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EU-Council of Europe cooperation
Joint Statement by European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Thorbjørn Jagland in Brussels
The Secretary General was in Brussels for meetings with high-level representatives of the European Union and the Belgian authorities. Topics for discussion with the First Vice President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans, include the state of human rights and democracy in Europe, the EU’s...
Social rights decisions in the Netherlands
Access to emergency social assistance for homeless people and irregular migrants in the Netherlands is not in line with the country’s commitments under the European Social Charter, according to two decisions published today by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR). In relation to a...
Latest reports
30 september 2024 CPT report on Estonia 17 september 2024 GREVIO report on Albania 12 september 2024 GREVIO report on Monaco 10 september 2024 GREVIO report on Austria
World Forum for Democracy
French Minister for European Affairs spoke at the closing session of the World Forum for Democracy
Democracy Innovation Award
World Forum for Democracy Award goes to Turkish initiative “Generation Democracy”
Executions in Belarus
Secretary General deeply concerned by reports of third execution in Belarus this year
Secretary General Jagland opens WFD with Jeremy Rifkin
Key-note speaker Jeremy Rifkin calls for “digital bill of rights and responsibilities”
PACE President on so-called elections in East Ukraine
"I deplore the decision of the self-appointed authorities of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics to hold ‘parliamentary elections’ and ‘presidential elections’ on 2 November 2014. They are in violation of the Minsk Protocol signed on 5 September and will hinder the implementation...
How to eradicate impunity for attacks against journalists?
Representatives of regional human rights courts and inter-governmental organisations in Europe, the Americas and Africa, media freedom organisations, and human rights experts will discuss at a seminar in Strasbourg on 3 November how to enforce international standards and mechanisms for the...
In Crimea serious human rights violations and attacks on minorities and journalists require urgent action
“All cases of serious human rights violations that have occurred in Crimea[1] since February 2014, including the recent cases of abductions, must be effectively investigated and those responsible held accountable. Urgent steps must also be taken to ensure minority rights and security, as well as...
Parliamentary Assembly observers say Tunisian parliamentary elections exemplary
I would like to congratulate the Tunisian people on the outstanding quality of the electoral process, marking a crucial stage in the post-revolution transition,” said Andreas Gross, head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) which observed the...
Tunisia’s first post-revolution elections praised by Secretary General Jagland
Following this Sunday’s vote in Tunisia for the country’s first post-revolution parliament, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland issued a statement to “congratulate the people of Tunisia and the Tunisian authorities for the orderly manner in which the first elections of the...
Secretary General Jagland welcomes Ukrainian poll
Secretary General Jagland has welcomed the parliamentary election in Ukraine “Today's election was a clear expression of the Ukrainian people’s desire for peace, democracy and unity of the country. I welcome the steadfast commitment of President Poroshenko and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to...
Azerbaijan: Stop reprisals against human rights defenders
“The targeting of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan must stop” says Commissioner for Human Rights. “The targeting of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan must stop” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, at the end of a two-day visit to the country. “The...
Council of Europe conference in Lisbon explores how to prevent outbreaks of urban violence
The Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice of Portugal are organising an international conference in Lisbon on 23-24 October aimed at exploring how to increase co-operation between law enforcement and the telecommunication and Internet sectors to prevent outbreaks of urban violence in...
First meeting of Joint Working Group on Human Rights Issues in Azerbaijan
Following an agreement between Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and Azerbaijan's President Aliyev last August, a Joint Working Group on Human Rights Issues composed of some 18 human rights defenders, Members of Parliament and officials of the Presidential Administration met for the first time...
Secretary General
Secretary General and Irish Foreign Minister Charles Flanagan discuss human rights in Europe
Thorbjørn Jagland and Ireland’s Foreign Minister, Charles Flanagan, met in Strasbourg today to discuss the state of human rights in Europe, the situation in Ukraine, Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe and the Secretary General’s priorities for the next five years. Mr Flanagan also...
