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Slovenia’s Marko Bošnjak elected President of the European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has elected Marko Bošnjak – the judge in respect of Slovenia – as its new President, to succeed Ireland’s Síofra O’Leary. The Court has also elected a new Vice-President, Norway’s Arnfinn Bårdsen, and a new Section President, Ivana Jelić of Montenegro. All three...
Human Rights, Camera, Action! - Council of Europe launches photo and video competition for young Europeans
To celebrate its 75th anniversary and to raise awareness of the role and impact of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, has launched a photo and video competition entitled “Human Rights, Camera, Action!” aimed at young people, inviting them to use their smartphones...
Foreign ministers of 46 member states meet a year after Reykjavik Summit
The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states will hold their annual session on 17 May 2024, in the context of the organisation’s 75th anniversary. The agenda will include the measures which the Council of Europe is continuing to take in response to the Russian...
Secretary General: “We need ideas, voices, and energy of young Europeans to win the fight for human rights, democracy and the rule of law”
Young people have a role to play in making sure that our standards prevail in the long term, but it will only be possible if the Organisation opens its ears, mind and doors to young people, stressed Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in her opening address at the youth...
What makes young Europeans confident in tomorrow?
The youth event “Confidence in Tomorrow”, to be held at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg from 14-16 May, will focus on the aspirations and commitments of today’s young Europeans and their role in shaping democracy and human rights. Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić and Permanent...
Berlin conference on how religious leaders can help to re-invigorate European democracies
As part of Liechtenstein’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, an international conference on “How can interreligious engagement help to re-invigorate the European democracies?” will take place on 14 May at the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin,...
High-level Congress delegation attends Second International Summit of Cities and Regions in Ukraine
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) and Thematic Spokesperson on Youth, Véronique Bertholle (France, SOC/G/PD), participated in a high-level visit to...
Hate crimes must be unmasked, recorded and investigated, and victims supported
New Committee of Ministers Recommendation
Council of Europe evaluates anti-corruption progress in Belgium
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two reports on Belgium, assessing progress towards implementing GRECO recommendations concerning members of parliament, judges and prosecutors as well as central governments (top executive functions) and law...
Council of Europe adopts guidelines on emergency responses to terrorist attacks
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a series of guidelines aimed at its 46 member states, in order to help public authorities and the public sector to strengthen their emergency responses in case of a terrorist attack. Prepared by the Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), the guidelines...
"Defending fundamental freedoms in times of war and crises” on the Kristiansand conference agenda
The future of European co-operation and justice for Ukraine featured heavily at the 5th European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights in Kristiansand, Norway on 6 May. Following a welcome address by the Mayor of Kristiansand, Matthias Bernander, the official opening speeches focused on the...
Europe Day 2024 : video message from Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić marks the organisation’s 75th anniversary. The Council of Europe was founded in London on 5 May 1949 by ten European countries. The organisation now comprises 46 member states, representing 700 million European citizens. 5 May is...
“Confidence in Tomorrow”
Statement by Secretary General on Europe Day 2024
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I am deeply concerned by the developments unfolding in Georgia and regret Parliament’s adoption in second reading of the draft law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’, despite calls by Georgia’s...
World Press Freedom Day
2024 election year: Secretary General urges governments to protect journalists to safeguard democracy
Ukraine: Disregard false information concerning derogations from the European Convention on Human Rights
In 2022, Ukraine notified the Council of Europe of derogations to several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights resulting from the Russian aggression and ongoing state of war in the country. Ukraine regularly updates the Council of Europe about these derogations. As of 4 April 2024...
One year on from Reykjavik, the Congress is working to implement the Summit’s conclusions
In his communication to the Committee of Ministers on 30 April 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori presented the Congress action to implement the decisions of the Reykjavik Summit, notably in supporting Ukraine, fighting against democratic backsliding, upholding human rights and the...
“Our rights, our future”
Secretary General 2024 report on democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Europe
L’Atelier de l’Europe: immersion in the Council of Europe’s art collection
To mark its 75th anniversary, the Council of Europe is offering a unique audio experience featuring 12 works of art that are emblematic of the organisation’s history, heritage and values. L’Atelier de l’Europe (Europe’s workshop), a 12-episode podcast in French, will be available from 1 May. The...
Anti-trafficking group GRETA issues 2023 report
The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its latest general report of activities, highlighting the key achievements in 2023. These include the publication of 11 new country evaluation reports (in respect of Azerbaijan, Estonia,...
Secretary General welcomes new three-year contract “Strasbourg, European Capital”
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Ukraine: Anti-torture committee expresses concern over prison overcrowding and informal hierarchies
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report on its October 2023 periodic visit to Ukraine, the first since the start of the full-scale military aggression by Russia in February 2022. Despite the efforts by...
Human Rights Commissioner calls for stronger support for Ukraine
The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, carried out a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine from 23-25 April. This was his first visit to a member state since taking up his post on 1 April. With the current human rights landscape in Europe being dominated by Russia’s war...
Secretary General attends OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna
“I said at the very beginning of my mandate, in 2019, that I wanted to reinforce co-operation between the Council of Europe and other international organisations in the interest of people in Europe, and the wider world. And I cannot think of a better way to mark the Council of Europe’s 75th...
Anti-torture annual report: Rights of transgender prisoners in focus
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issued a set of standards and recommendations to European prisons aimed at ensuring that transgender prisoners, a highly vulnerable segment of the prison population, are treated with respect and protected from the risks of...
