Newsroom
For Bosnia and Herzegovina "there is no alternative to European integration"
“We have set a number of priorities regarding our continuation on the path towards European integration, economic development and the rule of law. We are well aware of what we have to do, and we think we can achieve that objective. We need your support to help us to make this a European success...
Inclusive growth: less inequality, more social dialogue
The PACE – enlarged to include parliamentary delegations from the non-Council of Europe OECD member states – called on the OECD and its member states to halt rising inequality and promote inclusive growth and a more equal distribution of income, wealth and well-being. On the basis of a report by...
Wojciech Sawicki re-elected PACE Secretary General
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, today re-elected Wojciech Sawicki to the post of Secretary General of the Assembly for a five-year term starting on 1 February 2016. Mr Sawicki currently heads the secretariat of the Assembly,...
Migration and refugee crisis in Europe: for a comprehensive humanitarian and political response
The refugee crisis is not merely a European problem and requires urgent and comprehensive solutions. Only concerted comprehensive action with a range of measures geared to the countries of origin, transit and destination will be successful,” said Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD), at the opening of...
Refugee and migrant crisis: finding common solutions
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg has called on governments, given the scale of the refugee and migrant crisis, to “find common solutions and act in the longer term to tackle the root causes of the problems.” “This crisis is a great touchstone of our ability to show solidarity in...
Fair treatment for refugees: a moral and legal obligation
Statement by Igor Crnadak, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Secretary General's dialogue with Assembly members
Thorbjørn Jagland replied to the questions put to him by members of the Parliamentary Assembly during a questions and answer session during the Assembly's autumn session. During the exchange, which was dominated by the migration crisis, Mr Jagland underlined the importance of placing all those...
PACE President gives mixed assessment on human rights in Europe
After almost two years at the head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the President, Anne Brasseur, has given a mixed assessment of progress in human rights throughout Europe in her opening address at the autumn session in Strasbourg. Among the positive developments, she...
Ludmilla Alexeeva wins Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The third Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to veteran Russian human rights defender Ludmilla Alexeeva. The €60 000 prize was presented at a special ceremony today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg,...
The European Day of Languages 2015
Celebrating the linguistic diversity of Europe
Secretary General Jagland meets Foreign Minister Schetyna of Poland
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today met in Warsaw with and Foreign Minister of Poland Grzegorz Schetyna. Topics of discussion included the human rights of refugees, the situation in Ukraine and Poland’s relations with the Council of Europe.
Counterfeiting of medical products
Entry into force of the Medicrime Convention
Committee of Ministers adopts interim resolution on Azerbaijan
Ilgar Mammadov must be immediately released and his physical integrity guaranteed by the Azerbaijani authorities
Anti-torture committee calls on Romania to combat ill-treatment in prisons
In a report on Romania published today, the Council of Europe anti-torture committee (CPT) expresses its concern about numerous credible allegations of ill-treatment by persons held in prisons, although it also points out significant progress in reducing such practice in police stations. The CPT,...
Massive arrival of refugees in Europe
Following the thematic debate which took place last week, the Ministers' Deputies adopted a series of decisions today concerning the massive arrival of refugees in Europe. In particular, they recalled the obligations which fall upon member States under international law, particularly the...
Chair of the Committee of Ministers on visit to Tunisia
Mr Igor Crnadak, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina paid a visit to Tunisia on 20-21 September 2015. He was received by the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Mr Béji Caïd Essebsi. He also met his counterpart Mr Taieb Baccouche,...
Jacques Bühler receives the Pro Merito Medal of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Mr Jacques Bühler, Deputy Secretary General of the Swiss Federal Court, CEPEJ member and President of the SATURN Centre Steering Committee for judicial time management, has been awarded the Pro Merito Medal of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in the framework of the 10th plenary...
Committee of Ministers examines implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments
The representatives of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe will examine the implementation of the judgments and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on 22‑24 September 2015. This supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers is provided for under Article 46 of the European...
