(AGENPARL) – Fri 06 June 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG040(2025)
Council of Europe Congress Rapporteur welcomes Sofia’s commitment to social housing in implementing European Court judgments
Strasbourg, 6 June 2025 – Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has welcomed the commitment of the local authorities in Sofia, Bulgaria, to develop a comprehensive, long-term social housing plan.
The initiative is part of the Congress’ call for a collective, multilevel governance response to homelessness and housing insecurity, emphasising the need for collaboration and cooperation among all levels of government and civil society organisations, including for executing the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
At the end of the visit, Mayor of Sofia Vassil Terziev announced that a comprehensive social housing action plan will be ready by September this year, to address long-standing housing challenges.
“I am very satisfied with the constructive dialogue I had with the Mayor of Sofia and his team, and I commend their determination to address the long-standing challenges related to social housing in their capital city. The commitment to developing a long-term strategic plan is timely and essential for safeguarding the dignity and social rights of all residents, especially the most vulnerable,” stressed the Standing Rapporteur.
“The Congress stands ready to support all those involved in this endeavour and to help implement measures that reflect the core human rights values. I am confident that the results achieved through this political dialogue will inspire other local, regional and national authorities facing challenges in implementing the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. These results also show the importance of multilevel cooperation and political commitment required to uphold human rights for all people,” she said.
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: Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, 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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