At its meeting of 10 to 12 March 2025, the intergovernmental committee on the environment (GME) finalised the text of a draft Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment.
Building upon the Council of Europe expertise and standards, the draft Strategy’s objectives include:
- integrating human rights and good governance principles in environment-related processes and decisions,
- protecting environmental human rights defenders,
- preventing and fighting environmental crimes and
- the conservation of Europe’s wildlife, ecosystems and landscapes.
The Committee also discussed an Action Plan designed to coordinate the Council of Europe’s efforts around the Strategy’s implementation. The Strategy is expected to be adopted by the Committee of Ministers at its ministerial session in Luxembourg (14 May 2025).
The GME includes representatives of governments, Council of Europe bodies, intergovernmental and civil society organisations. It was established as part of the Reykjavík Process launched by the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government.
More information about the Reykjavík Process is available here.