Remove obstacles to the work of women’s rights defenders
“Human rights defenders and civil society organisations working to protect the human rights of women and gender equality perform an essential role in Europe. They provide much needed assistance to victims of gender-based violence, combat discrimination against women, contribute to peace-building...
Council of Europe monitoring group on violence against women names President and Vice-Presidents
Following its inaugural meeting held in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) today announced the election of its first President and two Vice-Presidents. The President is Professor Feride Acar, faculty member...
First meeting of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
Statement by Igor Crnadak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, and Semiha Borovac, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina
"In the face of indifference and rejection, we must move towards a globalisation of solidarity"
Following her audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican today, Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), made the following statement: “In the course of my discussion with Pope Francis, I expressed my conviction that our absolute priority...
Belgium: accelerate reception of asylum-seekers and improve inclusive education
"The overwhelmingly positive response of Belgian society to the arrivals of refugees and the decision of the authorities to increase the quota of Syrian refugees they accept for resettlement are encouraging signs. They suggest that Belgium is ready to play its part to ensure that Europe meets the...
Freedom of Expression: still a precondition for democracy?
The Council of Europe brings together top judges, government officials and activists to address current challenges to freedom of expression at a conference in Strasbourg
Minority languages in Norway: Council of Europe praises government efforts
Council of Europe experts, in their new report published today evaluated the application by Norway of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The independent expert committee acknowledged the commitment and the efforts of the authorities to support and protect the languages, but...
Secretary General on official visit to Finland
Meetings with the Foreign Minister Timo Soini and President Sauli Niinistö
European Roma Institute will spread understanding of Roma culture and challenge stereotypes
Council of Europe member States have approved a proposal for the creation of a new European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture. Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland issued the following statement: “The Council of Europe wants to help celebrate the contribution of Roma art, history, and...
Secretary General questions Hungary over human rights
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will write to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán about new legislation adopted in the context of the migration crisis. “I am concerned about a series of recent amendments to legislation in Hungary which will, among other things, allow the Government to...
Council of Europe Bank proposes new "Migrant and Refugee Fund"
In response to the unprecedented influx of refugees in Europe the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has launched a new grant facility named "Migrant and Refugee Fund" (MRF) to finance transit and reception centres in affected countries. The CEB will, pending approval from its governing...
Youth can lead the way to help migrants and refugees, say participants of Council of Europe’s youth event in Budapest
Young people can play a major role in fostering citizen solidarity and social integration in the current refugee crisis in Europe, including through digital means. This is a key topic of the Symposium on Youth Participation in the Digitalised World, organised by the Youth Partnership between the...
Refugee crisis: Council of Europe reminds states of respect for human rights of all
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has issued guidance to the Council of Europe’s 47 member States on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, including with regard to their reception and temporary living conditions, to ensure respect for their human rights. “The ongoing migrant crisis is...
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland on recent events in Turkey
“Recent events in Turkey are very worrying. I strongly condemn the deadly attacks on Turkish security forces. And I express my sincere condolences to all victims of violence over the past days. I am also alarmed by the attacks on political parties and media outlets which risk destabilising...
UNHCR and Council of Europe leaders stress need to protect human rights of refugees
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres met today in Geneva to discuss the current human rights situation of refugees in Europe and strengthen co-operation between the two organisations. "Governments should draw inspiration...
Europe can do more to protect refugees
For many years European countries have been warned about the inadequacy of their immigration and asylum systems. Now, with increased refugee arrivals and more frequent tragedies, this system is showing all its weaknesses. But refugee arrivals are not the real cause of this collapse. The real...
ECHR Lampedusa judgment underlines migrants have the same fundamental rights as everyone else
Migration crisis poses serious threat to the respect for human rights
Secretary General Jagland welcomes vote in Ukraine's parliament on constitutional reform and decentralisation
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland welcomes the vote in Ukraine's parliament on constitutional reform and decentralisation today: “I welcome the vote in the Rada today in favour of constitutional reform and decentralisation. I hope that the reform process will continue and bring positive...