Secretary General meets Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia Lasha Darsalia. During the meeting, the Secretary General highlighted once more the unwavering commitment of the Council of Europe to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, as...
Serious human rights concerns about United Kingdom’s Rwanda Bill
“The adoption of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the UK Parliament raises major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more generally”, said Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. “The United Kingdom government...
The Netherlands: “Council of Europe is your friend who helps you stick to the rules”
On the 3rd of April 2024, at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security and at the Utrecht University, Ambassador Tanja Gonggrijp, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe gave presentations on the Council of Europe’s central role in strengthening human rights, the...
Secretary General meets French Minister Delegate for Europe
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the French Minister Delegate for Europe Jean-Noël Barrot. The meeting focused on current global challenges for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Marija Pejčinović Burić and Jean-Noël Barrot exchanged views mainly on the finalisation of...
Secretary General on official visit to Lithuania
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with President of the Republic Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska, and other key personalities during an official visit to Lithuania to discuss...
Council of Europe to celebrate the Freedom of Artistic Expression at Venice Biennale
On the occasion of the 60th Venice Biennale, the Council of Europe is organising an event in Venice on 20 April under the title the Other Session, to discuss and assess, through dialogues, performances and exhibitions, the landscape of artistic freedom in Europe, and to identify measures needed...
Congress Secretary General urges Bulgaria to advance fiscal decentralisation
“Fiscal decentralisation is not about administrative restructuring; it is about political empowerment and citizen trust”, stated the Secretary General of the Congress Local and Regional Authorities, Mathieu Mori, at closing the final conference of the EU/CoE project “Developing fiscal...
2024 Europe Prize awarded to Terrassa (Spain)
The 2024 Europe Prize has been awarded to Terrassa, Spain. This award is given annually by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to the town most active in promoting the European ideal. Terrassa is a city of 225,000 inhabitants in central-eastern Catalonia (Spain). A...
“There will be no peace without justice” – H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois tells PACE
“Aggressive power politics must not prevail. Those challenging our common commitment to the rules base international order must be held to account,” was the message at the heart of His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein’s address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the...
Secretary General meets Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein. The meeting has been an opportunity to take stock of the Liechtenstein Presidency and of the celebrations for the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Organisation. The exchange of views...
Armenia: GRECO calls for stronger oversight and accountability in police and top executive functions
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on Armenia to pursue its efforts to prevent corruption in respect of persons with top executive functions and the police (see the non-official translation in Armenian). GRECO notes the positive steps taken...
PACE pays tribute to Alexei Navalny, calls for sweeping measures to counter Putin’s totalitarian regime
PACE has paid tribute to Alexei Navalny, declaring that the Russian state bears full responsibility for his death, and urged a series of sweeping measures to counter what it called Vladimir Putin’s “totalitarian regime”. Unanimously adopting a resolution based on a report by Emanuelis Zingeris...
Foreign Affairs Minister of Liechtenstein addresses PACE
In her communication, Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein and President of the Committee of Ministers, mentioned the need for continued support to Ukraine and referred to the Presidency’s priorities. “In Reykjavík our leaders sent a strong message...
Montenegro to introduce Barnahus model to support child survivors and witnesses of violence, abuse and sexual exploitation
The government of Montenegro, with support from UNICEF, the Council of Europe and the European Union (EU), have announced the introduction of a multidisciplinary model that provides child-friendly support for child survivors and witnesses of violence, abuse and exploitation: Barnahus (Children’s...
Secretary General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein and President of the Committee of Ministers Dominique Hasler. The meeting focused on the current state of play of the Liechtenstein Presidency and the upcoming 75th anniversary...
Secretary General meets Minister of Justice of Latvia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Justice of Latvia Inese Lībiņa-Egnere. During the meeting, they discussed the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the “Riga Principles” adopted at the informal conference of Ministers...
PACE recommends that Kosovo* becomes a member of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has recommended that Kosovo* be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe – while deciding to monitor its fulfilment of an extensive list of commitments and obligations as from its accession. Under the Council of Europe’s...
PACE calls for frozen Russian State assets to be used to support the reconstruction of Ukraine
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, today recommended “the seizure of Russian state assets and their use” in support of the reconstruction of Ukraine. This course of action would “strengthen Ukraine, ensure the accountability of...
Secretary General’s Question Time at the Parliamentary Assembly
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has responded to parliamentarians’ questions at the PACE Spring plenary session. During a lively Q & A session, the Secretary General reiterated the fundamental importance of the European Union accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, as an...
Secretary General meets Chair of the Parliament of Ukraine
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Chair of Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament) of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk. Accountability and the Register of Damage for Ukraine, as an integral part of the future compensation mechanism, were at the centre of the meeting, with the opening of the...
'Ukraine needs right now the vital munitions which will allow it to continue to defend itself' says PACE President
“Ukraine needs our support and not just words – it needs right now the vital munitions which will allow it to continue to defend itself, to defend us all and to defend the most fundamental right of all laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights – the right of people to life,” PACE...
Deputy Prime Minister Popsoi stresses the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to reform in its path to European integration
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during its spring session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi, expressed his country´s commitment to “continue deep reforms and transformation of the Moldovan society, overcome...
Secretary General meets Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi. The meeting focused on the follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit, including the Register of Damage, and the organisation’s forthcoming 75th...
Spring session of Conference of INGOs: results
An exchange with the new Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Michael O’Flaherty (link to speech) pledging to prioritise the defence of civil society, as well as the end of mandate activity report presented by the President were the highlights of the first part of the Spring session of the...