Newsroom
Secretary General meets the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Hasler
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler. The meeting focused on the priorities of the upcoming Liechtenstein Presidency (15 November 2023 - May 2024). “I look forward to hearing the priorities of your Presidency,...
European Day of Languages 2023: a Day to highlight Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity
Every year since 2001 the European Day of Languages (EDL) celebrates the wealth of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. Over 225 languages are native to Europe alone, not including languages that arrived on the continent through migration. “The European Day of Languages reminds us that...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 19 to 21 September to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 45 decisions...
International Day of Peace : Statement by the President of the Congress, Leendert Verbeek
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Verbeek, issued the following statement: "For more than seventy years, since WWII, our continent has worked to build a democratic Europe, respectful of human rights and...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska authorities should refrain from further restricting the rights of NGOs
In a letter addressed to the President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, raises concerns about the Draft Law on Special Registry and Transparency of the Work of Non-Profit Organisations, which is...
Violence against women: GREVIO publishes annual report
The Council of Europe´s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published its annual report of activities, highlighting the key milestones and accomplishments of the Group of Experts in 2022. These include: the publication of nine baseline...
Cultural Routes Forum in Łódź honours post-industrial heritage
The 12th Annual Advisory Forum on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (20-22 September) opened today in Łódź, Poland, focusing on “Cultural Routes: the social and creative dimensions of cultural heritage in a post-industrial context”. The 2023 Advisory Forum is organised by the Enlarged...
Military escalation around the Karabakh region
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh: PACE President calls on Azerbaijan to cease fire immediately
The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Tiny Kox, today made the following statement: "I am deeply shocked by the decision of the government of Azerbaijan to launch a new and aggressive military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh earlier today. In the space of hours this...
Congress President expresses grave concern over the Nagorno-Karabakh situation
Leendert Verbeek, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned by the recent developments over Nagorno-Karabakh which can have serious humanitarian consequences for the region. They could lead,...
Ukraine: first CEB operation to support housing repairs for households affected by war
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have signed a €2 million grant agreement to finance housing repairs for over 500 vulnerable households in conflict-affected areas of Ukraine. This will be the CEB’s first operation in the country since Ukraine joined...
Strengthening the protection of integrity in sport through judicial action
On 18 and 19 September in Paris, the Network of Magistrates/Prosecutors Responsible for Sports (MARS), set up under the Council of Europe's Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), is gathering for its second meeting to discuss the latest trends in threats and challenges to sport integrity...
ECRI shines spotlight on four countries to measure progress against racism and intolerance
Poland, Luxembourg, North Macedonia and Iceland are the subject of reports from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, to be released this week. The in-depth reports will look at how the countries are measuring up to Council of Europe standards to tackle racism, discrimination,...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will hold its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 19 to 21 September. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Secretary General attends United Nations General Assembly high-level General Debate
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is attending the high-level General Debate of the General Assembly of the United Nations. High-level meetings are on the agenda. She is also taking part in the Ministerial event on Artificial Intelligence for accelerating progress on the Sustainable...
International Day of Democracy: Secretary General opens the first Exchange of views with Civil Society
“Civil society is a prerequisite for a functioning democracy”, highlighted Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, quoting the Reykjavík Principles of Democracy at the opening of the first regular exchange of views with Civil Society, on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy. “The...
Minority languages in Romania: strong support in education, but population threshold for public administration use too high
A new report by the Committee of Experts which monitors compliance with the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages acknowledges that Romania has a solid legal framework and policies for the protection of minority languages, including in education, but regrets that...
Secretary General meets the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles. Marija Pejčinović Burić reiterated the Organisation’s support to Ukraine highlighting the relevance of the Council of Europe Action...
Secretary General meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Mariya Gabriel. The meeting focused on the follow-up of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik. The implementation of the Register of Damage Caused by...
Assessing the impact of immersive realities on human rights: Committee of Ministers informal meeting
In the framework of the Latvian Presidency’s priority of supporting the Council of Europe digital agenda, the Committee of Ministers is holding an informal meeting on 14 September to explore the potential impact of immersive realities such as the Metaverse, on human rights, the rule of law and...
