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Un étudiant français remporte le Prix européen de l’éloquence
L’édition 2019 du Prix européen de l’éloquence, le concours annuel d’art oratoire en langue française, a été remportée par Simon Derieux-Billaud, un étudiant français, qui s’est exprimé sur le sujet « Pouvons-nous encore rêver d’Europe ? ». Le deuxième prix a été décerné à Alina Marchenko...
Ensuring the financial sustainability of quality journalism
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to ensure the financial sustainability of quality journalism taking into account that it is a public good and plays an essential role for individuals to be able to form and express their opinions and make informed choices about government...
Algorithmic processes risk being used to manipulate social and political behaviours
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to tackle the risk that individuals may not be able to form their opinions and take decisions independently of automated systems, and that they may even be subjected to manipulation due to the use of advanced digital technologies, in...
Safety of Journalists' Platform report: media freedom conditions worsen
The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly in the Council of Europe area, according to a report published today by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report “Democracy at Risk: threats and...
Hungary should address many interconnected human rights protection challenges
Challenges include civil society space, gender equality, refugee protection and independence of the judiciary
Déclaration du Secrétaire Général Thorbjørn Jagland sur Tomi Ungerer
Le Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l’Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, a exprimé aujourd’hui sa profonde tristesse à l’annonce du décès de l’illustrateur alsacien Tomi Ungerer. « Nous perdons aujourd’hui un grand artiste, très attaché à l’idée de l’Europe. Les valeurs de justice et d’humanisme qu’elle...
MONEYVAL publishes report on Czech Republic
Combatting money laundering in the Czech Republic: despite progress more investigations are needed, says Council of Europe report
MONEYVAL publishes report on Lithuania
Lithuania should step up its efforts to strengthen its understanding of money laundering and financing of terrorism risks, says Council of Europe report
Official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made today an official visit to the Council of Europe. Prime Minister Sánchez held meetings with Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities...
Anti-torture committee on Montenegro: Despite some progress, ill-treatment remains a problem and must be addressed
Despite some overall improvement in the treatment of persons detained by the police in Montenegro, ill-treatment still appears widely spread and must be tackled through stricter recruitment, better training and improved oversight. In prisons, too, allegations of ill-treatment persist; the...
National Minorities in Azerbaijan: new report published
Azerbaijani multiculturalism welcomes expressions of cultural identity, but increased restrictions on democracy, absence of legislation, inflammatory language prevent national minorities from fully exercising their rights Society in Azerbaijan is broadly characterised by a climate of...
Australia signs the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions
In the framework of Sports Diplomacy 2030 high-level event, the Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation of Australia Bridget McKenzie signed in a ceremony (Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park) with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni the...
Germany: Teaching and promotion of regional and minority languages needs to be improved says group of experts
In its sixth report on Germany, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises steps taken to protect and promote regional or minority languages (Danish, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani), including...
Council of Europe posters by Mr Z
Two posters by the French illustrator and graphic designer, Richard Zielenkiewicz, also known as Mr Z, are to mark the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 60th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Z, who is famed for his colourful, uncluttered illustrations inspired...
Committee of Ministers adopts guidelines on electronic evidence in civil and administrative proceedings
The Committee of Ministers has adopted guidelines to facilitate the use of electronic evidence in court proceedings. These guidelines are the first such international instrument. Their primary purpose is to help the 47 member states adapt the operation of their judicial and other...
Paris : la Commissaire Mijatović livre ses premières observations sur les questions de droits de l’homme liées au mouvement des "gilets jaunes"
« Le niveau élevé de tension qui prévaut actuellement en France suscite mon inquiétude et je considère qu’il est urgent d’apaiser la situation », a déclaré aujourd’hui la Commissaire aux droits de l'homme du Conseil de l'Europe, Dunja Mijatović, à l’issue d’un déplacement à Paris, le 28 janvier...
Corruption in Croatia: Code of conduct for MPs still lacking, but progress made to limit conflict of interest
Assessing measures taken by Croatia to implement recommendations that had been made in 2014, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) regrets that its recommendation to the Croatian Parliament to adopt a code of conduct for its members still has not been realized. The...
Armenia: the Commissioner for Human Rights publishes a new report
Report on Armenia recommends measures to improve women’s rights, protection of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, and establishing accountability for past human rights violations Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published the report of her visit to...
Poland: Anti-corruption group calls for more transparency and preventive measures to promote integrity in central government and in law enforcement agencies
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) says that it is a “top priority” for Poland to establish a system for appointment, promotion and dismissal of all senior managers in the Police and Border Guards, which would be based on objective, merit-based criteria and...
Data Protection Day
New guidelines on artificial intelligence
Greek parliament vote over "Republic of North Macedonia" welcomed by Secretary General
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has welcomed the vote in the Greek parliament today that promises to bring an end to the 27-year dispute over its northern neighbour's name. “The vote in Greece to approve the name "Republic of North Macedonia" is both...
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Statement by the Finnish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Italy urged to improve the protection of migrants and unaccompanied children against human trafficking and exploitation
Italy has taken additional measures to combat trafficking in human beings, according to a new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), but a number of issues continue to give rise to concern. The report assesses...
The situation of opposition politicians in Turkey is worsening, says PACE
Following an urgent debate held in plenary session in Strasbourg, PACE noted “the worsening of the situation of opposition politicians in Turkey” and called on the Turkish authorities to respect fully their rights and freedoms of expression, association and assembly. Following the co-rapporteurs'...
PACE urges Russia to release Ukrainian servicemen, ensure free passage in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait
The Parliamentary Assembly has urged Russia to immediately release Ukrainian servicemen, to ensure freedom of passage in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, and to refrain from violence in the area. Approving a resolution based on a report by Andreas Nick (Germany, EPP/CD) after an urgent...
