(AGENPARL) - Roma, 16 Luglio 2026 - Image
 
PRESS RELEASE

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Council of Europe Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights calls on Oradea authorities to ensure Pride March can proceed safely

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

"According to the information received, the organisers have experienced repeated difficulties in obtaining authorisation for the march. Last year, the Mayor of Oradea reportedly rejected all eleven proposed routes, effectively preventing the event from taking place in a safe manner.

"In my role as Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights and on behalf of the Congress, I must remind all local and regional authorities that freedom of expression, assembly and association are fundamental human rights protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Decisions on whether to authorise or not Pride marches directly affect the full enjoyment of these rights by any European citizen.

"In addition, as I have previously stated with regard to Hungary's ban on Pride Marches in 2025, unjustified restrictions also threaten the right of LGBTI people to their private and family life without discrimination. Developments of this kind risk undermining the rule of law and the values of pluralism, inclusion and democratic participation that all Council of Europe member States have committed to uphold. 

"I therefore call on the local authorities in Oradea to take all necessary measures to carry out a careful balancing of any conflicting right, in line with the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, and  ensure that the Pride March can take place on 25 July 2026 under appropriate security arrangements, enabling participants to assemble peacefully and safely.

"The Congress stands ready to support efforts to safeguard these fundamental freedoms and will continue to follow developments in Oradea closely."

To illustrate this commitment, the Congress will also hold a debate on the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly of LGBTI people at the 51^st Congress Session in October 2026. 

Contact: Congress Communication Unit ( ,

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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: Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Konstantinos Koukas (Greece, 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), Patriots for Europe (PfE).

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