Newsroom
European Day of Languages 2016
A day to celebrate the rich mosaic of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond: the European Day of Languages marks every year since 2001 our linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML), encouraging excellence and...
Committee of Ministers reviews the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
On 20 and 21 September, representatives of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe held their third “Human Rights” meeting of 2016 at which they examined the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in keeping with the supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers,...
Venice Commission criticizes proposed modifications to Azerbaijani Constitution in upcoming referendum
A preliminary opinion by the Council of Europe's constitutional law experts, (the Venice Commission) criticizes draft modifications to the constitution of Azerbaijan, which will be put to a national referendum on Monday 26 September. Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of...
Conference on the Fight against the Manipulation of Sports Competitions
“The Macolin Convention is the first and only international treaty to clamp down on the serious, transnational, organised crime that is match-fixing. A crime which not only threatens the rule of law, but which is especially corrosive for trust in sport because it cuts against our most basic...
No violence against children is acceptable, all violence is preventable
Commissioner of Human Rights Nils Muižnieks publishes his latest Human rights Comment
Secretary General, in UN, calls for ensuring basic rights for all migrant and refugee children
On 18 September 2016, in the run-up to the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland took part in a high-level event Carry Light for Children co-organised by the UN Children Fund UNICEF, the Estonian Mission to the UN, and the Council of...
National minorities in Hungary
Hungary should improve efforts to stop discrimination against Roma, among issues raised in report issued today
Dalai Lama visit highlights shared values
His Holiness the Dalai Lama used his historic visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg today to make an impassioned plea for compassion, tolerance and understanding between individuals, different faiths and nations. He expressed his belief that moral education based on what he called...
European summit of Presidents and Speakers of parliament opens in Strasbourg
“National parliaments should be a source of reasoned debate, based on facts”
Slovak Foreign Minister Lajčák at Committee of Ministers
Miroslav Lajčák, the foreign minister of Slovakia, which currently holds the Presidency of the European Union, is at the Council of Europe today for an exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers. In his meeting with Secretary General Jagland, Foreign Minister Lajčák signed the Council of...
The launch of the European Youth Card in France – empowering Europe’s young people
On 13 September 2016, the Council of Europe, the City of Strasbourg, the University of Strasbourg and the European Youth Card Association launched the Youth Card in France The goal of the Card is to promote the active role young people can play all over Europe and to encourage their cultural,...
Independent experts: positive evaluation of Council of Europe/European Commission programmes for Roma
Although their new report found room for improvement, evaluator company Blomeyer and Sanz and experts selected from Creda Consulting found that two major Council of Europe programmes – ROMED 1 and ROMED 2 – have helped to successfully enhance Roma participation and integration in seven focus...
Dalai Lama to visit and address the Council of Europe
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will pay a visit to the Council of Europe on Thursday, 15 September, where he will meet Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Pedro Agramunt and Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks. H.H. the Dalai Lama will deliver an...
Le Secrétaire Général a participé à un colloque sur le rôle du Conseil de l’Europe dans la défense des droits de l’homme
Le Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l’Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, a participé à un colloque sur « La défense des droits de l’homme en Europe, une idée dépassée ? Le Conseil de l’Europe plus indispensable que jamais », organisé à Paris le 12 septembre par l’Assemblée nationale et le Sénat français....
Latvia: Strengthen policies against bias-motivated crimes and ratify the Istanbul Convention
“While Latvia has taken some important steps to advance human rights and reduce social exclusion, gaps remain in the protection of vulnerable groups. The authorities should develop community-based services for persons with disabilities, grant automatic citizenship to all children born in Latvia,...
European summit of Presidents and Speakers of parliament in Strasbourg
The Presidents and Speakers of parliament from the 47 Council of Europe member states and many partner, observer and neighbouring countries, along with the Presidents of other international assemblies, will be meeting in Strasbourg on 15 and 16 September 2016 for a European parliamentary...
Internet freedom as a factor of democratic security: Strasbourg conference
An international conference is bringing together in Strasbourg on 9 September some 200 representatives of governments, civil society, business and academia to discuss best practices to protect and promote Internet freedom in the context of the current international security crises. One of the...
Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and refugees visits camps in northern France
The Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and refugees, Ambassador Tomáš Boček, is conducting a fact-finding mission to camps in northern France on 12-13 September 2016. Mr Boček will visit the camps in Calais and Grande-Synthe and the Command and Control Centre in Calais....
Committee of Ministers - exchange of views with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey
The Minister’s Deputies today held an exchange of views at ministerial level with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey. This exchange of views organised following the attempted coup d’état in Turkey on 15 July, was opened by Marina Kaljurand, Minister for Foreign Affairs of...
Berlin: Generalsekretär Jagland traf Bundesinnenminister de Maizière und nahm an OSZE-Konferenz zu Sinti und Roma teil
Der Generalsekretär des Europarates, Jagland, traf gestern Bundesinnenminister de Maizière. Auf der Tagesordnung standen Fragen zur Integration, Radikalisierung und Extremismusbekämpfung auf der nationalen und europäischen Ebene. Im Anschluss hat der Generalsekretär ein Interview bei der...
Belarus: Anti-corruption summary report says faith in country’s commitment is undermined
Belarus has partly implemented only one out of the twenty pending recommendations on addressing corruption, with no progress registered on others, says the summary of the Interim compliance report by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published on 1 September. The...
New Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma Issues
Today, Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma, has taken up the post of Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of the Council of Europe for Roma Issues. "It is a great honour and responsibility for me to join the team of the Secretary General," said Nicolae. "I very much look forward to...
Human rights defenders’ work is vital for redress to victims of enforced disappearance
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks publishes his latest Human rights Comment
Turkish expert delegation visits Council of Europe
Today a delegation of officials from the Turkish Ministry of Justice and from the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors is meeting with a group of Council of Europe experts. The meeting follows a visit by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to Ankara on 3 August, and is part of an...
Turkey: visit by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Estonian Foreign Minister M. Kaljurand
Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia Marina Kaljurand travelled to Ankara on 24-25 August to hold talks with Turkish officials at the highest level: she met with President R.T. Erdoğan, the President of the National Assembly İ. Kahraman, Prime Minister...
Senegal becomes the 50th state to accede to the Data Protection Convention - “Convention 108”
The Republic of Senegal today became the third non-European state to accede to the Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, also known as “Convention 108”, and its Additional Protocol, taking the total number of States Parties to the...
Switzerland must fall into line regarding the transparency of political funding
In a report published today, GRECO, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group, states that Switzerland has achieved real progress in implementing the group’s recommendations on incriminations (see also the German and Italian versions of the report). However, GRECO expresses regret that the...
Non-implementation of the Court’s judgments: our shared responsibility
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks publishes his latest Human rights Comment
Thorbjørn Jagland condems terrorist attack in Gaziantep
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe has expressed in a letter to President Erdoğan his condolences on the terror attack on 20 August in Gaziantep. In a statement directly after the attack on Sunday, the Secretary General said: "I am devastated by the atrocious bomb attack in our member...
Report on Turkey: Migrant children and refugees living precariously outside camps
Action needed to tackle child labour, encourage school attendance and improve the precarious living conditions of those outside refugee camps in Turkey
Situation in Crimea
Statement by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Secretary General Jagland in Ankara
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland arrived in Ankara on Wednesday 3 August for two days of meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Ismail Kahraman,...
Council of Europe honours victims and survivors of Roma Holocaust (Pharrajimos)
The Council of Europe honoured the memory of Roma Holocaust victims and survivors with commemorations at the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and at the Organisation’s Strasbourg headquarters. “Remembrance not only focuses on the past, but also points the way to the future,” said...
Secretary General Jagland to meet President Erdogan in Ankara
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will be in Ankara on Wednesday 3 August for meetings with President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ and leaders of the opposition parties. Contact Press release
National minorities: Council of Europe body calls on Italy to better protect Roma, Sinti and Camminanti
The Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) has called on Italy to take urgent steps to elaborate and adopt a specific national legislative framework for the protection of Roma, Sinti and Camminanti communities. In its...
Deputy Secretary General meets Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni had an exchange of views today with Dario Franceschini, Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Activities and Tourism. The meeting focused on Council of Europe conventions in the cultural field and on policy co-operation with Italy. Deputy Secretary General...
