Newsroom
Innovation to help us live together better
The round table on “Local innovation for stronger local authorities” held on 13 September during the Congress Conference showed that social and technological innovation is as much about...
Spain’s system to protect regional and minority languages is well developed but gaps persist in justice, healthcare and public administration
In a new evaluation report the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages concludes that while Spain has a well-developed system for the protection and promotion of its regional and minority languages, further efforts are needed to address...
Congress conference supports democracy, resilience and reconstruction in Ukraine
News from the front line featured constantly in the debate on co-ordinating the aid provided to Ukraine by associations of local and regional authorities in Europe and making it more...
Congress and national associations: advance the cause of local and regional democracy
The 4th Conference of National Associations of Local and Regional Authorities held in Strasbourg on 12 and 13 September gave the associations an opportunity to set out what they expect from...
Representation of women and young people: how to boost democratic participation at local and regional level? - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Making local and regional democracy more inclusive means first and foremost increasing the proportion of women among elected representatives, but also opening up assemblies to young people and...
Council of Europe evaluates anti-corruption progress in Ireland
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published a compliance report on Ireland, assessing the country’s progress in implementing recommendations from GRECO’s 2022 evaluation report on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top...
Young people and policy makers discuss democracy and the climate crisis
Climate justice and effective action to tackle the triple planetary crises of global warming, pollution and loss of biodiversity are key concerns of young people. From 24 to 26 September, 120 young people, members of non-governmental youth organisations, voluntary and professional youth workers,...
Lithuania launches European Heritage Days 2024: “the Baltic Way was our road to freedom”
This year’s European Heritage Days festivities have been launched with programmes in more than 40 countries, exploring this year’s theme of “Heritage of Routes, Networks, and Connections.” Lithuania is currently holding the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, and has...
Poland needs to respect its international human rights obligations on the Belarusian border, says Commissioner O’Flaherty
Commissioner O’Flaherty visited Poland from 16 to 18 September 2024 for a mission focusing on the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The Commissioner’s mission was prompted by longstanding reports about incidents on the...
Albania and Monaco thematic reports highlight key measures to combat domestic violence
The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published thematic reports on Albania and Monaco's implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The findings acknowledge positive developments, such as legal reforms, but also stress...
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 17 to 19 September to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 41 decisions...
First Meeting of the new Council of Europe Environment Governmental Committee
The Ad Hoc Multidisciplinary Group on Environment (GME) will hold its first meeting from 25 to 27 September 2024 in Strasbourg. This GME marks a new step in the Council of Europe’s intensified efforts to address environmental challenges and their impact on human rights, as set forth in the...
Including youth perspectives and participation across the Council of Europe’ work
The Council of Europe held a ground-breaking two-day consultative meeting on the inclusion of a youth perspective in the Organisation’s intergovernmental and other deliberations on 19-20 September 2024 at the European Youth Centre. Consultations were held as the Organisation is committed to...
Empowering the Future: Making the Social Rights of Youth Real
As part of the UN Summit of the Future Action Days, a side event on "Empowering the Future: Making the Social Rights of Youth Real" will take place on 20 September 2024, in New York, at the...
Republic of Moldova: PACE delegation concerned about significant foreign interference in forthcoming election
A pre-election delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), concluding a visit to the Republic of Moldova on 17-18 September 2024, stressed that the country is at a critical crossroads. The upcoming presidential election and constitutional referendum on 20 October...
The Bern Convention celebrates its 45th anniversary
The Bern Convention, a key international treaty for the protection of Europe's fauna, flora and natural habitats, celebrates its 45th anniversary today. Signed in 1979, it was the first treaty to provide a framework for cooperation on biodiversity conservation. Since its entry into force in 1982,...
Commissioner’s video message to the Berlin Process Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process
Video message delivered to the Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process, organised in the context of the Berlin Process Meetings 2024, Berlin, 18 September 2024...
Council of Europe experts call for measures to boost regional and minority languages in the UK
Experts from the Council of Europe have urged the United Kingdom to adopt language strategies for Irish and Ulster Scots, in particular, and to strengthen the teaching of all regional or minority languages in the UK – including Cornish, Scots, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh – as well as Manx Gaelic on...
Council of Europe experts give guidance on applying the recovery and reflection period for victims of trafficking
A new Guidance Note published by GRETA, the Council of Europe anti trafficking body, highlights the purposes and principles of the recovery and reflection period and its legal basis and procedures. Provided for in Article 13 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in...
Alain Berset, new Secretary General
Addressing the Ministers' Deputies, the Secretary General highlighted the vital importance of the Organisation's ongoing work and the importance of delivering results, saying: "In this, the Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary year, it is hard to quantify the amount of good that this Organisation...
