Dickson Becomes First Vice-Chair of the Congress Monitoring Committee

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, became the First Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Monitoring Committee) at the beginning of April.

Following his appointment, Mr Dickson said: “I am honoured to be the First Vice-Chair of the Monitoring Committee, and to continue doing my part to ensure the vital work of the Council of Europe is carried out and adequately implemented across Member States.”

The Committee is responsible for monitoring the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and its additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of local authorities by Council of Europe Member States that have ratified these legal instruments.

It organises monitoring visits and drafts reports and recommendations on the state of local and regional democracy in the Member States concerned, and examines specific issues related to local and regional democracy. Through post-monitoring political dialogue, it ensures that its recommendations to Member States are followed up.

Mr Dickson’s first engagement in his new position involved speaking at the online OSCE Conference for local councillors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, “The Work of Cantonal and Municipal Assemblies/Councils during the Covid-19 Crisis.” Further information on this engagement can be found here.