Newsroom
EDQM celebrates 60 years of advancing public health
In a landmark celebration of six decades of co-operation, excellence and leadership, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), part of the Council of Europe, is set to host its 60th anniversary conference on 11 and 12 June 2024, under the theme “Today, tomorrow,...
PACE Summer Session: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Vigdís Prize, election of the next Council of Europe Secretary General
A joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the role of sanctions and the erasure of cultural identity, with an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (to be confirmed), are among the highlights of the summer plenary session of the...
Congress President calls for concerted action at all levels of governance to tackle the environmental crisis
To mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2024, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, made the following statement: “Not a day goes by without local and regional elected representatives taking a decision relating to the environment....
Expert committee calls on Finland to strengthen education in the different Sami languages and ensure their use in services
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages has called on the Finnish authorities to further strengthen education of Inari Sami, North Sami and Skolt Sami and ensure their effective use in social and health care services. The committee also recommends that...
Congress advocates for deliberative processes to restore trust in democratic institutions
On 30 May 2024, Congress Vice-President Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) held an exchange of views with the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Council of Europe’s...
Congress Spokesperson warns against risks of AI for human rights
“Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an integral part of our private and professional lives and of governance at every level. However, the unregulated design and use of AI tools present...
"Nothing about us without us" - new guidelines on engaging with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence
Ahead of the International Children’s Day celebrated on 1 June, the Council of Europe has published Guidelines for policy makers on engaging with victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse – “Nothing About Us Without Us” . This initiative is in line with the day’s mission...
Advancing the Abolition of the Death Penalty Among Belarusian Society and Diaspora: Workshop in Vilnius
A training workshop on the advancement of the issue of abolition of the death penalty in Belarus among Belarusian society, including diaspora, took place in Vilnius, Lithuania from 30-31 May. The event was opened by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Jonas Survila on behalf of the...
At the French Senate, Congress calls for a global strategy against hate speech
“In recent years, there has been a deplorable rise in all kinds of violence against local elected representatives in Europe, whether physical, psychological or verbal. A global strategy is urgently needed to protect them against hate speech...
Congress assists Finland in historic local government reform
After 30 years of discussions, Finland embarked in 2023 upon the largest public administrative reform in its history – with the creations of its wellbeing counties. Ensuring access to quality...
