Newsroom
Military escalation around the Karabakh region
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh: PACE President calls on Azerbaijan to cease fire immediately
The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Tiny Kox, today made the following statement: "I am deeply shocked by the decision of the government of Azerbaijan to launch a new and aggressive military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh earlier today. In the space of hours this...
Congress President expresses grave concern over the Nagorno-Karabakh situation
Leendert Verbeek, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned by the recent developments over Nagorno-Karabakh which can have serious humanitarian consequences for the region. They could lead,...
Ukraine: first CEB operation to support housing repairs for households affected by war
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have signed a €2 million grant agreement to finance housing repairs for over 500 vulnerable households in conflict-affected areas of Ukraine. This will be the CEB’s first operation in the country since Ukraine joined...
Strengthening the protection of integrity in sport through judicial action
On 18 and 19 September in Paris, the Network of Magistrates/Prosecutors Responsible for Sports (MARS), set up under the Council of Europe's Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), is gathering for its second meeting to discuss the latest trends in threats and challenges to sport integrity...
ECRI shines spotlight on four countries to measure progress against racism and intolerance
Poland, Luxembourg, North Macedonia and Iceland are the subject of reports from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, to be released this week. The in-depth reports will look at how the countries are measuring up to Council of Europe standards to tackle racism, discrimination,...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will hold its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 19 to 21 September. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Secretary General attends United Nations General Assembly high-level General Debate
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is attending the high-level General Debate of the General Assembly of the United Nations. High-level meetings are on the agenda. She is also taking part in the Ministerial event on Artificial Intelligence for accelerating progress on the Sustainable...
International Day of Democracy: Secretary General opens the first Exchange of views with Civil Society
“Civil society is a prerequisite for a functioning democracy”, highlighted Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, quoting the Reykjavík Principles of Democracy at the opening of the first regular exchange of views with Civil Society, on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy. “The...
Minority languages in Romania: strong support in education, but population threshold for public administration use too high
A new report by the Committee of Experts which monitors compliance with the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages acknowledges that Romania has a solid legal framework and policies for the protection of minority languages, including in education, but regrets that...
Secretary General meets the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles. Marija Pejčinović Burić reiterated the Organisation’s support to Ukraine highlighting the relevance of the Council of Europe Action...
Secretary General meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Mariya Gabriel. The meeting focused on the follow-up of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik. The implementation of the Register of Damage Caused by...
Assessing the impact of immersive realities on human rights: Committee of Ministers informal meeting
In the framework of the Latvian Presidency’s priority of supporting the Council of Europe digital agenda, the Committee of Ministers is holding an informal meeting on 14 September to explore the potential impact of immersive realities such as the Metaverse, on human rights, the rule of law and...
Anti-torture committee urges Moldova to address persistence of informal prisoner hierarchies and inter-prisoner violence
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) calls upon the Moldovan authorities to take resolute action, without delay, to tackle the phenomenon of informal prisoner hierarchy and inter-prisoner violence and intimidation throughout the prison system,...
The Conference of Participants of the Register of damage for Ukraine holds its second meeting
Representatives from more than 40 countries have taken part in the second meeting of the Conference of Participants of the Register of damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, held in the Latvian capital, Riga. “With this second meeting of the Register of Damage, we...
Congress study visit to Türkiye examines natural disaster responses by local and regional authorities
Following the devastating earthquakes of 6 February 2023, the Congress made a study visit to Türkiye from 6 to 8 September 2023, for a report on “local and regional responses to major crises”, notably aimed at identifying action to be taken before, during and following natural disasters. A...
Council of Europe ministers of Justice met in Riga to support justice for Ukraine
The ministers of Justice of Council of Europe member and observer states have adopted a declaration outlining a series of principles (“Riga principles”) to achieve comprehensive accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine and provide redress to all victims of the war,...
Secretary General at Justice Conference in Riga: “The Register is the first step towards any future compensation mechanism”
“We all wish for peace in Ukraine. But that peace must be sustainable. To be sustainable it must be just. And, to be just, it must have accountability at its core”, declared Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić at the opening of the Justice Ministers’ Informal Conference held under the...
European Committee of Social Rights publishes 2022 Annual Report
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has unveiled its Annual Activity Report for 2022, highlighting Europe’s most pressing social rights issues. One pivotal development in 2022 was the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, which had far-reaching implications for the ECSR's...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees to visit Bulgaria
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik will carry out a fact-finding mission to Bulgaria from 11 to 15 September. The visit will focus on persons in vulnerable situations, in particular unaccompanied and separated children, and is aimed...
Joint statement on illegitimate elections in parts of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia
Joint Statement from the Prime Minister of Latvia (acting Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Council of Europe President of the Committee of Ministers, Krišjānis Kariņš, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of...
Secretary General on official visit to Switzerland
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the President of Switzerland and other key personalities during an official visit to the country. During her meeting with Swiss Confederation President Alain Berset, the Secretary General underlined the importance of implementing the conclusions...
Secretary General backs new police network on International Day of Police Cooperation
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked the international day of police cooperation on September 7th by giving her backing to the Council of Europe Network of Police Services. “The network is an important step in strengthening cooperation between police forces in member states and...
Romania must improve the effectiveness of its system to promote integrity and prevent corruption in the central government and law enforcement agencies
Romania has developed an institutional and legal integrity framework to promote integrity and prevent corruption in the top executive functions of the central government and in the law enforcement agencies. However, improvement is still needed in several areas, according to a new report from the...
Stop detaining children in Luxembourg Prison, urges anti-torture committee
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has urged the authorities in Luxembourg to stop detaining children in Luxembourg Prison (Centre pénitentiaire de Luxembourg). The CPT has also called for stronger action to tackle police ill-treatment and the excessive use of...
Statement by Special Representative of the Secretary General on antisemitic crimes
By Alexandre Guessel, Special Representative of the Secretary General on antisemitic, anti‑Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes. "Yesterday, the President of the Russian Federation made remarks regarding the fight against anti-Semitism. In these remarks, the Jewish...
Good democratic governance and deliberative democracy: Committee of Ministers adopts new standards
The Committee of Ministers has adopted new recommendations to member states on good democratic governance and deliberative democracy. The first sets out the fundamentals of good democratic governance, covering protection and promotion of democracy; respect for human rights and the rule of law;...
New recommendation to strengthen national reporting systems for professionals on violence against children
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has adopted a new recommendation to member states on strengthening reporting systems on violence against children. Often underreported and undetected, violence against children remains widespread. Professionals working with children frequently face...
Croatia: New report praises steps to stop domestic violence against women, but more should be done to address other forms of gender-based violence
The Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published its baseline evaluation report evaluating Croatia’s efforts in implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic...
Congress in Türkiye to study local and regional responses to major crisis
Following the devastating earthquakes of February 2023, the Congress undertakes a study visit to Türkiye from 6 to 8 September 2023, to inform a report on local and regional responses to major crises. The visit will involve various meetings with national authorities and international...