Secretary General
Law on IDPs adopted in Ukraine welcome development, good basis for addressing their needs, says Secretary General
The Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made a statement on today’s adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Law on ensuring the rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons in Ukraine: “This is a welcome development,” Jagland said. “The law is a good basis for...
European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)
Council of Europe awards 2014 Crystal Scales of Justice Prize to the General Council of Spanish Bars
The Council of Europe today awarded the 2014 European Crystal Scales of Justice Prize to the General Council of Spanish Bars for an initiative concerning online legal aid. The award ceremony was held in Aveiro (Portugal) on the occasion of the European Day of Justice with the participation the...
Council of Europe anti-torture Committee (CPT)
The anti-torture Committee reports “no improvement” since 2011 on deficient prison conditions in Greece
In a strongly worded report – based on visits made in April 2013 – the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) said that “the situation has not improved, notably in respect of the conditions of detention of irregular...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland calls on Russia to allow Memorial to continue
In a statement today, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, responded to reports of the possible liquidation of the prominent Russian NGO “Memorial”: “In recent days there have been reports that the Ministry of Justice of Russia has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland welcomes adoption of reforms in Ukraine; regrets law on IDPs was not adopted
Following today’s vote in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, made this statement: "I welcome today’s adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of the package of laws related to the reform of prosecution, the fight against corruption and the creation...
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Jean-Claude Frécon (France, SOC) elected President of the Congress
The members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, meeting at the 27th Session in Strasbourg (France), today elected Jean-Claude Frécon (France, SOC) by acclamation as President for a two-year term of office. Jean-Claude Frécon is a French Senator and a...
Commissioner for Human Rights
Migrants’ and children’s rights need better protection in the Netherlands
"The Netherlands has a solid human rights protection system, but in practice there are shortcomings, in particular as concerns migrants and children, that need to be addressed" said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on his visit to...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland calls on Azerbaijan to release opposition politician Ilgar Mammadov
With reference to a recent judgment from the European Court of Human Rights which it declared final today, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has called on the authorities of Azerbaijan to release jailed opposition politician and commentator Ilgar Mammadov. "The...
Secretary General
Bosnia and Herzegovina: all citizens should have the right to stand for elections
Following the 7th general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Secretary General Jagland published the following statement: "The voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina have voted to elect their representatives in elections which appear to have been conducted in line with technical standards for free...
Commissioner for Human Rights
Preserving Europe's social model
"As we enter the 7th year of the economic crisis, the end is not yet in sight. Worse, in most countries, the adoption of austerity measures has so far contributed little to recovery, but has exacerbated the dire living conditions of millions of people. Not surprisingly, disillusioned Europeans...
Commissioner for Human Rights
Armenia should address gender inequality and enhance the independence of the judiciary
“Much remains to be done in Armenia towards ensuring the equal protection of human rights of women and men”, said the Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, at the end of a 5-day visit to Armenia. “The adoption in 2013 of a Law on Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women and...
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Local and regional democracy, separatist tensions and youth participation among the highlights of the 27th Session of the Congress
The members of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will meet in session in Strasbourg (France) from 14 to 16 October 2014. Amongst other things they will be examining three reports following the observation of the local elections in the Netherlands (19 March 2014),...
Parliamentary Assembly
Ukraine: statement of the PACE pre-electoral delegation
A pre-electoral delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) visited Kyiv to evaluate the election campaign and preparations for the early parliamentary elections in Ukraine on 26 October 2014. With regard to the legal framework, the PACE pre-electoral delegation...
European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)
Evaluation report on European judicial systems: the judiciary is unaffected by the crisis
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) draws on quantitative and qualitative data to outline the main trends observed in 46 European countries (*). Among the findings to emerge from this report, the fifth of its kind since...
Council of Europe
European and World Day against Death Penalty, 10 October 2014
''On the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their strong and absolute opposition to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and their commitment to its worldwide abolition. We are deeply concerned about...
