The Conference of INGOs at its meeting on 1st October 2009 adopted the Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in Decision-Making.
To recognize its importance and support its implementation, the Council of Ministers adopted Declaration which calls for national authorities to consider the Code in their efforts to promote participation. In the Declaration, the Council states:
"Recognising the importance of the Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation, which underpins the general principles, guidelines, tools and mechanisms for active participation of NGOs in the decision-making process, as a reference document for the Council of Europe, and as a basis for a possible further development of the framework for the empowerment of citizens to be involved in conducting public affairs in European countries, Calls on governments, parliaments, local and regional authorities in the member states to take due account of the Code of Good Practice on Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process, when developing NGO participation in the decision-making process and when drawing up and implementing e-tools, capacity-building activities, structures and framework agreements for co-operation between NGOs and public authorities."