Support to municipalities

Thirty-six municipalities will be selected in an open procedure based on jointly agreed criteria. Municipalities will first have an opportunity to address specific issues of minority protection that they consider most relevant in the local context with the support of on-going Council of Europe expertise, both international and regional.

Once the municipalities are selected through an open call for expression of interest, the CoE will assist the participating municipalities in developing their proposals with a view to targeting specific barriers that minorities are facing.

The Council of Europe will ensure that the issues addressed and the approach taken are in line with the recommendations of monitoring reports of Council of Europe treaties in the minority protection field – thereby supporting municipalities and indeed the Beneficiaries to bridge the gap between international commitments and concrete barriers inhibiting the rights of minorities.

The main thrust of the Project will focus on building the capacity of the municipalities to implement their projects. This is where the practical application of human rights standards will be put into practice – through concrete changes in policy and practice in the municipalities, drawing in relevant examples as required.