(AGENPARL) – Thu 18 December 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG094(2025)
International Migrants Day 2025
Congress Rapporteurs: Security and prosperity of local communities are grounded in successful integration of migrants
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is the political assembly representing local and regional governments across the 46 member States, responsible for promoting and monitoring local democracy.
“Successful integration of migrants is central to ensuring peace, security and prosperity for local communities, as stated by the Congress at the Ministerial Conference on Migration in Strasbourg on 10 December 2025.
“Migrants’ own cultures, competences and initiatives are valuable assets for the development of inclusive and sustainable local communities. The stories and skills brought in by migrants themselves often become part of local narratives of open-minded and progressive societies”, underlined the Congress Spokespersons, in reference to the International Day’s 2025 theme ‘My Great Story: Cultures and Development’.
“However, integration is a process built over time and rooted in local experiences and mutual understanding, sometimes facing obstacles and setbacks. The Council of Europe has developed a range of tools that help address this, including the European Convention on Human Rights itself. The Congress stands ready, within its competences, to play its part in strengthening this system, including by remaining attentive to the local and regional implementation of human rights, and any violations in this area,” concluded the Spokespersons.
Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, the Congress 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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Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France