Newsroom
French student wins the European Prize for Eloquence
The 2019 edition of the European Prize for Eloquence, the annual French-language public speaking competition, has been won by Simon Derieux-Billaud, a French student, who spoke on the theme “Can we still have dreams of Europe?”. The second prize went to Alina Marchenko (Ukraine), with Ellen...
Ensuring the financial sustainability of quality journalism
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to ensure the financial sustainability of quality journalism taking into account that it is a public good and plays an essential role for individuals to be able to form and express their opinions and make informed choices about government...
Algorithmic processes risk being used to manipulate social and political behaviours
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to tackle the risk that individuals may not be able to form their opinions and take decisions independently of automated systems, and that they may even be subjected to manipulation due to the use of advanced digital technologies, in...
Safety of Journalists' Platform report: media freedom conditions worsen
The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly in the Council of Europe area, according to a report published today by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report “Democracy at Risk: threats and...
Hungary should address many interconnected human rights protection challenges
Challenges include civil society space, gender equality, refugee protection and independence of the judiciary
Statement by the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland about Tomi Ungerer
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today expressed his deep sorrow at the news of the death of the Alsatian illustrator Tomi Ungerer. "Today we have lost a great artist, and a committed European. The values of justice and humanism for which Europe is a vehicle were...
MONEYVAL publishes report on Czech Republic
Combatting money laundering in the Czech Republic: despite progress more investigations are needed, says Council of Europe report
MONEYVAL publishes report on Lithuania
Lithuania should step up its efforts to strengthen its understanding of money laundering and financing of terrorism risks, says Council of Europe report
Official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made today an official visit to the Council of Europe. Prime Minister Sánchez held meetings with Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities...
Anti-torture committee on Montenegro: Despite some progress, ill-treatment remains a problem and must be addressed
Despite some overall improvement in the treatment of persons detained by the police in Montenegro, ill-treatment still appears widely spread and must be tackled through stricter recruitment, better training and improved oversight. In prisons, too, allegations of ill-treatment persist; the...
National Minorities in Azerbaijan: new report published
Azerbaijani multiculturalism welcomes expressions of cultural identity, but increased restrictions on democracy, absence of legislation, inflammatory language prevent national minorities from fully exercising their rights Society in Azerbaijan is broadly characterised by a climate of...
Australia signs the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions
In the framework of Sports Diplomacy 2030 high-level event, the Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation of Australia Bridget McKenzie signed in a ceremony (Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park) with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni the...
Germany: Teaching and promotion of regional and minority languages needs to be improved says group of experts
In its sixth report on Germany, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises steps taken to protect and promote regional or minority languages (Danish, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani), including...
Council of Europe posters by Mr Z
Two posters by the French illustrator and graphic designer, Richard Zielenkiewicz, also known as Mr Z, are to mark the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 60th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Z, who is famed for his colourful, uncluttered illustrations inspired...
Committee of Ministers adopts guidelines on electronic evidence in civil and administrative proceedings
The Committee of Ministers has adopted guidelines to facilitate the use of electronic evidence in court proceedings. These guidelines are the first such international instrument. Their primary purpose is to help the 47 member states adapt the operation of their judicial and other...
Paris: Commissioner Mijatović provides her initial observations on human rights issues relating to the “yellow vest” movement
“The high level of tension currently prevailing in France gives me cause for concern and I believe that there is an urgent need to calm the situation,” said Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović today following her mission to Paris on 28 January to discuss human rights...
Corruption in Croatia: Code of conduct for MPs still lacking, but progress made to limit conflict of interest
Assessing measures taken by Croatia to implement recommendations that had been made in 2014, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) regrets that its recommendation to the Croatian Parliament to adopt a code of conduct for its members still has not been realized. The...
Armenia: the Commissioner for Human Rights publishes a new report
Report on Armenia recommends measures to improve women’s rights, protection of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, and establishing accountability for past human rights violations Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published the report of her visit to...
Poland: Anti-corruption group calls for more transparency and preventive measures to promote integrity in central government and in law enforcement agencies
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) says that it is a “top priority” for Poland to establish a system for appointment, promotion and dismissal of all senior managers in the Police and Border Guards, which would be based on objective, merit-based criteria and...
