News
European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2024
Committee of Ministers calls on member states to remain firm in their commitment to oppose the death penalty
AI in prisons and probation: new Council of Europe recommendation aims to ensure respect for human rights and dignity
The Council of Europe has issued recommendations to its 46 member states aimed at ensuring that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and related digital technologies by prison and probation services respects the human rights and dignity of detainees, probationers, as well as staff. In a new...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 9 October 2024
At their 1509th meeting, on 9 October, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted a Recommendation to member States aimed at ensuring that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and related digital technologies by prison and probation services respects the human rights and dignity of detainees,...
Committee of Ministers' President Landsbergis: collective effort needed to ensure sustainable peace and respect for human rights
“It is time to put even more pressure on Russia and ensure its full accountability for its crimes,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, when addressing the Parliamentary Assembly. “Only this way will we lay the path...
Exchange of views at the Committee of Ministers on the abolition of the death penalty focused on the situation in Belarus
On 25 September, the Minister Deputies had a thematic exchange of views on the abolition of the death penalty which was focused on the situation in Belarus, the only country in Europe which...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 25 September 2024
At their 1508th meeting, on 25 September, the Ministers’ Deputies held a thematic discussion on abolition of the death penalty focused on the situation in Belarus, with the participation of: Alexander Shlyk, designated by the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces; Marharyta Vorykhava,...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the 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 17 to 19 September to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 41 decisions...
Alain Berset, new Secretary General
Addressing the Ministers' Deputies, the Secretary General highlighted the vital importance of the Organisation's ongoing work and the importance of delivering results, saying: "In this, the Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary year, it is hard to quantify the amount of good that this Organisation...
Secretary General’s farewell statement to the Ministers’ Deputies
“In my remarks here five years ago, I said that: “The Council of Europe must…remain the benchmark for the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law on our continent. In fact, this must be strengthened. This is the path that I intend to pursue.” I have pursued it,...
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 17 to 19 September. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Informal exchange of views on media freedom and safety of journalists (12 September 2024)
On 12 September 2024, the Ministers’ Deputies held an informal exchange of views, with invited guests and partners of the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform, on media freedom and safety of journalists. The main items under discussion were as follows: Enabling access to reliable...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 11 September 2024
At their 1506th meeting, on 11 September, the Ministers’ Deputies held an exchange of views, with the participation of Mr Alan Mitchell, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), on the CPT’s public statement on...
Justice for crimes committed in Ukraine: Ministers of Justice discuss legal cooperation and a special tribunal for the crime of aggression
Meeting under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Ministers of Justice of Council of Europe member and observer states have adopted a declaration outlining a series of principles to address critical justice and accountability issues related to Russia’s aggression against...
Council of Europe opens first ever global treaty on AI for signature
The Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law (CETS No. 225) was opened for signature during a conference of Council of Europe Ministers of Justice in Vilnius. It is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 3 September 2024
At their 1505th meeting, on 3 September, the Ministers’ Deputies discussed current political affairs. They also approved the text of a draft United Nations General Assembly Resolution on co-operation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and took note of the Council of Europe...
Justice Ministers discuss accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine and open AI Convention for signature at meeting in Vilnius
The Ministers of Justice will meet in Vilnius (Lithuania) on 5 September at a conference entitled “Towards accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine” and held under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. Prior to the meeting, the Council of Europe’s Convention...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 10 July 2024
At the beginning of their 1504th meeting, the Ministers' Deputies held a minute of silence in honour of the victims of recent Russian attacks against Ukraine, notably on a children’s hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. The Deputies held an exchange of views with Ms Helga Maria Schmid, Secretary General...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 1 July 2024
At their 1503rd meeting on 1 July 2024, the Ministers' Deputies held exchanges of views with: Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, on the outcome of the 3rd part of the 2024 Session (Strasbourg, 24-28 June 2024) [more information …]; and Mr Gerhard Ermischer,...
CM President Landsbergis: Council of Europe must remain the driver of real action against Russia’s aggression
“Your strong and timely political recommendation to the Committee of Ministers to expel Russia was groundbreaking and – for many of us – brought back faith in our common institutions,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 19 June 2024
At their 1502nd meeting on 19 June 2024, the Ministers' Deputies held exchanges of views with: Mr Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, who gave an overview of the priorities and main work carried out since the beginning of his mandate, with a particular focus on...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from 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 11 to 13 June to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 42 decisions...
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 11 to 13 June. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 5 and 10 June 2024
At their 1500th meeting on 5 and 10 June 2024, the Ministers' Deputies continued their examination of the Secretary General's report on the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation and took a series of decisions in this...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 29 May 2024
At their 1499th meeting on 29 May 2024, the Ministers' Deputies started to discuss the Secretary General's report on the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation. They held an exchange of views with Mr Marin Mrčela,...