Secretary General welcomes adoption of National Human Rights Strategy in Ukraine
Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland welcomed today the approval by the Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko of the National Strategy in the Sphere of Human Rights for the period until 2020, and pledged continued support from the Council of Europe to Ukraine in its implementation. “The Council of...
Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) reports on Montenegro
Council of Europe calls for sharpened measures to counter corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors in Montenegro
Human rights defenders from Russia, Afghanistan and Balkan region shortlisted for 2015 Václav Havel Prize
Veteran Russian human rights defender Ludmilla Alexeeva, the grassroots NGO Women for Afghan Women and the Balkan NGO Youth Initiative for Human Rights have been shortlisted for the 2015 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, it was announced in Prague today. The 60,000-euro annual prize honours...
Secretary General welcomes the release of six political prisoners in Belarus
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today made the following statement concerning the release of six political prisoners in Belarus: "I have been informed today that six political prisoners in Belarus, including Mr. Nikolai Statkevich, have been liberated by a decision of...
Council of Europe supports use of minority languages in public signs
The Council of Europe notes with regret that on 17 August 2015, the City Council of Vukovar / Вуковар (Croatia), where Serbs constitute a significant proportion of the population, decided to amend the city statute in such a way as not to provide bilingual signs in Latin and Cyrillic scripts at...
21st edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival
The 21th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival, which is supported by the Council of Europe, ended today with the award ceremony. The “Heart of Sarajevo for the Best Feature Film” award, which is sponsored by the Council of Europe, went to the film “Mustang”, directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven from...
Without papers but not without rights: the basic social rights of irregular migrants
“Those who think that irregular migrants have no rights because they have no papers are wrong. Everyone is a holder of human rights regardless of their status. It is easy to understand that the prohibition of torture protects all people but we should also be aware of the fact that basic social...
Declaration on gender equality in the European film industry
A high-level conference, entitled “Women in today’s film industry: gender issues. Can we do better?", was held in Sarajevo on 14 August, in the framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. A declaration was adopted at the conference calling...
Despite progress, Georgia still has to fully implement recommendations on transparency of party funding
The anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe, the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) published today a report on how Georgia has implemented its previous recommendations on criminalization of corruption offences, and on transparency of party funding. Back in 2011, GRECO issued a set...
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland condemns attack on Azerbaijani journalist Rasim Aliyev
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe issued the following statement today: “I am shocked by the murder of Rasim Aliyev, Chairman of the Institute for Reporters Safety and Freedom (*). It is a very worrying sign that the safety of journalists in the country is deteriorating further. I...
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland calls for de-escalation of violence in Turkey
The recent increase of violence in Turkey which has resulted in the deaths of civilians, soldiers and police officers is very worrying. I call on all in Turkey to refrain from violent actions and reactions. Nobody will gain from this escalation. It endangers the progress that has been achieved...
Investigation of Odesa tragedy
International Advisory Panel describes recent visits to Ukraine, final report expected by end of October
Hungary ratifies Council of Europe convention to protect children against sexual abuse
Hungary became the 37th state of the Council of Europe to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. It will enter into force in Hungary on the 1st of December 2015. The treaty – known as "the Lanzarote Convention" – requires...
Council of Europe marks the anniversary of the Roma genocide in the Second World War
Today the Council of Europe observed one minute of silence to mark the 71th anniversary and to pay homage to the victims of the genocide committed against Roma during the Second World War. The Roma nation commemorates this tragedy on August 2–the date when, in 1944, over 3 000 Roma were...
Thorbjørn Jagland: Women’s safety in Europe has been strengthened by the success of the ‘Istanbul Convention’
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has called on nine member states to sign and ratify the ‘Istanbul, Convention,’ to strengthen women’s safety across Europe.
Time to cure amnesia about the history of Roma in Europe
“In a few days, we will commemorate the liquidation 71 years ago of the so-called “Gypsy family camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau. On 2 August 1944, 2 897 persons were taken to the gas chambers and exterminated. Only a few months earlier, on 16 May 1944, the detainees of the “Gypsy camp” had refused to...
