Newsroom
Eurimages films out in strength at Cannes
The 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival now includes no less than 12 films supported by Eurimages, five of which are selected in official competition: NELYUBOV (LOVELESS) by Andrey Zvyagintsev (RU, FR, DE, BE); A GENTLE CREATURE by Sergei Loznitsa (FR, DE, NL, LT); HAPPY END by Michael...
Protection of national minority rights inconsistent in Austria, say Council of Europe experts
An opinion published today by the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) says that little has changed since 2012. Although bilingualism has become more accepted and equal access to education for minority language...
Statement of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers on the Occasion of the Day of Europe
In 1964, the Committee of Ministers took the decision to celebrate the Day of Europe, that is the establishment of the Council of Europe, on May 5th. The Council of Europe was created in the aftermath of the Second World War, in the context of a new European structure, contemplated to bring...
Combatting illicit trafficking and destruction of cultural property: Council of Europe adopts new convention
The Council of Europe today adopted a new criminal law convention to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking and destruction of cultural property, in the framework of the Organisation’s action to fight terrorism and organised crime. The Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property,...
Youth Peace Camp 2017
Some 70 young people from conflict-affected regions are taking part in a Youth Peace Camp event from 30 April to 7 May; they come from Kosovo*; Ukraine (especially from border regions and Luhansk and Donetsk), and from the South Caucasus. In the framework of the Cypriot Chairmanship of the...
Public service broadcasting under threat in Europe
“Well-funded and strong public service media are a good indicator that a democracy is healthy – this is the result of a study published last year by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).” says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Human Rights Comment...
PACE Bureau declares ‘no confidence’ in Pedro Agramunt as President
The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Strasbourg today, resolved that it has no confidence in Pedro Agramunt as President of the Assembly. It further resolved that Mr Agramunt is not authorised to undertake any official visits, attend any meetings or...
Parliamentary Assembly calls on Hungary to stop work on NGO funding and university laws
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has called on Hungary to suspend the parliamentary debate on the draft law on the “Transparency of Organisations receiving Foreign Funding” and the implementation of the Act amending the National Higher Education Act, pending the opinion...
Sa Majesté le Roi d'Espagne : 'L'Europe reste un projet enthousiasmant'
« Dans le monde globalisé du XXIe siècle, l'Europe doit rester une référence pour la liberté et l'intégration. Si nous restons fidèles à ces valeurs, l'Europe, en tant qu’espace de civilisation, continuera d'être une source d'inspiration pour d'autres régions de la planète. Si, par contre, nous...
Prokopios Pavlopoulos: representative democracy, the most effective system in protecting human rights
Representative democracy is a system of governance that is the most effective in protecting human rights, said Prokopios Pavlopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly. The organisation of representative democracy is linked to the institutional checks and...
PACE commends CPT on its ‘outstanding work’ and makes proposals for reinforcing its impact
PACE today congratulated the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) for its “outstanding work” over the past 25 years, which has led to significant improvements in the States Parties. The parliamentarians also emphasised that notable progress has been made in terms of “improving...
A critical turning point, not business as usual, for human rights in Europe
“2016 will likely be remembered as a critical turning point for human rights in Europe” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks today while presenting his annual activity report for 2016. “We will either see it as a low point from which European countries,...
Parliamentary Assembly creates independent external investigation body to look into allegations of corruption
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today ratified the terms of reference of an independent external investigation body to carry out a detailed independent inquiry into the allegations of “corruption and fostering of interests” made against certain PACE members or former members....
Secretary General Jagland says PACE must be seen to act with “One hundred per cent integrity”
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland replied to questions from PACE members in a question and answer session during the Assembly’s Spring part-session. During this exchange, parliamentarians asked Mr Jagland what he could do concerning allegations of corruption inside the PACE....
Parliamentary Assembly reopens monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided today to reopen the monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey until “serious concerns” about respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law “are addressed in a satisfactory manner”. The resolution adopted calls on the...