Cyprus should increase transparency in parliament, among other recommendations
A new report from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) includes 16 recommendations to improve anti-corruption measures in parliament and for judges and prosecutors. Although plenary meetings of the legislature are open to the public and proposed bills are published,...
Measures taken under the state of emergency in Turkey
Statement by Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks
EU and Council of Europe introduce project to promote global development education
From residential and online training courses on human rights to intercultural dialogue, a new three-year project – iLEGEND – will strengthen global development education throughout Europe. iLEGEND, (Intercultural Learning Exchange through Global Education, Networking and Dialogue) will foster...
Turkey: Protecting democracy and human rights
Statement by the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Secretary General receives notification from Turkey of its intention to temporarily suspend part of the European Convention on Human Rights
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has been informed by the Turkish authorities that Turkey will notify its derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights under the Convention’s Article 15. The possibility of a derogation is foreseen by Article 15 of the...
Death of Pavel Sheremet
Statement by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Ahead of the fifth anniversary of Utøya tragedy, Secretary General calls for robust response to hate crime
"Five years after the Oslo attacks and the Utøya massacre that claimed 77 lives on 22 July 2011, hate-driven violence remains a challenge for European society and governments today", said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, calling for a determined response to hate crime....
Protect women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights
“In these times of resurgent threats to women’s rights and gender equality, we must redouble our efforts to protect women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. Among the international and European legal instruments that protect these rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms...
Situation in Turkey
Statement by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Anniversary of the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17
Statement by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Coup attempt in Turkey condemned
Statement by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Terrorist attack in Nice
Statement by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Committee of Ministers
Secretary General Jagland condemns the horrific terrorist attack in Nice
“On 14 July, the day when France and the world celebrate the birth of the French Republic, when the call to ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’ rings in the hearts of all democrats, the host nation of the Council of Europe has been the scene of another murderous attack. Our Organisation stands...
GRECO calls on San Marino to ratify the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and to upgrade political financing law
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) today called for San Marino to ratify the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, to fully implement it, and to improve legislation on political funding. GRECO underlines the need for San Marino to ratify the Criminal Law...
Conflict and violence: young people share their stories
This week the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg is hosting two events for young people whose lives have been changed by the conflict and violence. The Youth Peace Camp is bringing together young people from conflict-affected regions: South Caucasus, the Russian Federation, Ukraine (Luhansk,...
To prevent further human suffering in the east of Ukraine, the rule of law has to be re-established
“The conflict in the east of Ukraine remains the cause of enormous human suffering and loss of life. It is high time to put an end to it and ensure the effective prosecution and sanctioning of those responsible for human rights violations” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner...
Statement by Secretary General Jagland on adoption by Sejm of Poland of draft Act on Constitutional Tribunal
“The draft Act on the Constitutional Tribunal was adopted yesterday at its second reading in the lower Chamber of the Polish Parliament (Sejm). I will ask the Venice Commission to rapidly examine whether this Act follows its Opinion provided in March 2016. I would urge the Senate, and the Sejm at...
Greece: progress in combating racism, but concerns remain about the impact of austerity
“I welcome the government’s efforts to combat racism and homophobia in Greece. The 2014 anti-racism law has consolidated the legislative framework and provided useful tools to prosecutors and police officers. However, much more is needed in order to bring this law to life and to further enhance...
Why Europe needs to invest in children
"Doers should start speaking, and speakers should start doing" – this was the key message of the conference organised by Eurochild “Children's Rights Matter: Why Europe needs to invest in children” in Brussels on 5-7 July 2016. Experts, policy makers dealing with social and economic rights, as...
“No means No”: Secretary General welcomes German legislation to end violence against women
"I welcome today’s vote in the German parliament to pass the so-called No means No law, which brings Germany in line with our convention to end violence against women," said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. "Rape cannot be limited to just physical assault," he said of the...
Anti-corruption body GRECO publishes a report on Moldova
Council of Europe calls on the Republic of Moldova to improve anti-corruption measures in respect of MPs, judges and prosecutors
Secretary General Jagland in Berlin for talks with Foreign Minister Steinmeier
Thorbjørn Jagland met with German foreign minister Steinmeier on Tuesday in Berlin. Topics of discussion included human rights in Europe, the role of the European Convention on Human Rights and the situation in Ukraine, Turkey and Azerbaijan. They also discussed the European Roma Institute for...
