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Austria: More should be done to promote minority and regional languages
Despite efforts, further measures are needed in Austria to strengthen the minority languages covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), according to a report published today by the Expert Committee that monitors Charter adherence. The Charter – which entered into...
Ten years on: Safety of Journalists Platform issued 2,000 alerts on serious threats to media freedom
The Council of Europe’s Platform for the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists is marking its tenth anniversary today. Since its launch on 2 April 2015 as a result of a partnership between the Council of Europe and media freedom organisations and associations of journalists, the...
First monitoring report on implementation of MEDICRIME Convention focuses on public health protection during COVID pandemic
The first monitoring report on the implementation of the Convention on the Counterfeiting of Medical Products and Similar Crimes Involving Threats to Public Health (MEDICRIME Convention) highlights how 13 of the 23 State Parties to the Convention (*) applied its provisions, with a particular...
Council of Europe participates in UK-led Border Security Summit
The Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) of the Council of Europe, Gianluca Esposito, addressed the Border Security Summit in London, reaffirming the importance of tackling migrant smuggling while safeguarding fundamental human rights. Held at Lancaster House on 31 March and 1...
Opre Roma! month celebrating Roma history, language and culture in April
From 1 to 30 April, the Council of Europe is marking Opre Roma! month, dedicated to celebrating the rich contributions of Roma history, language, and culture to Europe’s shared heritage and cultural diversity. The phrase Opre Roma!, meaning “Stand up, Roma!” in English, was a call prominently...
Parliamentary Assembly spring session focuses on Georgia, Türkiye, Ukraine and Serbia
Urgent debates on “The situation in Georgia and follow up to Resolution 2585 (2025) 'Challenge, on substantive grounds, of the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of Georgia’”; on “The arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul and the state of democracy and human rights in...
Council of Europe reference documents on migration and refugees now online
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a comprehensive list of key Council of Europe treaties, recommendations, and other reference documents addressing migration and refugees on its website. It offers a structured overview of the Organisation’s legal and policy framework,...
Congress: local government must act now against foreign interference in elections
The Congress of the Council of Europe has called on local, regional and national authorities to reorientate their priorities and take a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to tackling foreign interference in electoral processes at local and regional levels. The call features in the conclusions...
Congress urges Georgia to resume political dialogue at all levels of government
The Congress has urged Georgian authorities to resume inclusive political dialogue at all levels of government and with all stakeholders – including local authorities, opposition and civil society – in order to reduce polarisation, restore the checks and balances essential in a pluralist...
Congress urges Türkiye to release detained mayors and stop their dismissals and detention
In a Declaration adopted today following an urgent debate, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has called on the Turkish authorities to stop prosecuting and detaining elected representatives from opposition parties; release current detainees, including Mayor of...
Workshops in Georgia improve civil society’s knowledge of European standards on police accountability
Two workshops took place over the last two weeks in the Georgian regions of Adjara and Kakheti to discuss European standards on police accountability with civil society organisations. Organised under the Council of Europe Project "Enhancing a Human Rights-Compliant Approach in Law Enforcement...
“Stand Speak Rise UP!” – H.R.H the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg advocates for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
On 25 March 2025, H.R.H. The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg addressed the Hemicycle at the 48th session of the Congress, highlighting the crucial work of Stand Speak Rise Up!, an association she founded in 2018 to support survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones. Accompanied by her advisor and...
Congress President discusses future prospects with Belarusian democratic forces
On 26 March, Congress President Marc Cools met representatives of Belarusian democratic forces participating for the first time in history in a Congress session. Iryna Khalopitsa, Head of the delegation, emphasised the significance of the Congress’ decision to invite them to the two sessions in...
Austria must step up fight against corruption, new reports warn
The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two compliance reports on Austria. The Third Interim Compliance Report assesses progress made in implementing recommendations issued to the country in the Fourth Evaluation Round Report in 2017 on preventing corruption...
Slovakia: progress in combating human trafficking but more needed
In its latest report on the Slovak Republic, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) acknowledges progress in combatting trafficking in human beings but urges the authorities to prevent trafficking of vulnerable children, including Roma...
Congress reaffirms its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and its commitment to a just and lasting peace
During its 48th session, the Congress held a debate on the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, focusing on Ukraine’s decentralised recovery and reconstruction with a human-centred, inclusive, transparent and sustainable development approach. Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of...
Secretary General’s first official visit to Norway: strengthening democratic resilience and enhancing cooperation
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset made his first official visit to Norway from 24 to 25 March, where he discussed strengthening Europe’s democratic resilience and deepening cooperation on common challenges. In meetings with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Foreign...
Deputy Secretary General addresses Congress: “local democracy is our first line of defence”
Addressing the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge emphasised the crucial role of the Congress in defending democracy. “As we look to the future, let us never forget that local democracy is our first line of defence. This session...
Faced with threats to democracy, Europe responds with a desire for unity: Congress session opens in Strasbourg
“Democracy is under threat, not only in Europe but elsewhere in the world. It is by exercising participatory and inclusive governance in our communities that we can help to protect it,” stressed Congress President Marc Cools at the opening of the 48th session of the Congress in Strasbourg on 25...
EDQM On Air – The evolution of biologicals in the European Pharmacopoeia
EDQM On Air, the podcast on public health brought to you by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) of the Council of Europe, has just released a new episode! Biological medicinal products – or biologicals – are a class of pharmaceutical products derived or...
