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Conference of International NGOs calls on Council of Europe and member states to act for the protection of civic space
The Conference of International NGOs (CINGO) held its General Assembly on 7-9 April (agenda) and adopted a series of texts. Among these, a Recommendation on the shrinking civic space and actual political developments calls on the Council of Europe and its member states to take determined measures...
Congress : High level of trust in institutions in local elections in Finland
A 19-member Congress election observation delegation, led by Gobnait Ni Mhuimneacain (Ireland, ILDG), concluded yesterday its mission to observe the municipal and county elections which were held in Finland on Sunday 13 April 2025. On election day, nine Congress teams visited some 110 randomly...
Strengthening values-based diplomacy in times of crisis: the voice of the Council of Europe at the Antalya Forum
On the occasion of his first participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset held a wide range of bilateral meetings and diplomatic exchanges focused on the major challenges facing democracy, human rights and the rule of law. During his visit...
Statement by the Secretary General on the situation in Türkiye
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has made the following statement: "I am closely following the recent events in Türkiye, including the arrest and detention of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other elected officials. These developments have triggered nationwide protests, the...
Official visit to Paris by Secretary General: support for Ukraine and New Democratic Pact for Europe
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has concluded an official visit to Paris during which he discussed support for Ukraine, democratic security and the Council of Europe’s role on the European and international arena. In his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the...
European Youth Education Centre Magdeburg receives Quality Label from the Council of Europe
The European Youth Education Centre (EJBM) in Magdeburg has received today the prestigious Quality Label for Youth Centres awarded by the Council of Europe to youth centres that demonstrate outstanding commitment to democracy education, human rights, and international co-operation. The Magdeburg...
Assembly urges stronger synergy between Council of Europe and European Political Community
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) calls for closer cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Political Community (EPC), stressing the importance of maintaining the Council of Europe’s role as a cornerstone of pan-European dialogue and multilateralism....
The Council of Europe should develop dialogue and co-operation with Latin America, says Assembly
It is “more important than ever” for Europe to strengthen its ties with regions that share its values and, in that sense, the Latin American region “should be considered as a natural ally”, the Parliamentary Assembly said on 10 April. According to parliamentarians, while the existing partnerships...
As situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate, Assembly sets out additional demands to reverse democratic backsliding
Noting that the situation in Georgia “has continued to deteriorate” since its last assessment in January, with no sign of an inclusive political process or new elections, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has warned of a deepening political schism in the country and made...
Congress to observe county and municipal elections in Finland
A 19-member delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, led by Gobnait Ni Mhuimneacain (Ireland, ILDG), will carry out an election observation mission from 11 to 14 April to observe the county and municipal council elections held throughout Finland on 13...
Slovakia: Anti-torture Committee publishes report on its latest visit to places of detention to assess treatment of persons deprived of their liberty
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report on its periodic visit to the Slovak Republic from 28 November to 8 December 2023, which makes several recommendations to the authorities. During the visit, the CPT...
Assembly calls for ‘immediate release’ of Mayor of Istanbul, whose arrest and detention ‘appear politically-motivated’
Following an urgent procedure debate held in Strasbourg in plenary session on 9 April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) called on the Turkish authorities “to release immediately Ekrem İmamoğlu”, the Mayor of Istanbul, who was arrested on 19 March 2025, placed in...
HRH the Grand Duke of Luxembourg: “We have built this project of peace in Europe together”
In his address to the parliamentarians, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg praised the work of the Council of Europe, which has transformed Europe into a continent of law and peace and has succeeded in establishing a unique form of co-operation between the various countries. He also...
Xavier Bettel: Europe must stay united in a geographical context under pressure
In a communication to the Parliamentary Assembly, the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, presented an initial review of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and emphasised the challenges facing Europe. He began by deploring the calling...
Citing Russia, PACE urges resilience against ‘foreign interference’ aimed at undermining democracy in Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged European countries to build resilience against “foreign interference” which aims to undermine democracy in Europe – calling for transparency in government and politics, stronger democratic institutions and an informed and...
2025 Europe Prize awarded to Gaziantep in Türkiye
The 2025 Europe Prize has been awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to the city of Gaziantep in Türkiye. The Prize is awarded each year to the city that has been most active in promoting the European ideal. Gaziantep is a city of 1,200,000 inhabitants located in...
International Roma Day: call to integrate Roma history and culture in school curricula
On 8 April, the International Roma Day, the Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge participated in a High-level event at the European Parliament in Brussels on Roma History and Culture in School Curricula, co-organised by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and the European...
Flower casting ceremony for International Roma Day
Accompanied by music, flowers were cast into a Strasbourg river from the Passerelle de l'Aubépine near the Council of Europe Youth Centre, to honour the identity, resilience, and cultural heritage of Roma people. Addressing the participants – who included 35 Roma young people from 21 countries...
Xavier Espot highlights Council of Europe’s role in modernising Andorra’s democratic and legal framework
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly today, the Head of Government of the Principality of Andorra, Xavier Espot, underlined the Council Europe’s crucial role in the development of the Principality of Andorra, notably in speeding up the adoption of a democratic and modern constitution in 1993 and...
Denmark: GRECO high-level delegation urges swift action to strengthen corruption prevention and integrity frameworks in parliament, central government and the police
In meetings in Copenhagen on 7 April, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) called on Denmark to fully implement GRECO’s recommendations to prevent corruption and strengthen integrity within the Parliament, the central government (persons with top executive...
