Newsroom
Secretary General meets Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in her meeting with Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, stressed the unwavering commitment of the Council of Europe to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, as well as support to Georgia’s European path. The...
Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment: call for nominations
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has issued a call for nominations for the first ever edition of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment. A joint initiative of the Icelandic Government and PACE, the Prize pays tribute to...
Secretary General at the International Conference on a Global Alliance to counter migrant smuggling in Brussels
“We must unite to close the loopholes in national legislation and international systems and prevent this criminal trade in human lives. The Council of Europe has been working in this direction for several years”, emphasised Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić while addressing the...
How the Istanbul Convention is saving lives
As we approach the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, sobering statistics remind us of the urgent need to stop this violence, and a landmark treaty is proving increasingly successful to do just that: the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating...
Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner: shortlist announced
The Committee of Ministers has submitted a shortlist of three candidates for the post of Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner to the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly. The candidates are, in alphabetical order: - Meglena KUNEVA (Bulgaria) - Manfred NOWAK (Austria) - Michael O’FLAHERTY...
Croatia: “Marked improvement” in treatment of detained criminal suspects, but prison overcrowding a concern
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report of its periodic visit to Croatia in September 2022, together with the response of the Croatian authorities (see executive summary in English – in Croatian) - Read...
European organisations and national authorities to help Belarusian media in exile to continue their work in Europe
The Council of Europe has held the Second Workshop for Belarusian journalists in exile. The issues that were discussed included professional solidarity and cooperation among journalists in exile and national and international associations, support to Belarusian journalists through European...
WADA annual meeting: Reforms and key governance issues discussed to help combat doping in sports world-wide
Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has represented the Council of Europe in the annual meetings of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 16 and 17 November in Montréal, Canada. The Deputy Secretary General attended the Executive Committee and participated, as a member...
Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approves €100 million loan for restoration of health infrastructure damaged by the war in Ukraine
The CEB’s loan will support the Health Enhancement and Life-Saving (HEAL) project, a $500 million framework operation developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities, which is designed to bring together development partners. The World Bank has already approved a $100...
European day against child sexual abuse: stronger engagement with victims and survivors needed to stop stigmatisation and prevent further crime, says Secretary General
Ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has called on Council of Europe member states to step up their engagement with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence to help...
Secretary General meets San Marino Minister for Foreign Affairs
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of San Marino Luca Beccari. The meeting focused on the follow up to the Reykjavik Summit, highlighting the need to respond to new challenges such as artificial intelligence and the impact of climate change and...
Conference of Participants of the Register of Damage for Ukraine elects its Board
The Conference of Participants of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine came together for its 3rd meeting on 16 November and elected the seven members of the Register’s Board. Of the 18 candidates (9 men and 9 women) from four different...
Armenia signs second additional Protocol to Cybercrime Convention
Ambassador Arman Khachatryan, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe has signed, in the presence of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Second additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence...
Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein: “We have become a community of values”
Liechtenstein is both celebrating its 45th anniversary as a Council of Europe member state and preparing for its Presidency of the Organisation’s Committee of Ministers from November 2023 to May 2024. In the spirit of the Council Of Europe Days Project, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique...
Liechtenstein takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Liechtenstein has taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Latvia at a meeting with representatives of the organisation’s 46 member states. The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Reinis Brusbārdis, gave an...
Rise in hate speech and hate incidents
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Istanbul Convention: Council of Europe expert group on violence against women issues reports on Greece, Ireland and Republic of Moldova
GREVIO’s baseline evaluation report on Greece welcomes positive steps since Greece became a party to the Istanbul Convention in October 2018, but also points out shortcomings. GREVIO praises the establishment of 74 specialised police units to improve law enforcement responses to violence against...
Secretary General on official visit to Türkiye
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Hakan Fidan during an official visit to the country. Discussions focused on the geopolitical situation in and around Europe, and on the co-operation between Türkiye and the Council of Europe.
