(AGENPARL) – Wed 26 March 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG017(2025)
Council of Europe Congress calls on San Marino to strengthen local authorities’ competences
Noting that there was a strong set of institutional instruments and procedures that could support further development of democratic participatory institutions at local level, the Congress recommended that San Marino sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the Charter on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.
However, the rapporteurs pointed out several matters of concern regarding the limited competencies and decision-making powers at local level, the lack of autonomy and discretion for local authorities in addition to their limited financial resources, and overly detailed administrative supervision. Furthermore, the insufficient use in practice of legally established consultation mechanisms and the absence of professional staff for local authorities were also matters of concern. The report also stressed that the European Charter of Local Self-Government required that independent, democratic local bodies should exist regardless of the size or nature of states. By ratifying the Charter, San Marino committed itself explicitly to strengthening the autonomy of local government, and local authorities should consequently become a natural part of the governmental mechanism, with well-defined roles and a substantial share of responsibilities.
Andrea Belluzzi, Minister for Internal Affairs, Public Function, Institutional Affairs, Relations with the Castello Councils and Regulatory Simplification of San Marino participated in the exchange of views. He thanked the Congress for its support and guidance to San Marino on ways to improve compliance with European standards of local democracy. Minister Belluzzi committed to taking measures to ensure that the Congress recommendations are integrated into the government efforts to strengthen local self-government in San Marino.
48th Session
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Tunç Soyer (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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