European Commission for Democracy through Law
Venice Commission celebrates its 100th Plenary Session in Rome
The European Commission for Democracy through Law, better known as the Venice Commission, will celebrate its 100th Plenary Session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation (Sala delle Conferenze Internazionali) in Rome on 10 and 11 October. The programme will be opened by...
Council of Europe
European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation 2014
Aimed at encouraging debate, increasing the number of donors in Europe and helping to reduce the statistics of patients dying while on waiting lists, the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation will be officially celebrated in Rome (Italy) on 11 October. Context and figures: Since the...
Council of Europe
Pope Francis to address Council of Europe on 25 November
Pope Francis will make an official visit to the Council of Europe on 25 November. Following an invitation by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland at a private audience accorded at Vatican City on 20 September, His Holiness will address the Organisation, in a solemn session, as it celebrates its...
European Court of Human Rights
Russian, Ukrainian, Italian lawyers are visiting European Court of Human Rights
Some 90 legal practitioners from Russia, Italy and Ukraine - the Council of Europe’s member states with the highest numbers of applications pending at the European Court of Human Rights – are taking part in a study visit to the Court that started today. The study visit is focusing on theory and...
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Xenophobic and extremist discourse a challenge in Europe, says report on minority rights
The rise in racist, xenophobic and extremist discourse in Europe in recent years is of particularly deep concern, says the Ninth activity report of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. A worrying trend during the period from June 2012 to...
European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care (EDQM)
Council of Europe celebrates half a century of activities protecting public health
As part of the 50th anniversary of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care (EDQM), an international conference in Strasbourg from 6 to 8 October will bring together some 300 participants from over 40 countries to discuss the challenges and prospects concerning the...
Parliamentary Assembly
Situation of religious and ethnic communities in Middle East evolves from ‘alarming to desperate'
The situation of religious and ethnic communities in the Middle East in general and in Iraq and Syria in particular has “evolved from alarming to desperate” as the terrorist group known as “IS” has been wreaking death and destruction, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) said...
Commissioner for Human Rights
LGBTI children have the right to safety and equality
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) children are often victims of bullying and violence in schools, at home and via social media. This has a serious effect on their well-being and prevents openness about their personal identity. Like all children, LGBTI children are entitled to...
Parliamentary Assembly
Parliamentary Assembly debates crisis in Ukraine
There needs to be a permanent and durable ceasefire in Ukraine, together with the unconditional and complete withdrawal of foreign troops from the country, said Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC) opening today’s current affairs debate on the crisis in Ukraine. He called for the restoration of...
Parliamentary Assembly
OECD chief warns of danger of ‘a lost generation’ of unemployed young people
The Secretary General of the OECD Angel Gurría today warned parliamentarians that youth unemployment had reached alarming levels, surpassing 50 per cent in countries such as Greece and Spain. “The danger of a lost generation remains very real”, he told the Assembly. Addressing PACE as part of its...
Parliamentary Assembly
PACE backs plan for a Europe-wide day for victims of hate crime
PACE has given its strong backing to a proposal put forward by youth activists to declare 22 July – the anniversary of the terrorist attack in Oslo and at Utøya – as a “European Day for Victims of Hate Crime”. The Assembly was debating a report by Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin (Sweden, EPP/CD) on...
Parliamentary Assembly
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2014 awarded to Anar Mammadli
The second Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Azerbaijani human rights defender Anar Mammadli. As Mr Mammadli is currently in prison, the €60 000 prize was presented to his father, Asaf Mammadov, at a...
Parliamentary Assembly
Human rights must be above political agendas, says PACE President
"Human rights must be above political agendas and national specificities," President Anne Brasseur said in her opening speech of the PACE autumn session in Strasbourg. "Our post- Second World War European human rights architecture is very precious as it seeks to create a human rights culture and...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland welcomes Muslim protests against IS terror
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has welcomed initiatives of Muslim associations across Europe protesting against the Islamic State and violent extremism. “The Council of Europe and its member states stand united in their condemnation of the recent barbaric...
Council of Europe
Málaga conference: how to stop recruitment by terrorist and organised crime groups?