Mental well-being of young people affected by war: Seminar at European Youth Centre in Budapest
A seminar on the role of youth work in supporting the mental well-being of young people affected by war is taking place at the European Youth Centre in Budapest from 12-15 November. According to a survey conducted in February 2023 among young Ukrainian respondents forced to flee their homes due...
Secretary General on official visit to Lithuania opens “Future of Democracy” Forum in Vilnius
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has opened the high-level Forum “Future of Democracy” on Defending Against Authoritarianism in Vilnius while conducting an official visit to Lithuania. “The Council of Europe has been warning about the rise of authoritarianism rooted in the return of...
The Netherlands should do more to combat human trafficking for labour exploitation, say Council of Europe experts
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking has called on the Dutch authorities to take a number of further steps to tackle human trafficking and to ensure that trafficking victims have access to justice. In its third report on the Netherlands the Group of Experts on Action...
Azerbaijani students tackled digital media literacy and disinformation
In Azerbaijan, the Council of Europe has organised a three-day training programme to show journalist students how they can use the standards of the Organisation to improve the quality of journalism by analysing the accuracy of what they see and read online on television and in newspapers every...
Hate speech in times of crisis: new study published by the Council of Europe anti-discrimination, diversity and inclusion committee
In order to be prepared to tackle hate speech in times of crisis, legal frameworks should be amended, law enforcement measures reinforced, collaboration between media, national human rights institutions and equality bodies strengthened, and support to those targeted by hate speech prioritised....
The Defensores de la Democracia Living Archive (Mexico) wins Council of Europe’s Democracy Innovation Award
At closing session of the 11th World Forum for Democracy, the Council of Europe announced that the winner of its 2023 Democracy Innovation Award was the Defensores de la Democracia Living Archive, the first online, public, searchable archive that preserves, catalogues and aggregates the work of...
Secretary General at the Closing session of the 11th World Forum for Democracy
“At a time when some opinion polls suggest that younger people are losing faith in democracy, your ideas, enthusiasm, and presence at this World Forum show that the fatalists are wrong. That a democratic future is yours (and ours) and, with it, the promise of peace”, highlighted Secretary...
Local elections in the Republic of Moldova: A well-organised election process, despite challenging circumstances
At the invitation of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe deployed a mission to observe the local elections held on 5 November 2023 throughout the country. The Congress mission was led by Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway,...
Preserving the integrity of sport by combatting illegal betting
A Council of Europe conference in Rabat (Morocco) aims to raise awareness of illegal betting, one of the biggest challenges to sport integrity and a key target in the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions, as addressed by the Macolin Convention. During the conference speakers are...
World Forum for Democracy 2023 opens in Strasbourg
The 2023 World Forum for Democracy has opened in Strasbourg. Taking place from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 November the event brings together intellectuals, politicians, activists, experts and young people from all over the world to debate how democracy can give better guarantees of peace. This...
CEB Governor Monticelli joins President von der Leyen for Regional Housing Programme ceremony
Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Governor Carlo Monticelli joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Borjana Krišto, in a ceremony on 1 November in the municipality of Vogošća, near Sarajevo, to...
Youth work in Ukraine: Council of Europe supports exchanges with Finland and Ireland
Representatives from youth centres in Ukraine have taken part in study visits to counterparts in Finland and Ireland that hold the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres. The exchanges, which took place in October, were an opportunity for Ukrainian youth workers to present their...
2 November: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Impunity is an increasingly worrying trend that has developed into a real culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, with serious consequences on journalistic work and people's access to information of public interest. Combating impunity and the constantly developing tendancy of allowing...
Secretary General at Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in Bletchley Park
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić participated in the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit (AISS) in Bletchley Park. The Secretary General highlighted the relevance of the Council of Europe draft framework convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a potentially global treaty...
Secretary General meets United Kingdom’s Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom, Alex Chalk. The meeting focused on current political and legal issues of relevance to the United Kingdom and the Council of Europe as a whole. Among the subjects...
