The Charter commits the ratifying member states to guaranteeing the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities.

Local authorities are to be elected by universal suffrage, and it is the earliest legal instrument to set out the principle of subsidiarity.

The Council of Europe has constituted a consultative body called the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter, consisting of senior academics.

The Group meets twice a year to consider a range of matters related to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, and it also provides legal advice and support to the elected members of the Congress of the Council of Europe who undertake a programme of missions to monitor the situation of local and regional democracy in member states of the Council.

considering, through a working group, the question of the possible revision of the Charter, in liaison with the Secretariat and the Rapporteur of the Congress.