News 2020 - 2021
Forcible dissolution of the Russian non-commercial organisation Memorial International: the legislation of the Russian Federation on “Foreign Agents” is in breach of international standards
On 28 December 2021, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation ordered the closure of Memorial International. Memorial International is an non-commercial organization which has operated in the Russian Federation since 1992 with a view to “studying political repressions in the USSR and in...
Croatia - Publication of the 5th GRECO Evaluation Round Compliance Report
GRECO has made public today its Fifth Evaluation Round Compliance Report on Croatia, which deals with preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. This report was adopted by GRECO at its 89th Plenary Meeting...
Anti-money laundering Committee MONEYVAL holds 62nd Plenary Meeting
The Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) held its 62nd Plenary meeting in Strasbourg from 15 to 17 December 2021. This was the third MONEYVAL Plenary taking place in a hybrid mode, with delegations participating...
Denmark - Publication of 5th Evaluation Round Compliance Report of GRECO
GRECO has made public today its Fifth Evaluation Round Compliance Report on Denmark, which deals with preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. This report was adopted by GRECO at its 88th Plenary Meeting...
129th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission
The 129th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission was held on 10 and 11 December 2021, in hybrid form, in Venice and online, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the proposals made by the Committee of Wise Persons, the Venice Commission elected, for a term of two years: Claire Bazy Malaurie...
Andorra signed the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine
On 14 December 2021, Ms Helena Mas Santure, Secretary of State for Health of Andorra, in the presence of the Deputy Secretary General, Björn Berge, signed the Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine:...
The CCPE adopts Opinion No.16 (2021) on implications of decisions of international courts and treaty bodies as regards the practical independence of prosecutors
At its 16th plenary meeting (25-26 November 2021, Strasbourg/online), the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) adopted the Opinion No. 16 (2021) regarding the implications of decisions of international courts and treaty bodies on the practical independence of prosecutors. The...
12th meeting of the CDDH ad hoc negotiation group "47+1" on the EU accession to the ECHR
The Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) ad hoc negotiation group “47+1” on the accession of the European Union (EU) to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) held its 12th meeting from 7 to 10 December 2021. The meeting was held in a hybrid format, with more than 75 delegates...
Conference of Ministers of Justice to discuss "Crime and criminal justice - The role of restorative justice in Europe"
The Conference of the Ministers of Justice was organised by the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers in Venice on 13-14 December. Restorative Justice emphasises the principle of repairing the harm caused by criminal behaviour. The event aimed at promoting the progress of the debate on...
GRECO - Publication of the Second Addendum to the Second Compliance Report of 4th Evaluation Round on the Netherlands
GRECO has made public today its Fourth Round Second Addendum to the Second Compliance Report on the Netherlands (dealing with corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors), as adopted at the 88th Plenary Meeting (Strasbourg, 20-22 September 2021). More...
MONEYVAL report on Gibraltar sees improvement in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing
The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar has improved measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, demonstrating significant progress in its level of compliance with FATF (Financial Action Task Force) standards, according to a report published today by the Council of...
Montenegro signed the Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention on Human Rights
On 13 December 2021, Mr Bojan BOŽOVIĆ, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro, signed, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Protocol No. 16 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights...
New MONEYVAL report on Serbia: improvements in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing have led to upgraded rating, minor deficiencies remain
Serbia has improved measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, demonstrating significant progress in the level of compliance with the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) standards, according to a new follow-up report published today by the Council of Europe anti-money laundering...
The Council of Europe organised jointly with the Cyprus Bar Association a conference on the occasion of Human Rights Day
The Conference, which took place in Nicosia on 10 December 2021, brought together prominent human rights experts from Cyprus and other European countries, including former and current judges of the European Court of Human Rights, Mr Georgios Serghides, Mr Yannis Ktistakis, and Mr Paul Lemmens....
Human Rights Day 2021: Now more than ever, we must stand up for human rights
“When faced with difficult challenges, it can be tempting for states to consider relaxing human rights protections. In fact, the opposite should happen – when times get tough is when we most need to stand up for, and abide by, the unique system of values that we have built up over the last 70...
North Macedonia: seminar for judges and prosecutors on lawfulness of pre-trial detention
On 6 December, the Execution Department coorganised with the Human Rights National Implementation Division (DGI) and the Academy for Training of Judges and Public Prosecutors of North Macedonia a seminar on Article 5 of the European Convention. The event gathered around 20 judges and public...
GRECO President: “Covid-19 related corruption risks remain high; governments should respond quickly but lawfully to the pandemic”
To mark the International Anti-Corruption Day, commemorated every year on 9 December, the President of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), Marin Mrčela, issued today the following statement: “As governments face successive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic and...
Andorra: GRECO publishes its Interim Compliance Report of 4th Evaluation Round
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has made public today its Fourth Round Interim Compliance Report on Andorra (dealing with corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors), as adopted by GRECO at its 89th Plenary Meeting (Strasbourg, 29 November - 3...
Czech Republic: improvement in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing
The Czech Republic has improved the measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, demonstrating substantial progress in its level of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, according to a follow-up report by MONEYVAL published today. In an evaluation...
Andorra: improvement in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing in the non-profit organisation sector
Andorra has improved measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, demonstrating progress in its level of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, in particular those concerning the non-profit organisations sector, according to a follow-up report MONEYVAL...
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