people fully appreciate and acknowledge the value and usefulness of their participation in the social and political life. This is crucial to be maintained for the future of democracy and democratic governance.

With due consideration of the above, I believe, the theme of development and empowerment of local democracy must become one of the main priorities for the 4^th Council of Europe Summit.” Armen Gevorgyan said.