The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (hereinafter referred to as the Congress) is the CoE's advisory body, which has been operating in its current structure since 1994.

Its priorities are:

- promoting the developing local and regional democracy by strengthening and protecting the interests of local and regional authorities and ensuring their participation in the European integration;

- assessing  the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Council of Europe member States;

- observing local and regional elections.

The Congress is made up of two Chambers: the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions. It consists of  306 full and 306 substitute members, all appointed for four years, representing over 200,000 local and regional authorities in the Council of Europe`s 46 member States.