Ioannis Kasoulides: the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly must continue to concert their efforts
“It is important that the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the Secretary General, continue to concert their efforts to face up to the numerous challenges confronting Europe today,” said Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and Chair of the...
Secretary General meets Hungarian Justice Minister
Hungarian Minister of Justice László Trócsányi today attended the swearing-in of Péter Paczolay, the new Hungarian judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. After the ceremony, Mr Trócsányi met with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. They discussed current...
Parliamentary Assembly President agrees to take part in a hearing on his recent visit to Syria
PACE President Pedro Agramunt, in view of the request of a significant number of members, agreed to participate in a hearing, open to all Assembly members, on his recent visit to Syria. The hearing is due to be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Room 1. Before formally opening the session, the President...
Secretary General Jagland visits the Czech Republic
Meetings with Prime Minister Sobotka and Minister of Foreign Affairs Zaorálek
Populism - How strong are Europe’s checks and balances?
Secretary General 2017 report on democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe
Anti-torture committee urges European states to hold persons in remand detention only as a measure of last resort and in adequate conditions
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) urges the 47 Council of Europe member states to use remand detention only as a measure of last resort and to provide remand prisoners with adequate detention conditions. During visits to prisons throughout Europe, the CPT has often found...
Journalists suffer violence, intimidation and self-censorship in Europe, says a Council of Europe study
A survey published today by the Council of Europe, based on a sample of 940 journalists reporting from the 47 Council of Europe member states and Belarus, shows that journalists in Europe are often exposed to serious unwarranted interference in their work, including intimidation and violence. As...
New Human Rights report on Lithuania
Lithuania should strengthen the protection of women and children against violence and build a more inclusive society for persons with disabilities
Anti-torture committee highlights spiralling violence in UK prisons
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has published its latest report on the United Kingdom, following a visit to several places of detention in the country last spring. The report expresses deep concern about “severe generalised violence” in a number of UK prisons and says...
GRECO expresses concern about the use of emergency procedures to amend legislation in Romania
In a report published today, the Council of Europe anti-corruption body (GRECO) expresses concern about the use of emergency procedures to amend legislation in Romania instead of using proper parliamentary process. GRECO has followed closely recent developments in Romania related to the...
Statement by the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on the outcome of the Turkish constitutional referendum
“The Turkish electorate has voted on the amendments to the Constitution. In view of the close result the Turkish leadership should consider the next steps carefully. It is of utmost importance to secure the independence of the judiciary in line with the principle of rule of law enshrined in the...
New factsheets on the supervision of execution of Strasbourg Court judgments
In order to improve the transparency of the execution process of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the Council of Europe has published country factsheets. The factsheets present an overview of the main issues revealed by judgments...
Justice, social cohesion and media freedom remain top challenges in Kosovo*
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks releases a Memorandum following his mission to Kosovo from 5 to 9 February
Terrorist attack in Stockholm
Statement from Ioannis Kasoulides, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
Stockholm attack
In a first reaction to the Stockholm truck attack today Secretary General Jagland said: “I am shocked by the sad news from Stockholm. It looks like another attack on our common values and freedoms, another attack on a vibrant European city. My thoughts go to Sweden and the people of Stockholm.”
International Roma Day: Statement by the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
10 goals for the next 10 years
Comité anti-torture : actions urgentes requises dans les prisons et les établissements de police en France
Dans un rapport publié aujourd’hui concernant sa dernière visite en France (15-27 novembre 2015), le Comité pour la prévention de la torture et des peines ou traitements inhumains ou dégradants (CPT) du Conseil de l’Europe appelle les autorités françaises à prendre des mesures urgentes pour...
Regional and minority languages: evolution over 20 years
The impact of rapid technological developments, such as the expansion of the Internet and social media, on the way regional and minority language media work in Europe, as well as other new challenges they bring in the context of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages is the...
Supervision of the execution of judgments of the Court: Committee of Ministers publishes 10th annual report
Positive trends continue in 2016 – yet a new record number of cases closed
Venice Commission international conference in Bucharest: “Interaction between political majority and opposition in a democracy”
What are the main responsibilities and rights of the majority and of the opposition? What are the main obstacles to a positive and meaningful interaction majority - opposition? The European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), in co-operation with the Presidential...
