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Congress concludes mission to assess local and provincial elections in Serbia
A 12-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe concluded today an Electoral Assessment Mission focussing on the local and provincial part of the vote organised in the Republic of Serbia on Sunday. The delegation - which was joined by two...
Statement by Daniel Mitov on Leyla and Arif Yunus
“I welcome the decision of the Azerbaijani authorities to allow Leyla and Arif Yunus to travel to the Netherlands for medical treatment. This constitutes a positive step following the recent decision of President Aliyev to pardon a number of political activists, journalists and human rights...
Secretary General visits Estonia prior to Council of Europe Chairmanship
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is paying an official visit to Estonia on 26 April to hold meetings with the President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marina Kaljurand, and the Minister of Justice, Urmas Reinsalu. He will also meet the Estonian delegation to PACE. A...
Maria Elena Boschi: the presence of women in our institutions is not of secondary importance
“Over the past two years, Italy has made a number of reforms with a view to enhancing women’s political participation and ensuring a better gender balance in the institutions,” today said Maria Elena Boschi, Minister of Constitutional Reforms and Relations with the Parliament of Italy, at the...
Georgian Prime Minister underlines Georgia’s embrace of European values
In a speech to Council of Europe parliamentarians today, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili outlined the ways in which his country had embraced European values. “We have made our choice,” he told the Assembly, “we have come a long way to be part of a Europe whole and free […] In joining...
Council of Europe launches action plan to strengthen judicial independence and impartiality
Justice ministers from across Europe have given their backing to the Council of Europe’s new 2016-2021 action plan on strengthening judicial independence and impartiality. At a conference held in Sofia, justice ministers from the Council of Europe’s 47 member states and representatives of the...
José Manuel Garcia-Margallo: « L’Espagne est et restera un membre du Conseil de l'Europe fiable et prévisible »
« L'Espagne est et restera un membre du Conseil de l'Europe fiable et prévisible », a déclaré aujourd'hui devant l’APCE le ministre espagnol des Affaires étrangères, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo. « Le monde et l'Europe se portent mieux qu’il y a 70 ans. Les citoyens européens se sentent plus en...
Daniel Mitov: "intolerance and hatred undoubtedly represent a threat to our democracies"
“Governments and political leaders should refrain from using xenophobic rhetoric linking migrants to social problems or security risks, thereby making the integration of the few migrants staying in the country even more problematic”, said Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and...
Anti-torture Committee visits “hotspots” in Greece
A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an ad hoc visit to Greece from 13 to 18 April 2016. The purpose of the visit was to examine the situation of foreign nationals deprived of their...
Our fundamental values may not be sacrificed in the fight against terrorism, says Austrian President
Speaking on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Austria’s membership in the Council of Europe, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer underlined the importance of the 47-nation organisation as an irreplaceable platform where new forms of intergovernmental and parliamentary co-operation were and...
Dialogue du Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l’Europe avec les membres de l’Assemblée
Thorbjørn Jagland a répondu aux questions des parlementaires au cours d’un exercice de questions-réponses organisé dans le cadre de la session de printemps de l’Assemblée. Lors de cet échange, les membres de l’Assemblée se sont intéressés au récent rapport de M. Jagland sur la situation des...
Girona in Spain is the winner of the 2016 Europe Prize
The 2016 Europe Prize – the highest level of the Prize which is awarded each year by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to the town most active in promoting the European ideal – has been awarded to the town of Girona (Spain). Girona is very active in its many initiatives...
Council of Europe standards ‘a guiding light’ for Turkey, pledges Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu
Addressing PACE today, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told parliamentarians: “Turkey is an inseparable part of Europe”. He said Turkey saw the Council of Europe as one of its main partners in bringing about future reforms, and declared that the Council’s standards – including those of the...
Jean-Claude Juncker : "Le Conseil de l’Europe est un partenaire majeur de l’Union européenne"
« Le Conseil de l’Europe et l’Union européenne sont construits sur les mêmes fondations et les mêmes idéaux », a déclaré Jean-Claude Juncker, Président de la Commission européenne, en s’adressant aujourd’hui à l’Assemblée. « Nous devrons toujours tirer parti de ces points communs », a-t-il...
Moscow hosts Council of Europe conference on human rights and biomedicine
20th anniversary of Russia’s membership with the Council of Europe
Strengthening judicial independence and impartiality: Council of Europe presents action plan, 2016-2021
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland and Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister Mitov to open the conference
Le Président de l'Assemblée parlementaire appelle à faire bloc face au terrorisme
Dans son discours d’ouverture de la session de printemps de l’Assemblée parlementaire aujourd’hui à Strasbourg, Pedro Agramunt a mis en garde contre l’adoption de mesures et de politiques restrictives radicales. « Face à une attaque barbare, la réaction la plus immédiate consiste souvent à durcir...
