Newsroom
Secretary General meets Prime Minister of Armenia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The meeting focused on the developments in the region and the contribution of the Council of Europe, including in light of the recent visit by the Secretary General’s Special Representative on...
Lisbon Forum 2023 : the role of young people in facing environmental and corruption challenges
Building on priorities established at the Council of Europe’s Reykjavik Summit in May 2023, this year’s Lisbon Forum – organised annually since 1994 by the Council of Europe’s North-South Centre – focused on the pivotal role that young people play in catalysing change when facing the intricate...
Situation in Israel: Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
"The outbreak of terror in Israel, a long-standing partner of our Organisation, is appalling. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorist crimes of Hamas, which have claimed the lives of so many innocent people and caused so many injuries. The Council of Europe stands firmly with the...
Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine, calls for comprehensive, just and lasting peace
PACE has condemned Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, stressing the importance of upholding Council of Europe standards and calling for “a united front to stop the aggression and win a peace which is comprehensive, just and lasting, ensuring that the rule of law prevails over the...
PACE calls on Azerbaijan to ‘prove its goodwill’ towards the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh
PACE has called on Azerbaijan to “create a climate of trust and the material conditions” for Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh to be able to return to their homeland – including active steps to encourage and reassure them to do so. In a resolution based on a report by Domagoj Hajduković (Croatia,...
PACE calls on Türkiye to ‘immediately release Osman Kavala, who remains unlawfully detained’
During an urgent debate, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Strasbourg in plenary session, called on Türkiye to “comply with binding judgments” of the European Court of Human Rights, and “to immediately release Osman Kavala, who remains unlawfully detained in...
Secretary General meets European Commissioner for Justice
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. Their meeting focused on Council of Europe-European Union co-operation and the ongoing preparation of the Convention on Artificial Intelligence. Marija Pejčinović Burić underscored the...
Latvia kicks off European Heritage Days event season
Marking the opening of the European Heritage Days (EHD) events season (from August to November), Latvia kicked off with the Song and Dance Festival in Riga gathering some 45,000 people to enjoy dance, music, singing, theatre, and storytelling, showcasing the rich intangible cultural heritage...
Escalation of violence in the Middle East: PACE holds current affairs debate
“Nothing can justify the atrocities committed by Hamas and there can be no ambiguity on this point,” today said Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC), at the opening of a current affairs debate on “Escalation of violence in the Middle East following the recent Hamas attack on Israel”. He expressed his full...
Congress Secretary General talks decentralization and climate change in Montenegro
Secretary General Mori travelled to Kotor and Podgorica (Montenegro) on Tuesday 10 October to stress the importance of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the positive impact its implementation has on Council of Europe Member States. He also thanked the national and local public...
Latvian Foreign Minister calls for support to Ukraine, continued dialogue on current issues
“The consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continue to dominate the agenda,” said Krišjānis Kariņš, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Chair of the Committee of Ministers, when addressing the Parliamentary Assembly. “Impunity cannot prevail,” he added. The minister...
Venice Commission opinions on Armenia, Bulgaria, Chile, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional law experts, the Venice Commission (European Commission for Democracy through Law) has published several opinions concerning ten states that were adopted and endorsed at its latest plenary session. Armenia: the joint Opinion of the Venice Commission...
Secretary General meets Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš. The exchange of views was an opportunity to take stock of Latvia’s Presidency activities, focusing on the practical implementation of the...
PACE to create a ‘contact platform’ for dialogue with representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to create a “recurring contact platform” for dialogue with representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces who share Council of Europe values, fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia’s war of...
Secretary General’s Question Time at the Parliamentary Assembly
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has responded to parliamentarians’ questions at the PACE Autumn plenary session. During a lively Q & A session, the Secretary General underlined the follow-up to the Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government Reykjavik agenda, focusing on the...
Marija Pejčinović Burić meets Secretary General of the Government of Romania, Minister Abrudean
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Secretary General of the Government of Romania, Minister Mircea Abrudean. The meeting focused on the follow-up of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government defining an ambitious path to strengthen democratic security, put an end...
President Leendert Verbeek expresses the solidarity and support of the Congress to authorities and citizens of Israel
In a letter addressed to Haim Bibas, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, expresses his solidarity with the national, regional and local authorities in the face of the...
2023 Václav Havel Prize awarded to imprisoned Turkish human rights defender Osman Kavala
The eleventh Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to imprisoned Turkish human rights defender, philanthropist and civil society activist Osman Kavala. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special...
European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October
Joint statement by Council of Europe Secretary General and the High Representative, on behalf of the European Union
Secretary General at inauguration of exhibition "Uprooted Children: Stories of Ukrainian Children Saved from the Deportation of the Russian Federation"
“Tearing Ukrainian children away from the warmth of their homes, their families and their communities and taking them to the temporarily occupied territories of their country, or to Russia, constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. We cannot accept their rights, or their identity...
Deputy Secretary General at IGF: “We must harness the benefits of AI without sacrificing our values”
The Council of Europe is participating in the 18th United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Japan from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto and organised under the theme “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”. In his remarks at the opening of the Forum, Deputy...
Protecting journalists and free media is key for addressing democratic backsliding in Europe, says Deputy Secretary General
At the end of a two-day conference on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, held in Riga under the Latvian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe’s Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, emphasised the importance of protecting journalists and other media...