Terrorist groups and organised crime often carry out similar types of crimes and share many organisational and operational features. Both groups recruit their new members in prisons and socially deprived areas offering them status and a feeling of belonging. On 25 and 26 September the Council of...
Committee of Ministers
Committee of Ministers: decisions on the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Committee of Ministers’ has made public today the decisions and resolutions adopted at its third special “human rights” meeting (23-25 September 2014) during which it has examined the state of implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The list of examined cases is...
Council of Europe
Integrity in sport and fight against corruption
The European Ministers responsible for Sport met in Macolin (Switzerland) on Thursday 18 September at a conference held by the Council of Europe in partnership with the Swiss Federal Office of Sport. While focusing on the risk of corruption in sports governance and on pan-European sports...
President of the Parliamentary Assembly
Parliamentary Assembly President on working visit to Azerbaijan
Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on a working visit to Azerbaijan from 22 to 24 September 2014, today met the President of the Republic. Their exchange of views focused on the current situation and co-operation perspectives between Azerbaijan...
Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)
First reports on human trafficking in Andorra, Iceland, Italy, San Marino and Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking, GRETA, has published its first reports on Andorra, Iceland, Italy, San Marino and Ukraine. The reports look at the extent to which each of the five countries comply with the Council of Europe’s 2005 Convention on Action against...
Secretary General
Pope Francis receives Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Pope Francis received Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today in a private audience. Secretary General Jagland also met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. They focused on the situation in Europe and the relationship between the Council of Europe and the...
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
“The referendum in Scotland is a victory for democracy and the rule of law”
“Following a widespread democratic debate, held peacefully according to the institutional rules of the United Kingdom, the people of Scotland have expressed their views massively and freely. This referendum is a victory for democracy based on the rule of law,” stated Herwig van Staa, President of...
Secretary General
Sports is about health, fairness and integration, says Secretary General Jagland
Addressing the conference of European sports ministers in Switzerland, Thorbjørn Jagland, called on all governments to sign and ratify the new Council of Europe convention against the manipulation of sports competitions. This Convention is a major step forward to promote the integrity of sport...
Committee of Ministers
Committee of Ministers welcomes cease-fire agreement and urges Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s Ministers’ Deputies reviewed the situation in Ukraine at their meeting on 17 September, on the basis of the report presented by the Secretary General on his visits to Kyiv and Moscow on 2-4 September. In their decision, the Ministers’ Deputies welcomed the Protocol signed...
Council of Europe
Safe from Fear, Safe from Violence: Celebrating the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention
The international conference Safe from Fear, Safe from Violence: Celebrating the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention (Rome, Friday 19th September, 10 am, Aula Gruppi parlamentari, via Campo di Marzio, 78), is an event co-organised by the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the Italian Ministry...
Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL)
Queen Máxima addresses MONEYVAL on the need to make financial services accessible
In a speech addressed to the Council of Europe anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing body MONEYVAL, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, in her capacity as United Nations Secretary General´s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, today recalled the need...
Parliamentary Assembly
PACE autumn session: the Ukraine crisis, Human rights prize, countering neo-Nazism
A current affairs debate on the crisis in Ukraine and a debate on countering neo-Nazism – with the participation of the Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament Olemic Thommessen – are among highlights of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg,...
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
Anti-racism committee calls on Switzerland to strengthen anti-discrimination legislation and support integration of migrants
In a report published today, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) says that there are positive developments in Switzerland but that some concerns remain, including the rise of xenophobia and discrimination against LGBT persons, and insufficient support for the integration...
Secretary General
Secretary General announces new initiatives in the areas of freedom of expression and democratic participation
Presenting his agenda for the next five years to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers today, Secretary General Jagland gave top priority to the implementation of the European Human Rights Convention (ECHR) and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in the member states. “The...
Secretary General
Secretary General praises Tunisian example of “wind of change” in southern Mediterranean
For the some 200 participants of the Lisbon Forum this year, hosted by the Council of Europe’s North-South Centre, the theme of consolidating democracy via free and fair elections focused on the countries of the so-called Arab Spring. In co-opening the forum – along with Mr. Fayçal Gouiaa, State...
