Newsroom
Venice Commission releases opinions on draft laws aimed at limiting oligarch influence in Georgia and Moldova
In two interim opinions on draft laws aimed at limiting the excessive economic and political influence in public life, the Council of Europe’s body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission has called on the Georgian and Moldovan authorities to adopt systemic reforms rather than targeting...
Secretary General met with Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda today and discussed the upcoming Council of Europe Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Both leaders emphasized the need to ensure accountability in Ukraine,...
Meeting between the Secretary General and President of the European Council Michel
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić had a meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel in the Europa Building Forum in Brussels. The meeting focused on the upcoming Council of Europe Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Marija...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Council of Europe’s 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 7 to 9 March to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 36 decisions...
Council of Europe demands immediate release of Aleksey Navalnyy
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has deplored the continued detention of Aleksey Navalnyy during its quarterly meeting on the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and once again demanded that the Russian authorities immediately release him. The Council of...
Anti-racism commission sees gaps in Czech Republic and Slovakia action to fulfil to priority recommendations
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) says Slovakia and the Czech Republic need to do more to carry out its recommendations from 2020. ECRI’s finding show that authorities in the Czech Republic have only partially acted to address discrimination against the LGBTI...
Venice Commission plenary session
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, is holding its plenary session from 11-12 March. Interim opinions on draft laws regarding the influence of oligarchs in Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova are expected to be adopted. The Venice...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: new report on anti-corruption measures needed for top executives and law enforcement agencies
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen their efforts and overcome the political blockages that hold back certain reforms from taking place in order to prevent corruption amongst those with...
Hungary: police hate crime investigations are enhanced, but growing LGBTI stigmatisation and xenophobic political discourse raise concern
In a new report the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) welcomes positive developments in Hungary since adopting its last report on the country in 2015, but many issues raise concern. ECRI praises the adoption of a police hate crime protocol in 2019, which aimed at enhancing...
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the situation in Georgia
I am following with concern recent developments in our member State, Georgia, regarding the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” adopted in the first reading by Georgian Parliament on 7 March. It is essential that any such legislation be in line with the Council of Europe standards on...
Equal rights for women and girls: the role of men and boys
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Kox and Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić have made the following statement: “Today, on International Women’s Day, we...
Statement by Committee of Ministers Chair, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs
Reacting to the news that a Belarus court has sentenced the country’s main opposition leader, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years’ jail in absentia, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir made...
Safety of Journalists platform 2023 report: a war on journalism in parts of Europe
In 2022, since Russia’s launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, at least 12 journalists and media workers were killed and 21 injured while performing their professional duties. The war occurred in a context of continued degradation of press freedom across Europe, with a significant...
Cyprus: improved work access for asylum seekers and hate speech ban in Parliament welcomed, but problems remain
A new report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) praises positive steps in Cyprus since adopting its last report on the country in 2016, while also pointing out various areas of concern. Employment procedures for asylum seekers were made “significantly easier” as of...
“No peace without justice and accountability" – Council of Europe took part in high-level international Lviv conference “United for Justice”
A Council of Europe delegation took part in the conference “United for Justice”, organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine in Lviv, Ukraine from 3-5 March. The conference hosted discussions on the accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. In the...
Urgent action needed to reunite Ukrainian children transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories with their families
“Russia’s failure to return Ukrainian children separated from their families and legal guardians is a serious violation of their human rights. Concrete mechanisms and solutions must urgently be identified and used to reunite these children with their families,” said Council of Europe Commissioner...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is holding its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 7 to 9 March. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Finland,...
Congress of The Hague at 75: political will needed to ensure culture of multilateralism lasts
Seventy-five years ago, over 750 delegates from around Europe took part in the historic steps towards European unity at the Congress of Europe in The Hague. Against this background, a special event that took place at the Peace Palace in The Hague on 2 March reflected upon the geopolitical balance...
New Thematic Factsheet - Right to free elections
The Execution Department has issued a new Thematic Factsheet on the right to free elections. This right, guaranteed under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, is crucial to establishing and maintaining the foundations of an effective and meaningful democracy...
How well are young people prepared to understand pandemics and natural disasters?
Pandemics have always had a considerable impact on human history. Each time, they remind humans of their fragility and how limited their knowledge is. Despite their impact, these events receive little attention in the teaching of history. With the Covid-19 pandemic, and more recently the...