The members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will meet at their 31st Session in Strasbourg, France, from 19 to 21 October 2016. This year’s theme will be “Ethics and transparency at local and regional levels.” 

The members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will meet at their 31st Session in Strasbourg, France, from 19 to 21 October 2016. This year’s theme will be “Ethics and transparency at local and regional levels.” They will consider two reports on “Preventing corruption and promoting public ethics at local and regional levels” and “The inappropriate use of administrative resources during election campaigns and the role of local and regional elected representatives”. What can be done to improve inclusion and good governance at local and regional levels? The members of the Congress will also consider this question by discussing several reports on “The situation of Roma and Travellers in the context of the rise in racism and xenophobia”, “The participation and representation of women at local and regional levels”, “Gender budgeting”, and “Good governance of metropolitan territories”, and a discussion document on the Congress’s strategy for countering radicalisation at local level. A thematic debate on 'Social rights in Europe: the implementation of the European Social Charter at regional level' is also on the agenda.