Saint-Petersburg metro attack: Secretary General conveys message of solidarity to Russian people
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, sent a letter to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, today, following deadly attacks in the Saint-Petersburg metro on 3 April. "I was shocked and greatly saddened by the news of the deadly attack perpetrated...
Secretary General meets Danish Foreign Minister
Secretary General Jagland today met Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, ahead of the Danish Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. Topics of discussion included the threat of terrorism and the attack in St Petersburg, the situation in Turkey and the debate about the European Convention on...
The Shrinking Space for Human Rights Organisations
“In recent years I have noticed a clear trend of backsliding in several European countries in the area of freedom of association, particularly in respect of human rights organisations and defenders.” says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Human Rights...
Attack in Saint Petersburg’s underground
Statement by Ioannis Kasoulides, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
Debate on Democratic Security, with Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger
Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, introduces the tenth debate on Democratic Security which is addressing the protection of democracy in the digital age. For Amb. Ischinger, the development of new information and communication technologies is radically...
Regional and Local Representatives reaffirmed their commitment to the fight against anti-Gypsyism
Today, in the framework of the debate on the fight against anti-Gypsyism, the Congress for Local and Regional Authorities adopted a Declaration of Mayors and Elected Local and Regional Representatives of Council of Europe Member States against anti-Gypsyism. The declaration was presented by John...
Trafficking of children: experts highlight widespread problems
In its latest annual report, published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), has highlighted important shortcomings in a number of European countries related to the trafficking of children. The report shows that 4,361 children were...
Congress adopts report on the situation of mayors in Turkey
On 29 March 2017, the Congress adopted a recommendation and resolution on the situation of mayors and councillors in Turkey, and, in particular, on the detention of elected mayors and their replacement by mayors appointed by the central authorities. The co-rapporteurs Anders Knape (Sweden,...
Ireland should remove obstacles to the equality of Travellers, women and children
“The Irish government should ensure that the economic upturn benefits the most vulnerable groups and should promote equality of Travellers, women and children by removing the barriers that disproportionately hinder them from fully enjoying their rights”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner...
Migration: Congress adopts report on the role of local authorities in reception and integration
Local authorities are in the front line when it comes to dealing with the increase in the number of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe and must have adequate resources to meet these needs. That was the conclusion reached by Congress members at their 32nd session in Strasbourg on 28 March...
G7-Culture Florence: Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland to present forthcoming Blood Antiquities Convention
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will take part on 30-31 March in Florence (Italy) in the G7 Ministerial meeting on Culture: Culture as a tool for dialogue among peoples. The G7-Culture will focus on the protection of cultural heritage, fight against traffic of artistic and historic items and...
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström : "Local and regional authorities are essential to the democratic stability of Europe”
In her communication at the opening of the 32nd Session of the Congress of local and regional authorities (Strasbourg, 28-30 March 2017), President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström recalled that “local and regional authorities are responsible for carrying out a considerable share of public action in...
Europe for Roma empowerment: Taking stock and looking forward
Senior figures from the 47-nation Council of Europe (CoE) and the 28-member European Union (EU) are among those taking part in a conference in Brussels on 28 March looking at joint efforts to promote Roma participation and empowerment across Europe. Participants including EU First Vice-President...
Launching of Morocco’s participation in the CEPEJ evaluation cycles
The Minister of Justice and Liberties of Morocco, El Mostafa Ramid, chaired the launching event of Morocco’s participation in the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) evaluation cycles on 27 March 2017. On this occasion, the President of the working group on evaluation of...
Russia: Secretary General Jagland concerned about freedom of expression and freedom of assembly after mass detentions at demonstrations
The detention of hundreds of citizens, including opposition leader Alexey Navalny while exercising their right to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly raises issues under the European Convention on Human Rights. I am particularly concerned about the reported detention of minors. I call...