Security and safety in stadiums: fourteen countries pave the way for implementation of the new Council of Europe Convention
The Council of Europe Convention on an integrated safety, security and service approach at football matches and other sports events was opened for signature today at a ceremony held at the Stade de France, in the presence of several European ministers. The Convention was signed by 14 States:...
Limited progress in the Czech Republic to address segregation of Roma in education
In an Opinion on the Czech Republic published today, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concludes that, despite the authorities’ efforts, the plans to eradicate the segregation of Roma children in schools have so far...
Council of Europe conference tackles gender-based stereotypes
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas opened a Council of Europe conference on gender equality in Tallinn, Estonia today. The two-day conference – which can be followed live on this link – gathers some 150 participants from nearly 40 Council of Europe member states to assess progress of the...
North-South Prize 2015 to Lora Pappa and Joaquim Alberto Chissano
The founder of the Greek non-governmental organisation METAdrasi (Action for Migration & Development), Lora Pappa and former President of Mozambique Joaquim Alberto Chissano are the two laureates of the Council of Europe North-South Prize 2015, a distinction awarded annually to two personalities,...
Stop evictions of Roma and Travellers
International organisations stress human cost of evictions and recall standards in a joint statement
Committee of Ministers statement on terrorist attack at Istanbul international airport
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe firmly condemns the terrorist attack committed yesterday evening at Istanbul international airport. It conveys its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and expresses its solidarity with the Turkish people and authorities in these...
Istanbul: Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland condemns terrorist attacks
On Wednesday Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement: “Our member state Turkey has suffered another horrific terrorist attack. Once again so many innocent people have been killed and hurt on European soil. All Council of Europe member states must stand together in the...
Protection and future of migrant children: a challenge for Europe
One in three of the migrants and asylum seekers crossing between Greece and Turkey is a child. Last year alone, an estimated 300,000 children crossed the Mediterranean fleeing the horror of war and seeking refuge, traumatised by violence and death. Practically all of them have seen their lives...
Security and safety in stadiums: Council of Europe launches a new convention
At the last of the EURO 2016 tournament’s quarter-finals, on Sunday 3 July at the Stade de France (Saint-Denis), the Council of Europe will open for signature a new international convention to promote safety at football matches and other sports events, strengthen international police co-operation...
26 June: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
European and UN anti-torture bodies: duty to protect dignity of detained persons more relevant than ever in current global context of instability and economic crisis
Statement by Secretary General Jagland on the UK referendum
“The democratic decision in this referendum must be respected. The best way forward now is for the EU, in accordance with its best traditions, to work together with the UK government to obtain the most acceptable outcome for the citizens of the UK and Europe. Everybody should now focus on what...
Towards a global moratorium on capital punishment
Secretary General addresses the World Congress on the Death Penalty
Greek Prime Minister issues strong call for a ‘a better Europe’
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras issued a strong call for “a better Europe, and a new and inspiring vision for Europe’s citizens” today when addressing parliamentarians from the 47-nation Council of Europe. Europe faced a political and social crisis which was shaking it to its very...
Estonia remains committed to supporting the Council of Europe in protecting human rights, says Prime Minister
“Estonia remains committed to supporting the active role taken by the Council of Europe in developing a useful framework for the protection of human rights, either online or offline, said the Prime Minister of Estonia, Taavi Rõivas, addressing PACE today. He underlined that the international...
Fighting the over-sexualisation of children
PACE today expressed its concern about the over-sexualisation of children, a widespread phenomenon in the media, marketing campaigns, television programmes and everyday products. This phenomenon can have a serious impact on children’s self-esteem, well-being, relationships and equal opportunities...
Marina Kaljurand: “The best results can only be achieved by working hand in hand with the Assembly”
“The best results can only be achieved by working hand in hand with the Assembly”, today said Marina Kaljurand, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers. Presenting Estonia’s priorities for the six-month period of its Chairmanship, Ms Kaljurand referred...
Secretary General’s dialogue with Assembly members
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland replied to questions from members of the Assembly in a question and answer session during the Assembly’s summer part-session. During this exchange, PACE members asked Mr Jagland for his reaction to the lifting of immunity from prosecution of...
