Newsroom
Armenia: Council of Europe launches package of measures in response to refugee influx
The Council of Europe has launched a €2.8 million comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia. It includes four new initiatives and incorporated additional components into two ongoing projects. “The response package aims at protecting the human rights of refugees, resilience...
Annual report on the implementation of ECHR rulings: Significant progress, but important challenges remain
The latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers highlights significant progress on implementing rulings from the European Court of Human Rights in 2023, whilst underlining that several important challenges remain. According to the report, the Committee of Ministers...
Strengthening a youth perspective within the Council of Europe: Congress Secretary General meets youth representatives
“Many young people are still not able to contribute meaningfully to political debates or can only do so under agendas that they have not shaped themselves”, stressed Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori, praising in this regard the important work done by the Joint Council on Youth to overcome...
Parliamentary Assembly spring session
A debate on the application by Kosovo* for membership of the Council of Europe, and vote on a draft opinion, will be one of the highlights of the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), taking place in Strasbourg from 15-19 April. There will also be a joint...
Preventing corruption in France: progress report on central government and law enforcement agencies
The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body (GRECO) has just published a report evaluating the measures taken by the French authorities to implement the recommendations from 2019 on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central government (top executive functions) and law enforcement...
Three climate change rulings from the European Court of Human Rights
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has today issued three separate rulings on cases related to climate change. In the case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, the Court found violations of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) and...
Deputy Secretary General visits Republic of Moldova
During his two-day visit to the Republic of Moldova, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has expressed his support for the authorities’ efforts to strengthen healthcare for prisoners, and promote gender equality and action to combat violence against women. He also held a series of meetings with...
Launch of “Journalists Matter” campaign in Ukraine
The Ukrainian national chapter of the Council of Europe “Journalists Matter” Campaign for the Safety of Journalists is being launched in Kyiv on 9 April during the roundtable “Safety of journalists and other media actors in Ukraine in the context of martial law”. The event is organised by the...
Secretary General makes official visit to Armenia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan, and President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan during an official visit to Armenia. During her meetings, the Secretary General discussed the follow-up to the...
International Roma Day: Congress supports Roma rights
As the world marks International Roma Day on 8 April 2024, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, R, SOC/G/PD), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, reaffirms the Congress’ commitment to protecting the rights of Roma...
Award for Innovative School Projects in History Education
The HISTOLAB Award for Innovative School Projects in History Education goes to eight schools from France, Ireland, Serbia, Spain and Türkiye and one transnational project. The Award was presented to students and teachers from the winning schools during the HISTOLAB European Innovation Days in...
New Recommendation on equality for Roma and Traveller* women and girls
Ahead of International Roma Day, the Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation to the 46 Council of Europe member states to ensure equality for Roma and Traveller women and girls and address the specific vulnerabilities they face. International Roma Day is a moment for us to celebrate...
We cannot truly support Roma and Traveller communities without empowering women and girls
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
SLAPPS: abusive lawsuits aimed at silencing journalists must be stopped
Alarmed by the chilling effect that abusive lawsuits have on freedom of expression and public participation, the Committee of Ministers has issued a Recommendation to its 46 member states aimed at countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), often used against...
Draft legislation on “transparency of foreign influence” in the Parliament of Georgia
Statement by the Secretary General
New Toolkit to debunk fake news in history classes
The Council of Europe and the European Union have developed a new tool to prepare young people to evaluate content online and in the media, to identify historical distortions, and to think critically about the content they encounter. The “Toolkit for History Classes: Debunking Fake News and...
Secretary General delivers keynote speech at the Conference of Participants of the Register of Damage for Ukraine in The Hague
“The world has just marked two years since the liberation of Irpin and Bucha, where terrible crimes were committed against civilians. This tragic milestone is a further reminder of what is at stake and how important it is that we do everything we can to support Ukraine and its people as the...