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Grants for multi-ethnic municipalities in South-East Europe
The Joint European Union / Council of Europe Regional Project “Promoting Human Rights and Minority Protection in South East Europe” has issued a call for expression of interest for small grants for multi-ethnic municipalities in South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
Council of Europe
International advisory panel on Ukraine reports on Kyiv visits
Six months since the end of the tragic events of Maidan, the International Advisory Panel on Ukraine provides a briefing on its activities and progress to date, with an indication of future steps until the completion of its final report scheduled for early 2015. Constituted by the Secretary...
Commissioner for Human Rights
Human rights abuses in Crimea need to be addressed
“Cases of serious human rights violations, including killings, enforced disappearances, severe physical ill-treatment and arbitrary detention in Crimea [1] since March 2014 have to be addressed" said Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of a mission to Kyiv,...
Parliamentary Assembly
59 Presidents of Parliament gather for Oslo Summit
Presidents of Parliament from the 47 Council of Europe member states, as well as many neighbouring and observer countries, meet on 11 and 12 September 2014 in Oslo, on the occasion of a conference organised by the Storting and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). At the...
North-South Centre
Why free and fair elections are essential to democracy in the southern Mediterranean
Since the uprisings in the countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean in 2011, several elections have taken place in the region with varying degrees of success and consequences for political stability. The 2014 Lisbon Forum of the Council of Europe's North-South Centre will focus on...
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Congress visit to monitor local and regional democracy in Norway
A Congress delegation composed of Xavier Cadoret (France, SOC) and Guilherme Pinto (Portugal, SOC) will carry out a monitoring visit from 9 to 11 September 2014 to Norway with a view to examining the follow-up given to the commitments made by this country in the area of local and regional...
Secretary General
Council of Europe and European Broadcasting Union reinforce cooperation to promote public service media
The Council of Europe and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have agreed to increase their cooperation to promote public service media in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. This was decided today during a meeting in Strasbourg between the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and EBU Director...
Secretary General
Ukraine: Secretary General welcomes the ceasefire agreement
The Secretary General has welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached at the meeting of the contact group in Minsk on Friday 5 September, saying: "Everybody I talked to in Moscow and Kyiv this week wanted a ceasefire. I am relieved to hear this is now to become reality. I hope this can be the first...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland meets Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and State Duma Speaker Naryshkin
Secretary General Jagland had meetings today in Moscow with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and the Speaker of the Duma, Sergei Naryshkin. The frank and open talks focused on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, humanitarian assistance and the protection of human rights. Photo gallery Video...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland in Moscow to meet foreign minister Lavrov and human rights commissioner Pamfilova
Secretary General Jagland has arrived in Moscow for meetings with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, the Russian human rights commissioner Ella Pamfilova and other officials. Topics for discussion include the crisis in Ukraine, humanitarian assistance and the protection of human rights. See also:...
Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland meets Ukrainian President Poroshenko and Foreign Minister Klimkin
Secretary General Jagland met Ukrainian President Poroshenko and Foreign Minister Klimkin in Kiev today. Talks focused on the situation in the country, in particular in eastern and southern parts, human rights and humanitarian aid and the Council of Europe's assistance towards reforms in the...
Internet Governance Forum
Human rights of Internet users: Council of Europe promotes debate at 2014 Internet Governance Forum
At the 9th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) taking place from 2 to 5 September in Istanbul, the Council of Europe aims to trigger a debate on how to empower Internet users´ to exercise their human rights online. In an open forum on 3 September, the Council of Europe will address the issue and...
Parliamentary Assembly
Parliamentary Assembly President concerned about reports of growing escalation of conflict in Ukraine
“I am gravely concerned by the reports of escalation of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine and its implications for the two member states of the Council of Europe, Russia and Ukraine,” said Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). “On Tuesday in Paris,...