Ukraine’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars and remembrance of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people
Joint Statement by Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Gabrielius Landsbergis, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, and Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty
Foreign ministers support Ukraine, define the organisation’s priorities and adopt a treaty on artificial intelligence
As the organisation celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states came together at their annual session to reaffirm their support for Ukraine on the road to justice and reconstruction. Following on from the Reykjavik Summit, they also...
Lithuania takes over Presidency of Committee of Ministers
Lithuania has taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Liechtenstein at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers from the organisation’s 46 member states. Addressing the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chairperson, Dominique Hasler, Minister for...
Council of Europe adopts first international treaty on artificial intelligence
The Council of Europe has adopted the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring the respect of human rights, the rule of law and democracy legal standards in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The treaty, which is also open to non-European countries, sets out...
Secretary General at the opening of the Committee of Ministers’ Session
“Twelve months ago, European leaders met in Reykjavík for our 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government. It was one of the largest ever gatherings of our continent’s presidents and prime ministers and its significance and impact remain clear. Following the Russian Federation’s full-scale...
Attack against Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico: Statement by Committee of Ministers' President
Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport and President of the Committee of Ministers, Dominique Hasler made the following statement: "Today's attack on Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, is unacceptable. It runs counter to all democratic values defended by the Council...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 7 and 14 May 2024
At their 1498th meeting on 7 May 2024, the Ministers' Deputies adopted: a series of decisions under the item "The Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia", in the context of the continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali...
Foreign ministers of 46 member states meet a year after Reykjavik Summit
The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states will hold their annual session on 17 May 2024, in the context of the organisation’s 75th anniversary. The agenda will include the measures which the Council of Europe is continuing to take in response to the Russian...
Hate crimes must be unmasked, recorded and investigated, and victims supported
New Committee of Ministers Recommendation
Council of Europe adopts guidelines on emergency responses to terrorist attacks
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a series of guidelines aimed at its 46 member states, in order to help public authorities and the public sector to strengthen their emergency responses in case of a terrorist attack. Prepared by the Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), the guidelines...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 30 April 2024
At their 1497th meeting on 30 April 2024, the Ministers’ Deputies continued their preparation of the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers, which will take place in Strasbourg on 16-17 May 2024. Recalling that, in the Reykjavík Declaration, the member States of the Council of Europe...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 24 April 2024
At their 1496th meeting on 24 April 2024, the Ministers’ Deputies continued their preparation of the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers, which will take place in Strasbourg on 16-17 May 2024. They also held an exchange of views: on the Secretary General's new consolidated report on the...
Secretary General on official visit to Lithuania
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with President of the Republic Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska, and other key personalities during an official visit to Lithuania to discuss...
Foreign Affairs Minister of Liechtenstein addresses PACE
In her communication, Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein and President of the Committee of Ministers, mentioned the need for continued support to Ukraine and referred to the Presidency’s priorities. “In Reykjavík our leaders sent a strong message...
Secretary General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein and President of the Committee of Ministers Dominique Hasler. The meeting focused on the current state of play of the Liechtenstein Presidency and the upcoming 75th anniversary...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 10 April 2024
At their 1495th meeting on 10 April 2024, the Ministers’ Deputies held a thematic discussion on the abolition of the death penalty and in particular the Council of Europe's contribution to universal abolition, with the participation of: Firmin Yangambi, former death row prisoner in the Democratic...
Latest Annual Report on the execution of the European Court's judgments and decisions: significant progress, but important challenges remain
The latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers highlights significant progress on implementing judgments and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in 2023, whilst underlining that several important challenges remain. According to the report, the Committee...
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...
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...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 5 April 2024
The Deputies held their 1494th meeting in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, in the framework of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. The Deputies started preparations for the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers (Strasbourg, 16-17 May 2024), which will be preceded by the...
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)...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 20 and 25 March 2024
At their 1493rd meeting, on 20 March 2024, the Deputies transmitted the draft Framework Convention on artificial intelligence, human rights, democracy and the rule of law to the Parliamentary Assembly and invited the latter to give an opinion as soon as possible. Once the Assembly’s opinion has...
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...
Draft Framework Convention on artificial intelligence, human rights, democracy and the rule of law
Today the Committee of Ministers transmitted the draft Framework Convention on artificial intelligence, human rights, democracy and the rule of law to the Parliamentary Assembly and invited the latter to give an opinion as soon as possible. Once the Assembly’s opinion has been received, the draft...
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...