The members of the Congress of local and regional authorities of the Council of Europe will meet from 2 to 4 April 2019 in Strasbourg, France, at their 36th session, with "Mayors safeguarding democracy" as this year's theme. A debate will be held on this topic, with the participants including Ignacio SANCHEZ AMOR, Spanish Secretary of State of Territorial Policy.

The Minister of Transport and Communications of Finland, Anne BERNER, will address the members of the Congress on behalf of the Finnish chairmanship of the Committee of ministers, on 3 April, as well as the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn JAGLAND and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, on 4 April.

Given the difficulties faced by local and regional authorities and their elected representatives, the Congress members will hold a series of debates focusing on "Mayors under pressure". The questions of addressing the urban-rural divide and the financial compensation of local and regional elected representatives in the exercise of their office will also be the focus of specific debates and, building on the efforts of the Congress to promote ethics in public service, the members will hold debates on fighting nepotism within local and regional authorities, protecting whistle-blowers and open governments at regional level.

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