Council of Europe to prepare package of measures in response to refugee influx in Armenia following Special Representative on Migration and Refugees’ visit
The Council of Europe is preparing a comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia following a visit by the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) Leyla Kayacik from 11 to 13 October 2023. This package aims to provide support to Armenia in addressing the issues...
Secretary General meets Chief of State Security Service of Azerbaijan
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Chief of State Security Service of Azerbaijan Ali Naghi oglu Naghiyev. The meeting focused on the importance of fostering dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including through confidence-building measures (CBMs). Marija Pejčinović Burić...
Violence against local and regional elected representatives: a threat to our democracies
An extremely unpleasant experience for those on the receiving end, verbal abuse and physical violence against local and regional elected representatives is on the rise throughout Europe. As well as being traumatic and damaging, such violence can also have a “demotivating” effect on elected...
Congress expresses deep concern over humanitarian situation in Karabakh and neighbouring cities and regions
The Congress held a debate on 26 October on the humanitarian situation following the flight of more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to neighbouring Armenia. In the adopted Declaration presented by Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), the Congress strongly condemned the military operation carried...
Secretary General on official visit to Liechtenstein
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met His Serene Highness Alois Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Prime Minister Risch, Foreign Minister Hasler, and other key personalities during an official visit to discuss the priorities of the country’s upcoming Committee of Ministers Presidency...
Local and regional media: Council of Europe Congress calls for more support to prevent local media deserts
Grassroots media play a key role in upholding local democracy, and authorities at all levels can and should take steps to strengthen grassroots media, finds a new report on local and regional media, presented by co-rapporteurs, Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) and Mélanie Lepoultier (France,...
Iceland should improve identification of human trafficking victims and step up investigations and prosecutions
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its third evaluation report on Iceland, with a thematic focus on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report assesses developments since the...
Secretary General meets Latvian Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia Inga Bērziņa. The meeting highlighted how human rights and the environment is a priority for the Council of Europe, as underlined in the Reykjavik Summit. The...
Congress sets new priorities as a follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit
In the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the refocusing of the Council that followed it, the Congress has adopted a new set of priorities for the period from 2023 until the end of its current mandate in 2026. These priorities are inspired by the Reykjavik Summit of Heads...
Congress elects new President
Members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe have elected Marc Cools (Belgium, GILD) as the new President of the Congress, for a mandate of two-and-a-half years. Marc Cools is Communal Councillor of Uccle and Honorary Vice-President of the Brussels Parliament and...
Secretary General marks European Day of Justice in Brussels
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked in Brussels the European Day of Justice, a joint initiative between the Council of Europe and the European Union, taking the floor at the conference on “The role of the European institutions in upholding the core values of the legal profession...
Deputy Secretary General visits Türkiye
On 22 October, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge paid a working visit to Gaziantep, Türkiye, where he met with the Turkish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mehmet Kemal Bozay. They had an important and constructive discussion on issues of common interest to the Council...
Election of new President among highlights of the 45th Congress session
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is holding its 45th Session from 24 to 26 October 2023. The election of a new President of the Congress, as well as Presidents of Congress’ Chambers and their vice-presidents will take place. The role of local and regional...
New opinions on national minorities protection in Albania, Austria and Moldova
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) has published new opinions on Albania, Austria and the Republic of Moldova. The Advisory Committee praises the prevailing atmosphere of mutual respect and intercultural dialogue in Albania,...
Armenia becomes 45th member state to abolish the death penalty in all circumstances
The Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Arman Khachatryan, in the presence of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, has deposited the ratification instrument, thereby completing the process of ratification by Armenia of Protocol No. 13 to the European...
Sweden: more efforts needed to identify victims of trafficking, including amongst children, and to prosecute traffickers
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its third evaluation report on Sweden, with a thematic focus on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report assesses developments since the publication...
