Founded in 1994 – following a decision taken at the 1st Council of Europe Summit in Vienna the previous year – the Congress, which took over from the Conference of Local Authorities of Europe established in 1957, has pioneered European-level co-operation for local and regional authorities in Council of Europe member states. Since being set up, it has played a key part in ensuring increased recognition for them, while helping them to boost their effectiveness and role, and it can be proud to have advanced local democracy across the continent. In a time when democracy is increasingly being questioned and tested, the lessons gleaned from local democracy can now, in turn, help to revitalise democratic practices in Europe. Read more