Council of Europe Congress: Local elections in Türkiye overall well organised and respecting the will of the voters
Despite certain deficiencies observed in the electoral campaign, local elections in Türkiye were overall well organised and respected the will of the people – these were the preliminary findings of the election observation mission of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional...
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya asks the Congress to support democracy in her country
The goal of the Belarusian democratic forces was to decentralise governance and foster greater empowerment and autonomy within local communities, stressed Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressing the Congress session on 27 March 2024. Convinced that the...
Fight the upsurge in antisemitism and anti-muslim hatred: a major challenge for European cities and regions
The events in the Middle East have led to an unprecedented upsurge in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents in Europe. During the thematic debate on 26 March, Congress members shared both recent information regarding their local authorities and also best practices for preventing violence and...
Natural disasters and climate hazards: Congress calls on its members to be better prepared
Council of Europe member states are increasingly confronted with natural disasters and climate hazards, and local and regional authorities are in the first line to respond. To do this in the most effective, yet democratic manner, it will be crucial for local and regional authorities to develop a...
Congress President: Local and regional authorities can usefully contribute to the execution of Court judgments
“Local and regional authorities can make a valuable contribution to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on involuntary detention and treatment for mental health reasons”, stressed Congress President Marc Cools, speaking on 27 March 2024 at the Conference on "Of...
Local self-government: France must pursue decentralisation and clarify division of powers, says Congress
The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has called on France to pursue decentralisation, clarify the division of powers between the state and subnational authorities and provide better protection for mayors. Adopting its recommendation based on a report by Bryony Rudkin...
PACE committee recommends that Kosovo* be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe
The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has recommended that Kosovo* be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe. Approving a draft Opinion during a meeting held today in Paris, based on a report by Dora Bakoyannis...
Support for Ukraine, need to halt democratic backsliding top US visit agenda
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has concluded a three-day working visit to the United States (25-27 March), where he found widespread support for Ukraine, concern about democratic backsliding around the world, and a hunger for working together to find solutions. Starting in Washington DC,...
Two years of war: Council of Europe Congress calls for greater support to Ukraine
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted on 26 March 2024 a Declaration on the second anniversary of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, presented by Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, L, ILDG) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen (Norway, R, EPP/CCE). The...
Secretary General meets Minister of Justice of Moldova
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru. The meeting focused on the close co-operation under the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024, especially in the...
Secretary General marks Council of Europe 75th anniversary at Congress session
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked the importance of the Council of Europe 75th anniversary in her speech at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities session, coinciding with its 30th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of its youth initiative. “I am very pleased with the...
Young Ukrainian musicians play at the opening of the 46th Congress session
The 46th session of the Congress opened in Strasbourg today to the sound of the European and Ukrainian anthems played young musicians from Ukraine. The 3-day session’s agenda features debates on two years of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, with the adoption of a declaration, and on...
Congress members committed to protecting the rights of the children of Ukraine
The situation of the children of Ukraine was at the heart of the debate of Congress members on Tuesday 26 March. Daria Herasymchuk, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and Child...
Secretary General election: Committee of Ministers submits candidatures to Parliamentary Assembly
The Committee of Ministers has decided to submit to the Parliamentary Assembly, for appointment to the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe, with effect from 18 September 2024, the following candidatures: Alain BERSET (Switzerland) (Curriculum vitae) Indrek SAAR (Estonia)...
Azerbaijan should end the intimidation and harassment of journalists and civil society activists
“The increasing repression faced by journalists and civil society members in Azerbaijan is reason for deep concern”, says the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, referring to the arrests, detentions and judicial harassment that are stifling freedom of expression in...
President of the Committee of Ministers and Secretary General visited Ukraine
President of the Committee of Ministers Dominique Hasler and Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić have inaugurated the Kyiv office of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, during a working visit to the country. "The Liechtenstein...
Survey finds “widespread and concerning pattern” of NGO stigmatisation
A survey prepared by the Expert Council on NGO Law of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe indicates serious stigmatisation of NGOs across Europe, based on 55 responses to a questionnaire by NGOs operating in 31 Council of Europe member states[1] plus Russia, as well as from two...