European Anti-trafficking Day: Council of Europe expert group calls for preventing human trafficking risks exacerbated in the context of migration
On the eve of the European Anti-Trafficking Day (18 October), the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has warned of the increased risk of human trafficking created by restrictive immigration policies and failure to address the vulnerabilities...
Secretary General meets Prime Minister of Armenia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The meeting focused on the developments in the region and the contribution of the Council of Europe, including in light of the recent visit by the Secretary General’s Special Representative on...
Lisbon Forum 2023 : the role of young people in facing environmental and corruption challenges
Building on priorities established at the Council of Europe’s Reykjavik Summit in May 2023, this year’s Lisbon Forum – organised annually since 1994 by the Council of Europe’s North-South Centre – focused on the pivotal role that young people play in catalysing change when facing the intricate...
Situation in Israel: Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
"The outbreak of terror in Israel, a long-standing partner of our Organisation, is appalling. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorist crimes of Hamas, which have claimed the lives of so many innocent people and caused so many injuries. The Council of Europe stands firmly with the...
Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine, calls for comprehensive, just and lasting peace
PACE has condemned Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, stressing the importance of upholding Council of Europe standards and calling for “a united front to stop the aggression and win a peace which is comprehensive, just and lasting, ensuring that the rule of law prevails over the...
PACE calls on Azerbaijan to ‘prove its goodwill’ towards the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh
PACE has called on Azerbaijan to “create a climate of trust and the material conditions” for Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh to be able to return to their homeland – including active steps to encourage and reassure them to do so. In a resolution based on a report by Domagoj Hajduković (Croatia,...
PACE calls on Türkiye to ‘immediately release Osman Kavala, who remains unlawfully detained’
During an urgent debate, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Strasbourg in plenary session, called on Türkiye to “comply with binding judgments” of the European Court of Human Rights, and “to immediately release Osman Kavala, who remains unlawfully detained in...
Secretary General meets European Commissioner for Justice
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. Their meeting focused on Council of Europe-European Union co-operation and the ongoing preparation of the Convention on Artificial Intelligence. Marija Pejčinović Burić underscored the...
Latvia kicks off European Heritage Days event season
Marking the opening of the European Heritage Days (EHD) events season (from August to November), Latvia kicked off with the Song and Dance Festival in Riga gathering some 45,000 people to enjoy dance, music, singing, theatre, and storytelling, showcasing the rich intangible cultural heritage...
Escalation of violence in the Middle East: PACE holds current affairs debate
“Nothing can justify the atrocities committed by Hamas and there can be no ambiguity on this point,” today said Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC), at the opening of a current affairs debate on “Escalation of violence in the Middle East following the recent Hamas attack on Israel”. He expressed his full...
Congress Secretary General talks decentralization and climate change in Montenegro
Secretary General Mori travelled to Kotor and Podgorica (Montenegro) on Tuesday 10 October to stress the importance of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the positive impact its implementation has on Council of Europe Member States. He also thanked the national and local public...
Latvian Foreign Minister calls for support to Ukraine, continued dialogue on current issues
“The consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continue to dominate the agenda,” said Krišjānis Kariņš, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Chair of the Committee of Ministers, when addressing the Parliamentary Assembly. “Impunity cannot prevail,” he added. The minister...
Venice Commission opinions on Armenia, Bulgaria, Chile, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional law experts, the Venice Commission (European Commission for Democracy through Law) has published several opinions concerning ten states that were adopted and endorsed at its latest plenary session. Armenia: the joint Opinion of the Venice Commission...
Secretary General meets Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš. The exchange of views was an opportunity to take stock of Latvia’s Presidency activities, focusing on the practical implementation of the...
PACE to create a ‘contact platform’ for dialogue with representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to create a “recurring contact platform” for dialogue with representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces who share Council of Europe values, fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia’s war of...
Secretary General’s Question Time at the Parliamentary Assembly
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has responded to parliamentarians’ questions at the PACE Autumn plenary session. During a lively Q & A session, the Secretary General underlined the follow-up to the Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government Reykjavik agenda, focusing on the...