Parliamentary Assembly holds its autumn session
The award of the 2023 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, as well as requests for urgent debates on "Humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh" and on "Call for the immediate release of Osman Kavala" will be some (*) of the highlights of the Autumn plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of...
Kyoto: Council of Europe at the Internet Governance Forum
The Council of Europe is participating in the 18th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Japan from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto, Japan, under the theme “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”. In addition to engaging in the general discussions, the Council of Europe...
CPT urges Romania to take urgent action to improve living conditions and treatment for patients in psychiatric establishments
In a new report released the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) calls on the Romanian authorities to take urgent action to ensure that all persons in psychiatric establishments are offered decent living conditions and appropriate treatment for their mental disorders...
Crystal Scales of Justice Prize awarded to Cypriot children’s initiative
The 2023 “Crystal Scales of Justice” Prize has been awarded to the Judicial Training School and “Hope For Children” - CRC Policy Center (Cyprus), for its “Kids in Court Game” initiative for children. The project “Kids in Court Game (KiCGame)” (Presentation) consists of four different games...
“Journalists matter”: Council of Europe launches campaign for the safety of journalists
The Council of Europe has launched a continent-wide Campaign for the Safety of Journalists to be run under the slogan “Journalists matter”, aimed at improving the safety of journalists and protecting media freedom across the continent, as well as raising awareness about the role journalists play...
Human rights situation in territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia: Committee of Ministers gravely concerned
In a decision adopted in the light of a report by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Committee of Ministers has expressed deep concern over the deterioration of the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian...
Member states should facilitate the active political participation of national minority youth, says new Recommendation
European states should take legislative and other measures to enable representatives of national minority youth to meaningfully influence political decision-making at local, regional and national levels, says a new Recommendation to 46 member states of the Council of Europe, adopted by the...
Council of Europe video highlights the need for unity in face of Russian aggression against Ukraine
A new video from the 46 nation Council of Europe draws on speeches made by leaders attending the Reykjavik Summit in May 2023, to underline the importance of European unity in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The continent’s peace and democratic security is at stake, according...
Secretary General meets the President of the Czech Republic Pavel
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel. The exchange of views underlined the impact of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government setting up an ambitious path to strengthen democratic security, put an end to democratic...
Conference in Riga on freedom of expression and safety of journalists: campaign launch
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and the Ombudsman’s Office, together with the Council of Europe, are organising an international conference in Riga on 5 and 6 October on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. Organised as part of the Latvian...
Secretary General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili. The meeting focused on the co-operation between the Organisation and Georgia for the implementation of the legislative and policy agenda, including in respect of the European...
Twelve recommendations to combat hate crimes against LGBTI people in Europe
A new report by the Council of Europe’s Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (CDADI) focuses on hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and presents 12 recommendations to Council of Europe member states...
Fair anti-doping procedures should be a reality for all athletes
More than 80 sport experts are gathering in Riga, Latvia, to define how to make anti-doping procedures fairer for athletes. The Conference, co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, aims at analysing national and...
Istanbul Convention enters into force in respect of the European Union
On 1 October the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CETS 210), commonly known as the Istanbul Convention, entered into force in respect of the European Union, which became the 38th Party to the Convention. The Council of Europe’s...
CEB approves seven new loans totalling €670 million
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved seven new loans totalling €670 million in support of education and vocational training, environmental protection, health and social care, MSME financing, and the promotion of inclusive and resilient living environments. “We believe that...
“Learners First”: the new Council of Europe Education Strategy launched
Renewing the democratic and civic mission of education; enhancing the social responsibility and responsiveness of education; advancing education through a human rights-based digital transformation – these are three pillars of the new Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024-2030 launched at the...
Transformative power of education: universal values and civic renewal
The renewal of education's civic mission, education in times of emergency and crisis, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation in education are the main themes of the 26th Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg on September 28-29. The...
Transformative power of education: universal values and civic renewal – Ministerial Conference in Strasbourg
The renewal of education's civic mission, education in times of emergency and crisis, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation in education are the main themes of the 26th Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg on September 28-29. The...
Secretary General at the opening of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Dublin
“Members of Parliament across Europe are experiencing a cross-current of pressures: unexpected crises, new and evolving challenges, a change in public expectations. Politicians must respond by upholding the space in which representative democracy does its job: our Parliaments”, highlighted...
Stop intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons: new recommendation published
As LGBTI people still experience high rates of discrimination and abuse, including violence, due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe today published a...
The Lanzarote Committee urges Russia to co-operate on the protection against sexual exploitation and abuse of unlawfully transferred or deported Ukrainian children
Following urgent questions addressed to the Russian Federation on 2 June 2023 about children who have been unlawfully transferred or deported to the Russian Federation or to the areas temporarily controlled or occupied by it, the Lanzarote Committee, adopted on 26 September a statement deploring...
The Committee of Ministers adopts a declaration on sport integrity
In a declaration adopted on 27 September 2023, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers invites member states and sport organisations to “promote transparency, accountability, democracy and ethical behaviour in sport, including the establishment of robust governance systems,...
Committee of Ministers calls for measures to ensure integrity in sport
In a declaration, the Committee of Ministers has called on member states and sports organisations to respond to evolving threats to integrity in sport with measures to build accountability and ensure fair and clean competitions. Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge welcomed the declaration as an...
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...
