(AGENPARL) - Roma, 16 Febbraio 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Mon 16 February 2026 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG008(2026)
Council of Europe Congress renews solidarity with detained local representatives in Türkiye
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.
“We stand firmly with elected representatives subjected to extended detention, including Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu and notably current and past members of the Congress,” stated President Marc Cools.
During their exchange of views, the Congress President and Deputy Minister of Interior Münir Karaloğlu agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation with Turkish authorities at all levels of governance. The Congress President expressed gratitude for the ongoing political dialogue with the authorities of Türkiye. 
The delegation was composed of Congress President Marc Cools, Rapporteur on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) and President of the Group of Independent Experts (GIE) Prof. Angel Moreno.
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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