Marija Pejčinović Burić meets Secretary General of the Government of Romania, Minister Abrudean
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Secretary General of the Government of Romania, Minister Mircea Abrudean. The meeting focused on the follow-up of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government defining an ambitious path to strengthen democratic security, put an end...
President Leendert Verbeek expresses the solidarity and support of the Congress to authorities and citizens of Israel
In a letter addressed to Haim Bibas, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, expresses his solidarity with the national, regional and local authorities in the face of the...
2023 Václav Havel Prize awarded to imprisoned Turkish human rights defender Osman Kavala
The eleventh Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to imprisoned Turkish human rights defender, philanthropist and civil society activist Osman Kavala. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special...
European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October
Joint statement by Council of Europe Secretary General and the High Representative, on behalf of the European Union
Secretary General at inauguration of exhibition "Uprooted Children: Stories of Ukrainian Children Saved from the Deportation of the Russian Federation"
“Tearing Ukrainian children away from the warmth of their homes, their families and their communities and taking them to the temporarily occupied territories of their country, or to Russia, constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. We cannot accept their rights, or their identity...
Deputy Secretary General at IGF: “We must harness the benefits of AI without sacrificing our values”
The Council of Europe is participating in the 18th United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Japan from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto and organised under the theme “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”. In his remarks at the opening of the Forum, Deputy...
Protecting journalists and free media is key for addressing democratic backsliding in Europe, says Deputy Secretary General
At the end of a two-day conference on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, held in Riga under the Latvian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe’s Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, emphasised the importance of protecting journalists and other media...
Parliamentary Assembly holds its autumn session
The award of the 2023 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, as well as requests for urgent debates on "Humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh" and on "Call for the immediate release of Osman Kavala" will be some (*) of the highlights of the Autumn plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of...
Kyoto: Council of Europe at the Internet Governance Forum
The Council of Europe is participating in the 18th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Japan from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto, Japan, under the theme “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”. In addition to engaging in the general discussions, the Council of Europe...
CPT urges Romania to take urgent action to improve living conditions and treatment for patients in psychiatric establishments
In a new report released the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) calls on the Romanian authorities to take urgent action to ensure that all persons in psychiatric establishments are offered decent living conditions and appropriate treatment for their mental disorders...
Crystal Scales of Justice Prize awarded to Cypriot children’s initiative
The 2023 “Crystal Scales of Justice” Prize has been awarded to the Judicial Training School and “Hope For Children” - CRC Policy Center (Cyprus), for its “Kids in Court Game” initiative for children. The project “Kids in Court Game (KiCGame)” (Presentation) consists of four different games...
“Journalists matter”: Council of Europe launches campaign for the safety of journalists
The Council of Europe has launched a continent-wide Campaign for the Safety of Journalists to be run under the slogan “Journalists matter”, aimed at improving the safety of journalists and protecting media freedom across the continent, as well as raising awareness about the role journalists play...
Human rights situation in territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia: Committee of Ministers gravely concerned
In a decision adopted in the light of a report by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Committee of Ministers has expressed deep concern over the deterioration of the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian...
Member states should facilitate the active political participation of national minority youth, says new Recommendation
European states should take legislative and other measures to enable representatives of national minority youth to meaningfully influence political decision-making at local, regional and national levels, says a new Recommendation to 46 member states of the Council of Europe, adopted by the...
Council of Europe video highlights the need for unity in face of Russian aggression against Ukraine
A new video from the 46 nation Council of Europe draws on speeches made by leaders attending the Reykjavik Summit in May 2023, to underline the importance of European unity in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The continent’s peace and democratic security is at stake, according...
Secretary General meets the President of the Czech Republic Pavel
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel. The exchange of views underlined the impact of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government setting up an ambitious path to strengthen democratic security, put an end to democratic...
