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Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg: Ukraine and New Democratic Pact for Europe on the agenda
On 14 May in Luxembourg, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 46 Council of Europe member States will hold their annual session, to be preceded on 13 May by the opening for signature of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. Agenda items will include the role of the...
Human Rights Commissioner: protecting press freedom is an obligation, not an option
“A free, safe and independent press is essential in a democratic society. Protecting press freedom is not an option, it is a legal obligation”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Saturday 3 May. “Journalists play a...
European Court of Human Rights elects new President
The European Court of Human Rights has elected Mattias Guyomar (France) as its next President. He will succeed Marko Bošnjak (Slovenia) and will take up office on 30 May 2025. Mattias Guyomar has been a judge at the Court since 22 June 2020. Press release Composition of the Court
Journalists Matter Campaign annual conference in Luxembourg explores ways of improving prosecution of crimes against journalists
The Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of State of Luxembourg, is organising an international conference on 29 April in Luxembourg to discuss the challenges in prosecuting crimes against journalists and to explore ways to prevent impunity of these...
Cyprus: expert group calls for improved protection of migrant workers and asylum seekers from human trafficking
In its latest evaluation report on Cyprus, covering the period 2020-2024, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) evaluates the measures taken to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings, detect and support vulnerable victims,...
World leaders gather in Vatican for Pope Francis’ Funeral
Heads of state, royalty, and senior officials from more than 130 foreign delegations, along with tens of thousands of faithful, assembled in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Saturday for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis. Among the dignitaries present were U.S. President Donald Trump,...
Protecting Democracy in the Digital Age
Disinformation is no longer just a political issue — it’s a digital epidemic. From fake news to deepfakes, online manipulation threatens to undermine trust, dialogue, and democratic institutions. The Council of Europe invites young innovators from across Europe to take on this challenge through...
Anti-torture committee warns of serious prison overcrowding and informal prisoner hierarchies
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) today expressed serious concern about the significant increase in prison overcrowding in 2024, particularly in some Western European countries, and urged governments to address it with resolute measures. It also called on...
Poland: International conference explores civil society’s role in defending the rule of law
Some 200 representatives of European Union institutions, the Council of Europe, civil society, legal practitioners, academics and the media gathered in Warsaw, Poland on 22-23 April to discuss the role of civil society in defending the rule of law in the framework of the Polish Presidency of the...
On the passing of Pope Francis: a peacemaker and a leader of our times
Today, on Easter Monday, a sacred day of reflection in the Christian tradition, the world has lost a peacemaker. The Council of Europe mourns the passing of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Holy See, one of our Observer States, and a fervent defender of European values....
Congress assists Ukraine in updating its long-term vision for multilevel governance system
Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori outlined the unwavering support the Congress offers to Ukraine and priorities of co-operation for advancing Ukraine’s reform agenda at the International Cohesion Forum “Creating the Future”. One of the main such priorities of co-operation is the revision of...
Deputy Secretary General meets Serbian students in Strasbourg
The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge, today met with a group of Serbian students who arrived in Strasbourg on bicycles, having made the journey from Novi Sad. The meeting took place in the European Youth Centre of the Council of Europe. The Deputy Secretary General...
Congress Rapporteur deeply concerned by constitutional amendment in Hungary
Peter Drenth (Netherlands, EPP/CCE), Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement: “I deeply regret the adoption of a constitutional amendment on 14 April in Hungary that enshrines the...
GRECO publishes two reports assessing Spain’s progress in implementing its anti-corruption recommendations
The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two follow-up reports assessing Spain’s compliance with its recommendations to prevent corruption regarding the top executive functions of the central government, law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, judges and...
Living together in diversity: Ministers’ Deputies seek to promote inclusion of the most vulnerable
On 16 April the Ministers’ Deputies will discuss living together in diversity, at an informal meeting that will seek to give a voice to three groups which are particularly vulnerable to discrimination: older people, people with disabilities and Roma and Travellers*. The aim of the meeting is to...
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...