Statement by GRETA on the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons
On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) expresses deep concern at the current humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean region, which may fuel trafficking in human beings. Hundreds...
Chairman of the Committee of Ministers participates in the special meeting of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee in Madrid (28 July 2015)
The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Minister Igor Crnadak, participated on 28 July 2015 in Madrid, on behalf of the Council of Europe, in the special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council. On this occasion, Minister Crnadak presented the...
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland condemns death sentence of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
I condemn the decision by a Tripoli court to sentence Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and eight other defendants to death. This case should have been turned over to the International Criminal Court in the Hague for a fair trial. The Council of Europe reaffirms its commitment to promote abolition of the...
Secretary General statement on journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed
“The Council of Europe is a staunch defender of free of expression and I, like many, am following the trial of Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed – the two Al Jazeera journalists awaiting sentencing on terrorism charges in Egypt. Media freedom is a cornerstone of a healthy, functioning democracy and...
Chamber Judgment - Oliari and Others v. Italy
In the case of Oliari and Others v. Italy, the Court held that there has been a violation of the right to respect for family life. The applicants, 3 homosexual couples, complained that under Italian legislation they do not have the possibility to get married or enter into any other type of civil...
Report of the Group of States against Corruption on Hungary
Hungary urged to strengthen anti-corruption measures
Statement by the Secretary General on the attack in Suruc
"I strongly condemn today’s brutal attack on innocent victims in Suruc, at a time when hundreds of young people were staying there. I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a swift recovery to the wounded. My thoughts are with the people of Turkey, our member...
Statement by Igor Crnadak, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the terrorist attack in Suruc (Turkey)
“I am deeply shocked by the deadly terrorist attack which has taken place in the city of Suruc in Turkey. I condemn in the strongest terms this appalling act and firmly hope that those responsible will rapidly be arrested and brought to justice. I wish to express my sympathy to the victims and...
Anniversary of the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17
Statement by Igor Crnadak, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Time to debunk myths and prejudices about Roma migrants in Europe
“Political and media debates on Roma migration have become recurrent in several European countries. Since the eastward expansion of the European Union in 2004 and 2007, and the lifting of employment restrictions regarding Romanian and Bulgarian citizens in a number of EU member states in 2014,...
Statement by the Secretary General on the agreement of a roadmap for "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" to the 2016 election
"I welcome the roadmap to the 2016 election that has been agreed in Skopje overnight. "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" now has a chance to move forward, taking the necessary first steps for political stability. The agreement sends all the right signals and should be implemented in...
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairmanship is a sign of reconciliation
20 years after Srebrenica - Statement by Secretary General Jagland
Human Rights Commissioner: Russian NGO legislation must meet European standards
Nils Muižnieks publishes updated Opinion regarding Russian legislation on non-commercial organisations
Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, online hate speech increased in 2014
Annual report from Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission
Human rights report on Serbia
Serbia: Impunity for war crimes, discrimination and lack of media freedom hamper human rights progress
Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg Prize 2016
Call for Raoul Wallenberg Prize nominations to reward extraordinary humanitarian achievements
Children are holders of rights, in their own right
Secretary General Jagland comments “What next?” for child rights and the law
Eastern Ukraine: freedom of movement vital to prevent isolation and favour reintegration
Commissioner for Human Rights's statement following visit to Ukraine
Report of the Group of States against Corruption on Serbia
Serbia: Council of Europe says tools for preventing corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors must be improved
Award of the North-South Prize
Award ceremony of Council of Europe North-South Prize at Assembly of Portuguese Republic
Combatting discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity
New online database of good practices and policies
Secretary General condemns attacks in Tunisia and France
Jagland calls for closer international cooperation to combat terrorism
Co-rapporteurs urge restraint from all sides in Yerevan protests
The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Armenia by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD) and Sir Alan Meale (United Kingdom, SOC), have appealed to police as well as protesters to show maximum restraint in order to ensure that peaceful...
