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Parliamentarians should uphold the United Kingdom’s international obligations when scrutinising the “Illegal Migration Bill”
“It is essential that parliamentarians prevent legislation that is incompatible with the United Kingdom’s international obligations being passed”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in her letter to the House of Commons and the House of Lords about the...
Roma and Travellers: Inclusive Education Ambassadors meet in Strasbourg
Eleven newly appointed “Inclusive Education Ambassadors” from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom are meeting for the first time on 28-29 March to discuss promoting quality inclusive education for Roma and Travellers in...
Congress recommendation on Reykjavik Summit: Local and regional authorities contribute to embedding democracy and human rights at grassroots level
On 22 March the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities adopted its recommendation on “the future of the Council of Europe and the role of the Congress therein” as contribution to the Council of Europe Summit to be held in Reykjavik on 16 and 17 May. The recommendation calls on Heads of State...
Council of Europe welcomes progress in preventing corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors in Ukraine
The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published a report on Ukraine assessing progress made in implementing the recommendations issued to the country in the Fourth Round Evaluation Report (2017) on preventing corruption in respect of members of parliament, judges...
Anti-torture Committee publishes report on Italy
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published its report on its periodic visit to Italy in March/April 2022, together with the response of the Italian authorities (see executive summary). During the visit, the CPT's...
GRETA: North Macedonia’s legislative framework improved, but human trafficking victims need better access to justice
In its third-round evaluation report the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes North Macedonia’s progress in developing the legislative anti-human trafficking framework, but calls for its better implementation in terms of victims’ access to justice and...
Greece: New report urges better protection for human trafficking victims and increased attention to labour inspections
In its second report on Greece, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) acknowledges positive steps taken by the Greek authorities to combat human trafficking, but also highlights a number of shortcomings. The report examines progress made by...
UK Summer School on Council of Europe Law: Resilience in Troubling Times
The first Summer School on the Law of the Council of Europe will be held from 3 to 14 July at Liverpool University School of Law and Social Justice. With Europe at a crossroads, its future, stability and prosperity depend on how effectively it responds to the unprecedented challenges facing it....
War in Ukraine : Congress adopts strong declaration
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe unanimously adopted on 21 March a Declaration to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine, presented by the Congress President and Rapporteur on The Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, Leendert...
European Committee of Social Rights’ Conclusions on Labour Rights
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Conclusions 2022 in respect of 33 States on the articles of the European Social Charter relating to Labour Rights. In accordance with the reporting procedure, the ECSR adopted 611 conclusions: 255 conclusions of conformity and 245...
Icelandic Presidency: meeting between Secretary General and Minister Jóhannsson
In the framework of the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić emphasised, in a meeting with Minister of Infrastructure Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, the country’s leadership at this crucial time for the continent and the Council of Europe. The...
Secretary General meets President of Federal Council of Austria
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the President of the Federal Council of Austria Günter Kovacs to discuss the upcoming Council of Europe Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Marking 67 years of Austria having joined the...
Secretary General meets Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Iryna Mudra. During the meeting the Secretary General expressed full support for the country and solidarity with its people for their extraordinary resilience and underlined the relevance of the proposal...
Support to Ukraine at all levels the focus of Secretary General’s address to the Congress
The role of the Council of Europe in supporting Ukraine and addressing threats to human rights and democracy in Europe in the face of continued Russia’s aggression was the main theme of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić’s address to members of the Congress of Local and Regional...
Secretary General meets with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro. In the framework of the continuous degradation of media freedom in Europe, the exchange underlined the relevance for national...
Supporting Belarus journalists in exile: workshop in Strasbourg
The Council of Europe and the Strasbourg Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists and Media Freedom are holding a workshop to examine ways of strengthening support for exiled Belarusian journalists. In recent years, the government of Belarus has created a legal and political climate that...
PACE leadership meets representatives of Russian democratic forces
The leadership of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has held an exchange of views with representatives of Russian democratic forces, to step up dialogue and to explore ways of co-operating with the Assembly in future. The meeting, which took place in Paris on 20 March,...
Secretary General on official visit to Latvia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Latvian president and key ministers during an official visit to discuss the priorities of the country’s upcoming Committee of Ministers presidency (May – November 2023). Meeting Latvian President Egils Levits, the Secretary General welcomed...
Statement by Committee of Ministers President on the anniversary of the expulsion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe
The Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, has made the following statement on the anniversary of the expulsion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe: “On this day, one year...
Victims of crime: Committee of Ministers recommendation aims to ensure their access to justice
The Committee of Ministers has issued a Recommendation to the 46 Council of Europe member states providing legal and policy guidance on rights, services, and support for victims of crime. The recommendation calls upon member states to actively seek out and remove any barriers in the access to...
New training programme to help cities in Poland integrate refugees and migrants
The Council of Europe is teaming up with three international organisations and the Union of Polish Metropolises to launch the Academy on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Polish Cities, a series of training courses to help cities respond to the challenge of integrating refugees and...
Congress session : War against Ukraine, future of the Council of Europe, youth engagement at local level, protection of the environment on the agenda
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will hold its 44th Session from 21 to 23 March 2023 in Strasbourg, France Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, Parliamentary Assembly President Tiny Kox and Icelandic Infrastructure Minister Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson are due...
Joint Statement by Committee of Ministers President and Ukrainian Foreign Minister during visit to Kyiv, Borodianka and Bucha
The Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, have made the following joint statement on the occasion of the visit of the...
