ECRI held its 95th plenary meeting in Strasbourg, which took place from 2 to 5 July 2024.

On 2 and 3 July, ECRI held two separate exchanges of views with:

• Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, 
• Barbara Kovacs, from the European Union (EU) Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), Marharyta Zhesko, from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Elise Lassus, from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and Angela Longo, from the Council of Europe’s Anti-Discrimination Cooperation Unit.

As part of its sixth country monitoring cycle, ECRI adopted its final reports on Andorra, Italy, Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom. It also adopted its conclusions on the implementation of its recommendations subject to interim follow-up addressed to Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary and Monaco. 

In the context of its seventh country monitoring cycle, which is to begin in 2025, ECRI decided to focus on two areas in each and every member state: preventing and combating hate speech and hate crime on the one hand and equal treatment and inclusion in the education and healthcare sectors on the other hand. Moreover, ECRI will continue to deal with country-specific topics.

ECRI also held discussions on the basis of the report made by its working group on relations with civil society and equality bodies. Shortly before the plenary meeting, the working group had notably held consultations with Annelisa Cotone, from the EU Commission, about the recent adoption of new EU standards on the strengthening of equality bodies of direct relevance to ECRI.

In the course of the plenary, ECRI also took note of the statements made by Fourat Ben Chikha, General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on combating racism and intolerance, Mélanie Lepoultier, Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and Clarence Lusane, observer in respect of the United States of America.

Exchange of views on police training on hate crime with (from left to right) Johan Friestedt (Executive Secretary of ECRI), Bertil Cottier (Chair of ECRI), Barbara Kovacs (CEPOL), Marharyta Zhesko (ODIHR), Elise Lassus (FRA) and Angela Longo (Council of Europe Anti-Discrimination Cooperation Unit)