The Council of Europe, multilevel governance and democracy are at the heart of the Strasbourg-based organisation’s collective activities. A significant milestone took place during an international conference held on 29 April 2026 in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, as part of the New Democratic Pact for Europe.
Organised under the Moldovan chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, the event aims to strengthen democratic resilience, improve citizen participation and restore public trust in institutions, at a time when several European countries are facing democratic backsliding and a rise in authoritarian tendencies.
A New Democratic Pact for Europe
In the Reykjavík Declaration entitled “United around our values”, the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe reaffirmed their commitment to defending democracy, human rights and the rule of law at all levels of governance. They regard democracy as “the only means of ensuring that every person can live in a peaceful, prosperous and free society”.
The Reykjavík Principles for Democracy now serve as a political roadmap to halt the democratic backsliding in Europe. They emphasise, in particular, democratic participation, the holding of free and fair elections, the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and the protection of freedom of expression.
The text also highlights the role of civil society, youth participation and the inclusion of women in political and public life.
Multilevel governance as a response to the democratic crisis
The Chișinău conference follows on from the meeting held in Gozo, Malta, in June 2025, which focused on multilevel governance. The organisers consider that cooperation between national, regional and local authorities is a key lever for strengthening citizens’ trust and improving public services.
According to the conference conclusions, territorial and administrative reforms carried out in several member states show that more coordinated governance can strengthen local democracy and improve the effectiveness of public policies. Participants nevertheless emphasised that “there is no one-size-fits-all approach” and that each state must adapt reforms to its institutional and territorial context.
The Council of Europe also intends to use new implementation parameters for the Reykjavík Principles to help member states identify democratic vulnerabilities and strengthen their institutions.
Citizen participation and territorial reforms
The discussions highlighted several priorities for improving democratic governance. These include structured consultation with citizens, the use of digital and deliberative tools, and cooperation between local and regional authorities.
Participants emphasised that citizen involvement in decision-making processes is essential for the sustainability of reforms. According to the conclusions adopted in Chișinău, transparency, public accountability and civic education are key elements in restoring trust in democratic institutions.
The conference also emphasised that territorial consolidation reforms can improve infrastructure, strengthen administrative capacities and ensure more equitable access to public services, without undermining local identity.
Priority actions to strengthen democratic resilience
Among the priority actions identified are the development of new forms of democratic practice, notably deliberative processes and peer-to-peer exchanges, as well as the strengthening of institutional capacity at all levels of governance.
Member States are also encouraged to support the devolution of powers with sufficient administrative, financial and human resources to ensure the effectiveness of public policies.
Through this initiative, the Council of Europe seeks to build a framework for sustainable cooperation between institutions, local and regional authorities and civil society in order to consolidate European democracy against a backdrop of growing mistrust of institutions.
Through this initiative, the Council of Europe seeks to build a framework for sustainable cooperation between institutions, local and regional authorities and civil society in order to consolidate European democracy against a backdrop of growing mistrust of institutions.
