European Local Democracy Week 2010 running from 11-17 October, is a pan-European campaign concerning the over 200,000 municipalities and local authorities in the 47 countries that are part of the Council of Europe.

Organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe its aim is to raise the profile of local governments, increase their transparency, and, in particular, to involve the people in the processes of participatory democracy familiarising them with local decision-making mechanisms. European Local Democracy Week 2010 has a topical theme - The impact of sustainable communities in fighting climate change. It was chosen to make local authorities and the public aware of the importance of working together towards the common goal of safeguarding the environment and its integrity for future generations.

The European Local Democracy Week website is constantly being updated with new information, including useful suggestions for organising public initiatives in a number of areas, such as saving energy and water, renewable energies and clean urban mobility. These suggestions can be used to organise activities involving schools, associations, technical and economic operators, the elderly, young people and families.

For further information, visit www.coe.int/demoweek, or contact democracy.week@cor.int.