ECSR publishes its findings 2018 on decisions in collective complaints procedures in 8 countries
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) today published its findings 2018 on the follow-up given by 8 States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal) to decisions in the collective complaints procedure. This procedure allows national and international trade...
"Peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights", says Sauli Niinistö
“Human rights, democracy and the rule of law – the values the Council of Europe stands for – can only thrive in a state of peace. Maintaining the absence of war must be our highest priority. At the end of the day, peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights. Everything...
Holocaust memorial ceremony
The President of Finland Sauli Niinistö has attended a ceremony in front of the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg, to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. In his address Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland underlined the importance of...
Secretary General to PACE: Russian people would suffer most if Russia leaves the Council of Europe
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly for the last time during a January session, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland expressed his satisfaction that the European Court of Human Rights was now on firmer ground than when he was elected in 2009. At that time, the credibility of the Convention...
Timo Soini: “a multilateral co-operation to prevent instability and conflict”
“We need effective rules-based multilateral co-operation to prevent instability and conflicts, and the Council of Europe is an important forum in this context,” said Timo Soini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, addressing...
The state of human rights in Europe: forward and back?
All four Commissioners for Human Rights, Álvaro Gil-Robles, Thomas Hammarberg, Nils Muižnieks and the current Commissioner Dunja Mijatović will come together in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 January to reflect on the evolution of human rights since the office was created, twenty years ago. They’ll...
Reelected, the President reiterates the statutory responsibility of all Council of Europe actors
For the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), speaking 70 years after the Council of Europe was set up, promoting peace and reconciliation, which has been crucial to the success of “the largest pan-European organisation”, remains central to her mission. This is what...
Violence against women in Sweden: from legal and policy innovation to blind spots in protection and support for victims
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its first evaluation report on Sweden today. The report analyses the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention covering psychological violence, stalking,...
Portugal and violence against women: significant progress but under-reporting and low rate of convictions
In its first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (“Istanbul Convention”) by Portugal, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) acknowledges the...
Seventy years of the Council of Europe – a website to explore our European story
Today the Council of Europe is launching its 70th anniversary website – a place to explore our history, understand our mission and learn how our work is as important now as it ever was. Initally in English, a French version will follow soon. Join us every month for a new video to see how the...
Norway should improve the situation for prisoners in solitary confinement
Today the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a report on a visit to Norway carried out in spring 2018. During its visit, the CPT examined the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in police...
Winter Session: Finnish President to address the Assembly
On the occasion of the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2019), the President of Finland will deliver a speech. In addition, the Finnish Foreign Minister will present the Communication from the Committee of Ministers and the Organisation’s Secretary...
Concrete achievements in 2018 to ensure the protection of refugee and migrant children
The Special Representative is taking stock on concrete results achieved in 2018 in the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan on protecting migrant and refugee children in Europe (2017-2019). Today, he publishes a visual presentation of all actions achieved so far in protecting...
Secretary General visits Vatican for audience with Pope Francis
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will be in Vatican City on Thursday on an official visit to the Holy See for an audience with Pope Francis. Meetings are scheduled with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and other members of the Curia. The...
Artificial intelligence in judicial systems
Brussels presentation of the first European guidelines
Russia boasts rich diversity of national minorities, but education policies, restrictive legislation undermine the exercise of their rights
Society in Russia is characterised by a climate of appreciation for ethnic diversity; the immense variety of ethnic groups, languages and religions is perceived as an asset; progress has been observed in residency registration and in the field of minority media. However, the official rhetoric...
Thorbjørn Jagland statement following the death of Paweł Adamowicz
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has made the following statement in reaction to the death of Gdańsk Mayor Paweł Adamowicz: “I am deeply saddened to learn that the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, has died following the horrendous knife attack at a...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2019: call for nominations
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Vaclav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation, has today issued a call for nominations for the 2019 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The Prize, created in 2013, aims to reward outstanding civil society action...
Statement by the President of the Congress: “All European Democrats are in mourning after the death of the Mayor of Gdańsk.”
"I have been shaken and deeply shocked by the assassination of Paweł Adamowicz, the mayor of the city of Gdańsk, who was stabbed on Sunday night in front of thousands at a charity concert and who has just succumbed to his injuries. On behalf of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and...
Demonstrations in France – Council of Europe condemns attacks on journalists
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today condemned in the strongest possible terms the threats and attacks against journalists at recent demonstrations by the “yellow vest” protesters in France, noting that working conditions for the press have been steadily...
Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe: Candidatures received
At the expiry of the deadline for member States to propose candidates for the election of the next Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the following candidatures have been received by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers: Mr Didier REYNDERS, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign...
Tackling ill-treatment by police in Greece
The Council of Europe and the Greek authorities are organising a round table event on professional policing and how to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment in Athens on 10 and 11 January. The event, which is the first of its kind, aims to help bring Greek laws and practices into line...
Lithuania should improve legislation, prevent discrimination at school and promote the social inclusion of Roma
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities today urged the Lithuanian authorities to adopt a comprehensive legal framework, prevent discrimination against students from minority language schools and address negative stereotypes against Roma. In...
Winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly
At its winter session in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2019), PACE will hold a joint debate on public service media in the context of disinformation and propaganda and media freedom as a condition for democratic elections. It will also discuss Internet governance and human rights. On 22 January, the...
Council of Europe Bank loan to Nuremberg for education and refugee integration
The governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Dr Rolf Wenzel and the Special Representative of the Secretary General on migration and refugees, Ambassador Tomáš Boček, are taking part in a signing ceremony in Nuremberg today, between the CEB and the city of Nuremberg, of a...
