Congress’ reform to be pursued during the summer

The Congress’ reform process will be pursued in the summer, with the feedback from Congress members and national associations of local and regional authorities to the proposals adopted by the Standing Committee on 18 June. The proposals concern priorities for 2011-2012 and changes in the Congress’ structures and working methods. The final decision on these proposals is expected during the 19^th Congress’ session in October 2010. The session will also examine draft recommendations on Estonia, Montenegro and Russia, adopted by the Institutional Committee on 2 July.

In addition, at its latest meeting, on 17 June, the Congress’ Bureau joined Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg in expressing concern to the Turkish authorities with regard to the detention of two Congress members (Leyla Güven and Seyhmus Bayhan) as well as six other incarcerated mayors. The Human Rights Commissioner, who visited Turkey in May 2010, reiterated his worries in a statement of 8 July. The Bureau invited Leyla Güven as the keynote speaker to a symposium in October 2010, and decided to consider sending a Congress delegation to visit the Congress members and other mayors currently in prison.