Conference in Riga on freedom of expression and safety of journalists: campaign launch
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and the Ombudsman’s Office, together with the Council of Europe, are organising an international conference in Riga on 5 and 6 October on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. Organised as part of the Latvian...
Secretary General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili. The meeting focused on the co-operation between the Organisation and Georgia for the implementation of the legislative and policy agenda, including in respect of the European...
Twelve recommendations to combat hate crimes against LGBTI people in Europe
A new report by the Council of Europe’s Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (CDADI) focuses on hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and presents 12 recommendations to Council of Europe member states...
Fair anti-doping procedures should be a reality for all athletes
More than 80 sport experts are gathering in Riga, Latvia, to define how to make anti-doping procedures fairer for athletes. The Conference, co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, aims at analysing national and...
Istanbul Convention enters into force in respect of the European Union
On 1 October the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CETS 210), commonly known as the Istanbul Convention, entered into force in respect of the European Union, which became the 38th Party to the Convention. The Council of Europe’s...
CEB approves seven new loans totalling €670 million
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved seven new loans totalling €670 million in support of education and vocational training, environmental protection, health and social care, MSME financing, and the promotion of inclusive and resilient living environments. “We believe that...
“Learners First”: the new Council of Europe Education Strategy launched
Renewing the democratic and civic mission of education; enhancing the social responsibility and responsiveness of education; advancing education through a human rights-based digital transformation – these are three pillars of the new Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024-2030 launched at the...
Transformative power of education: universal values and civic renewal
The renewal of education's civic mission, education in times of emergency and crisis, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation in education are the main themes of the 26th Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg on September 28-29. The...
Transformative power of education: universal values and civic renewal – Ministerial Conference in Strasbourg
The renewal of education's civic mission, education in times of emergency and crisis, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation in education are the main themes of the 26th Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg on September 28-29. The...
Secretary General at the opening of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Dublin
“Members of Parliament across Europe are experiencing a cross-current of pressures: unexpected crises, new and evolving challenges, a change in public expectations. Politicians must respond by upholding the space in which representative democracy does its job: our Parliaments”, highlighted...
Stop intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons: new recommendation published
As LGBTI people still experience high rates of discrimination and abuse, including violence, due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe today published a...
The Lanzarote Committee urges Russia to co-operate on the protection against sexual exploitation and abuse of unlawfully transferred or deported Ukrainian children
Following urgent questions addressed to the Russian Federation on 2 June 2023 about children who have been unlawfully transferred or deported to the Russian Federation or to the areas temporarily controlled or occupied by it, the Lanzarote Committee, adopted on 26 September a statement deploring...
The Committee of Ministers adopts a declaration on sport integrity
In a declaration adopted on 27 September 2023, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers invites member states and sport organisations to “promote transparency, accountability, democracy and ethical behaviour in sport, including the establishment of robust governance systems,...
Committee of Ministers calls for measures to ensure integrity in sport
In a declaration, the Committee of Ministers has called on member states and sports organisations to respond to evolving threats to integrity in sport with measures to build accountability and ensure fair and clean competitions. Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge welcomed the declaration as an...
Secretary General meets the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Hasler
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler. The meeting focused on the priorities of the upcoming Liechtenstein Presidency (15 November 2023 - May 2024). “I look forward to hearing the priorities of your Presidency,...
European Day of Languages 2023: a Day to highlight Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity
Every year since 2001 the European Day of Languages (EDL) celebrates the wealth of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. Over 225 languages are native to Europe alone, not including languages that arrived on the continent through migration. “The European Day of Languages reminds us that...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 19 to 21 September to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 45 decisions...
International Day of Peace : Statement by the President of the Congress, Leendert Verbeek
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Verbeek, issued the following statement: "For more than seventy years, since WWII, our continent has worked to build a democratic Europe, respectful of human rights and...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska authorities should refrain from further restricting the rights of NGOs
In a letter addressed to the President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, raises concerns about the Draft Law on Special Registry and Transparency of the Work of Non-Profit Organisations, which is...