Venice Commission releases opinions on draft laws aimed at limiting oligarch influence in Georgia and Moldova
In two interim opinions on draft laws aimed at limiting the excessive economic and political influence in public life, the Council of Europe’s body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission has called on the Georgian and Moldovan authorities to adopt systemic reforms rather than targeting...
Secretary General met with Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda today and discussed the upcoming Council of Europe Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Both leaders emphasized the need to ensure accountability in Ukraine,...
Meeting between the Secretary General and President of the European Council Michel
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić had a meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel in the Europa Building Forum in Brussels. The meeting focused on the upcoming Council of Europe Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Marija...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Council of Europe’s 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 7 to 9 March to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 36 decisions...
Council of Europe demands immediate release of Aleksey Navalnyy
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has deplored the continued detention of Aleksey Navalnyy during its quarterly meeting on the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and once again demanded that the Russian authorities immediately release him. The Council of...
Anti-racism commission sees gaps in Czech Republic and Slovakia action to fulfil to priority recommendations
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) says Slovakia and the Czech Republic need to do more to carry out its recommendations from 2020. ECRI’s finding show that authorities in the Czech Republic have only partially acted to address discrimination against the LGBTI...
Venice Commission plenary session
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, is holding its plenary session from 11-12 March. Interim opinions on draft laws regarding the influence of oligarchs in Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova are expected to be adopted. The Venice...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: new report on anti-corruption measures needed for top executives and law enforcement agencies
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen their efforts and overcome the political blockages that hold back certain reforms from taking place in order to prevent corruption amongst those with...
Hungary: police hate crime investigations are enhanced, but growing LGBTI stigmatisation and xenophobic political discourse raise concern
In a new report the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) welcomes positive developments in Hungary since adopting its last report on the country in 2015, but many issues raise concern. ECRI praises the adoption of a police hate crime protocol in 2019, which aimed at enhancing...
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the situation in Georgia
I am following with concern recent developments in our member State, Georgia, regarding the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” adopted in the first reading by Georgian Parliament on 7 March. It is essential that any such legislation be in line with the Council of Europe standards on...
Equal rights for women and girls: the role of men and boys
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Kox and Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić have made the following statement: “Today, on International Women’s Day, we...
Statement by Committee of Ministers Chair, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs
Reacting to the news that a Belarus court has sentenced the country’s main opposition leader, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years’ jail in absentia, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir made...
Safety of Journalists platform 2023 report: a war on journalism in parts of Europe
In 2022, since Russia’s launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, at least 12 journalists and media workers were killed and 21 injured while performing their professional duties. The war occurred in a context of continued degradation of press freedom across Europe, with a significant...
Cyprus: improved work access for asylum seekers and hate speech ban in Parliament welcomed, but problems remain
A new report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) praises positive steps in Cyprus since adopting its last report on the country in 2016, while also pointing out various areas of concern. Employment procedures for asylum seekers were made “significantly easier” as of...
“No peace without justice and accountability" – Council of Europe took part in high-level international Lviv conference “United for Justice”
A Council of Europe delegation took part in the conference “United for Justice”, organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine in Lviv, Ukraine from 3-5 March. The conference hosted discussions on the accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. In the...
Urgent action needed to reunite Ukrainian children transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories with their families
“Russia’s failure to return Ukrainian children separated from their families and legal guardians is a serious violation of their human rights. Concrete mechanisms and solutions must urgently be identified and used to reunite these children with their families,” said Council of Europe Commissioner...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is holding its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 7 to 9 March. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Finland,...
Congress of The Hague at 75: political will needed to ensure culture of multilateralism lasts
Seventy-five years ago, over 750 delegates from around Europe took part in the historic steps towards European unity at the Congress of Europe in The Hague. Against this background, a special event that took place at the Peace Palace in The Hague on 2 March reflected upon the geopolitical balance...
New Thematic Factsheet - Right to free elections
The Execution Department has issued a new Thematic Factsheet on the right to free elections. This right, guaranteed under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, is crucial to establishing and maintaining the foundations of an effective and meaningful democracy...
How well are young people prepared to understand pandemics and natural disasters?
Pandemics have always had a considerable impact on human history. Each time, they remind humans of their fragility and how limited their knowledge is. Despite their impact, these events receive little attention in the teaching of history. With the Covid-19 pandemic, and more recently the...
Secretary General meets the President of the European Commission
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met today the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the Berlaymont building. The meeting focused on the upcoming Council of Europe Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Marija Pejčinović...
Austria must improve its strategy to prevent risks of corruption in government and in law enforcement
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against corruption (GRECO) has published its fifth-round evaluation report on Austria dealing with corruption prevention in central government (top executive functions) and law enforcement authorities. (German version of the report) GRECO considers that,...
Secretary General meets EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles. The meeting, which took place in Brussels on 28 February, focused on the need to ensure...
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: 25th anniversary of entry into force
1st March 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which was created to protect languages that form an inseparable part of Europe’s rich cultural and intangible heritage. The 25 Council of Europe member states that have...
Secretary General and EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement launch two major co-operation programmes
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić and European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi have today launched two major co-operation programmes between the European Union and the Council of Europe. The “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”...
Secretary General on official visit to Brussels
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is paying an official visit to Brussels from Monday 27 February to Wednesday 1 March. During the visit, the Secretary General will take part in high-level meetings with: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen; The High...
Finland to launch a Council of Europe Human Rights Day
To be held for the first time in Turku, Finland, on 4 May 2023, the Council of Europe Human Rights Day will bring together leading expert speakers to discuss the Council of Europe’s impact on human rights in Finland. The event will be organised as part of the project Council of Europe Days –...