GRETA triggers positive changes in the fight against human trafficking: celebrates 15 years of its monitoring work
The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has taken stock of its 15 years of monitoring the implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, on the occasion of its 50th plenary meeting. Its latest publication on “The practical impact of GRETA’s...
Congress 46th session agenda: Russia’s war against Ukraine, rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, support to Belarus democratic forces and Congress 30th anniversary
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will hold its 46th Session from 26 to 28 March 2024 in Strasbourg, France. On this occasion, the Congress will hold a special ceremony on Wednesday 27 March to mark its 30th anniversary. The session’s agenda features debates...
PACE President: ‘Russian and Belarusian athletes should not compete in the Paris Olympic Games’
Following yesterday's decision by the International Olympic Committee not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and responding to a call by Ukraine’s Olympic Champions* urging PACE’s continued support for a total ban on...
European Committee of Social Rights publishes 2023 Findings and Conclusions on Children, Family and Migrants
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Conclusions 2023 in respect of the articles of the European Social Charter relating to Children, Family and Migrants. In the framework of the reporting procedure, the ECSR adopted 799 conclusions: 415 conclusions of conformity with...
Making justice for and with children in Europe: the goal of a new EU-Council of Europe joint project
The new European Union-Council of Europe joint project on Child-friendly Justice has been launched in Strasbourg. Co-funded by the EU and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe's Children's Rights Division in close co-operation with Belgium, Poland and Slovenia as focus...
Germany: Follow through with human rights commitments and improve access to social rights
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Germany from 27 November to 1 December 2023, with recommendations regarding the available structures and legal frameworks to protect human rights, and on access to social rights, in...
Hungary: Venice Commission assesses law on national sovereignty protection
In an opinion on Hungary’s Act LXXXVIII on the Protection of National Sovereignty, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has examined the main elements of the Act, particularly the prohibition of foreign funding in electoral campaigns and the establishment and activities of the Sovereignty...
Congress to observe local elections in Türkiye
A twenty-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will carry out a mission from 29 March until 1 April to observe local elections in various regions of Türkiye to be held on 31 March 2024. The delegation will be accompanied by an expert and...
Promoting measures for reducing drug supply and demand worldwide: Pompidou Group Italian Presidency
In an address to the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna (14-22 March 2024), the Italian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s drug policy cooperation platform stressed that for drug supply reduction, worldwide efforts must be aimed at the control of drug...
Presidential 'election' in Russia: "Let's not recognise Putin’s legitimacy as president", PACE President says
Following the Presidential election in Russia, PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos today made the following statement: "Some minutes ago, the polling stations in the so-called ‘elections’ in the Russian Federation closed and the exit polls announced the projections. And there was little surprise...
Venice Commission adopts opinion on the rule of law requirements of amnesties with particular reference to the amnesty bill in Spain
The European Commission for Democracy Through Law of the Council of Europe, better known as the Venice Commission, adopted today, during its 138th plenary meeting, an opinion on the rule of law requirements of amnesties, with particular reference to the parliamentary bill “on the organic law on...
10 years of Crimea’s illegal annexation: Statement by the Congress President
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “Ten years ago, on 16 March 2014, the illegal referendum in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, organised at Russian gunpoint, set off a spiral of violence leading...
Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law Framework Convention
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the occasion of the finalisation of the Convention
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 12 to 14 March to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 40 decisions...
Committee of Ministers condemns Russia for Alexey Navalnyy’s death, calls for independent international investigation
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has strongly condemned the Russian authorities for the recent death of Alexey Navalnyy. At the Committee’s latest quarterly meeting on the implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights, it called for an international commission...
Venice Commission plenary under way
During its plenary session on Friday and Saturday, 15- 16 March in Venice, the Venice Commission is set to adopt six draft opinions concerning: Bosnia and Herzegovina on certain questions relating to the functioning of the Constitutional Court; Bulgaria on the Code of Ethical Conduct for Judges...
