During its 47th session, the Congress held a debate on 15 October 2024 on local democracy as a pillar of stability in South-East Europe. Dušan Raičević, Mayor of Bar (Montenegro) and President of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), recalled that the Association was created 20 years ago with the support of the Congress to promote a reconciliation mechanism in the aftermath of the Balkan war, at a time when communities in South-East Europe were torn apart along ethnic lines.
According to him, as the Association was marking its 20th anniversary, it had become an influential network supporting local democracy, decentralisation and self-government in South-East Europe, helping the region's applicant countries with their accession to the European Union. "Today, NALAS provides crucial technical assistance to over 7,000 local governments, helping to foster a strong sense of solidarity between its members and strengthen their co-operation in response to current and future challenges," stressed President Raičević.
