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Council of Europe supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress towards fairer, more transparent and inclusive elections
The Council of Europe is helping Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthen electoral integrity and build public trust in democratic processes in line with European standards.
Poland: International conference explores civil society’s role in defending the rule of law
Some 200 representatives of European Union institutions, the Council of Europe, civil society, legal practitioners, academics and the media gathered in Warsaw, Poland on 22-23 April to discuss the role of civil society in defending the rule of law in the framework of the Polish Presidency of the...
Electoral education programme for young voters in high schools launched
The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Central Election Commission (CEC), the National Agency for Pre-University Education, and the Academy of Political Studies, has launched an...
On the passing of Pope Francis: a peacemaker and a leader of our times
Today, on Easter Monday, a sacred day of reflection in the Christian tradition, the world has lost a peacemaker. The Council of Europe mourns the passing of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Holy See, one of our Observer States, and a fervent defender of European values....
Congress assists Ukraine in updating its long-term vision for multilevel governance system
Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori outlined the unwavering support the Congress offers to Ukraine and priorities of co-operation for advancing Ukraine’s reform agenda at the International Cohesion Forum “Creating the Future”. One of the main such priorities of co-operation is the revision of...
Post-monitoring visit of Parliamentary assembly rapporteurs to North Macedonia
Sibel Arslan (Switzerland, SOC) and Joseph O’Reilly (Ireland, EPP/CD), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the post-monitoring dialogue with North Macedonia, will make a fact-finding visit to Skopje from 23 to 25 April. Discussions will mainly focus on...
Transparency and time: stability of electoral law necessary to ensure trust in democratic processes
“Frequent or late changes in electoral laws undermine citizens’ trust in electoral processes and can lead voters to believe that the game is “rigged”, which is detrimental to democracy at all levels of government”, stressed Stewart Dickson (United-Kingdom, ILDG)...
Parliamentary assembly delegation calls for stronger co-operation between parliaments and electoral management bodies
At the 20th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 15–16 April, a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) emphasised the need for closer co-operation between parliaments and electoral management bodies to secure...
Deputy Secretary General meets Serbian students in Strasbourg
The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge, today met with a group of Serbian students who arrived in Strasbourg on bicycles, having made the journey from Novi Sad. The meeting took place in the European Youth Centre of the Council of Europe. The Deputy Secretary General...
Saving migrants’ lives at sea and protecting their human rights
At its meeting in Strasbourg on 9 April, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons called on member states to fully comply with the instruments of international humanitarian law, maritime law and those relating to the protection of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers...
Congress Rapporteur deeply concerned by constitutional amendment in Hungary
Peter Drenth (Netherlands, EPP/CCE), Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement: “I deeply regret the adoption of a constitutional amendment on 14 April in Hungary that enshrines the...
Republic of Moldova: Launch of Regional Academies to increase civil participation in decision making
As part of its project on promoting civil participation in political decision making, the Congress has launched Regional Academies in the Republic of Moldova for local authority leaders and civil society. In the first Regional Academy organised by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance...
Migration and Citizenship service enhances customer support through its new Call Centre
Individuals with questions or concerns related to Armenian citizenship, documentation procedures, or services provided to foreign nationals now have a reliable and responsive point of contact. The Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia has officially launched its first-ever public Call...
GRECO publishes two reports assessing Spain’s progress in implementing its anti-corruption recommendations
The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two follow-up reports assessing Spain’s compliance with its recommendations to prevent corruption regarding the top executive functions of the central government, law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, judges and...
EU and Council of Europe continue supporting Armenia to implement reform priorities
The European Union, the Council of Europe and the Armenian partners and beneficiaries have emphasised the importance of the Partnership for Good Governance programme in aligning Armenia‘s...
PACE pre-election mission to Poland: Wide voter choice amid concerns over polarisation, electoral integrity and security
Une délégation de cinq membres de l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe (APCE) conduite par Iulian Bulai (Roumanie, ADLE) a effectué une visite préélectorale de deux jours à Varsovie avant l’élection présidentielle du 18 mai 2025...
Congress kicks off new project on open government and participatory democracy in Kosovo*
On 14 April in Pristina, the Congress launched its new project on “Strengthening multilevel governance and participatory democracy", during the first Forum of Exchange which brought together representatives of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, the Association of Kosovo...
Living together in diversity: Ministers’ Deputies seek to promote inclusion of the most vulnerable
On 16 April the Ministers’ Deputies will discuss living together in diversity, at an informal meeting that will seek to give a voice to three groups which are particularly vulnerable to discrimination: older people, people with disabilities and Roma and Travellers*. The aim of the meeting is to...
Conference of International NGOs calls on Council of Europe and member states to act for the protection of civic space
The Conference of International NGOs (CINGO) held its General Assembly on 7-9 April (agenda) and adopted a series of texts. Among these, a Recommendation on the shrinking civic space and actual political developments calls on the Council of Europe and its member states to take determined measures...
OSCE officials incarcerated by Russia: joint statement by OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners and Parliamentary Assembly General Rapporteur on Political Prisoners in Europe
Steve Cohen, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Political Prisoners, and Azadeh Rojhan, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) General Rapporteur on Political Prisoners in Europe, today made the following statement: “We strongly condemn the continued detention of three...
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.