Human rights in Europe: Do not leave the battlefield
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks presents his annual activity report for 2015
Council of Europe works for a human rights compliant drug policy – in Europe and beyond
By Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland The forthcoming United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (19-21 April) is an unprecedented opportunity to acknowledge the shortcomings of the “war on drugs”; to draw on the achievements in drug policy since the UN last...
Secretary General Jagland concerned by Islamophobic statements of “AfD” party in Germany
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has warned that recent statements by the leaders of Germany’s “Alternative für Deutschland” (AfD) are “contrary to European values, values which Germany as a founding member of the Council of Europe has always strongly supported”....
Secretary General Jagland: statement on the decision by the Prosecutor in Crimea to suspend the Mejlis
Responding to the decision by the Prosecutor in Crimea to suspend the Mejlis, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said: “I strongly urge that no action is taken to restrict the Mejlis’s activity or to label it extremist. The Mejlis must be able to continue its activities in Crimea. The human...
Secretary General welcomes confirmation of the new Ukrainian government
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, made the following statement today: “I welcome the confirmation by the Verkhovna Rada today of the new government of Ukraine headed by Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, following the renewal of the parliamentary coalition. “I...
International Press Institute joins Council of Europe platform to protect journalists
The International Press Institute (IPI) today became a partner to the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, through which media freedom organisations inform the Council of Europe and disseminate information on alleged violations of media freedom. The...
Crimea must be re-opened to regular Council of Europe monitoring to safeguard the human rights of 2.5 million people
Ambassador Stoudmann presented on 13 April to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe the report on his recent human rights visit to Crimea. The report is a result of a visit by a Council of Europe delegation sent by Secretary General Jagland to Crimea after 18 months during which...
Turkey: security trumping human rights, free expression under threat
Statement by Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks at the end of his visit to Istanbul, Diyarbakir and Ankara
Anti-torture committee calls upon states to review the treatment of life-sentenced prisoners
In its annual report, published today, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) calls upon the 47 Council of Europe’s member states to review their treatment of life-sentenced prisoners according to the individual risk they present, and to provide for their possible...
Council of Europe recommends states to regularly evaluate their level of Internet freedom
The Committee of Ministers today adopted a Recommendation to its 47 member states encouraging them to periodically prepare national reports evaluating their level of respect for human rights with regard to the Internet, and to share their findings with the Council of Europe. The recommendation...
Council of Europe adopts guidelines to protect media freedom and journalists
The Council of Europe today adopted a set of guidelines aimed to ensure the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists in its 47 member states. In a Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers – the organisation´s decision-making body- encouraged states to review their national...
Le Secrétaire Général Jagland rencontre Manuel Valls
La lutte contre le terrorisme, une priorité commune
Democracy through education: European ministers back new tool
Education ministers from across the continent have given their backing to a new tool to help teach democracy and democratic values in schools and other settings. Following a two-day conference in Brussels, representatives of the 50 countries covered by the European Cultural Convention also agreed...
New Council of Europe/EU cooperation agreement for the Western Balkans and Turkey
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, and the European Union’s Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, today made the following statement: “We are happy to announce that the European Commission and the...
New European Roma Institute to promote Roma and Travellers’ cultural heritage
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement on the occasion of International Roma Day. “45 years ago, Roma people from across the world came together for the first World Romani Congress, near London, to congregate around their common identity. “Today...
European education ministers to discuss new teaching tool for promoting democracy
Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Education, Brussels, 11-12 April 2016
Nominations for UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award 2016
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced the re-opening of nominations for the 2016 Nansen Refugee Award, from Tuesday 5 April to Monday 25 April. The award is bestowed on a person or group for outstanding work on behalf of the forcibly displaced, and aims to...
Escalation of violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh region
Statement by Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
In times of crisis, Europe cannot afford to disregard children’s rights
With the new challenges Europe is facing today, governments cannot afford to put children’s rights on the backburner, said participants of the Council of Europe conference that started in Sofia today. “Keeping Europe anchored in democracy, universal human rights and the rule of law is our...
Secretary General on official visit to Poland
Yesterday 4 April, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland had meetings with: The President of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda The Prime Minister, Ms Beata Szydło The Speaker of the Sejm Mr Marek Kuchciński The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Witold Waszczykowski The Minister of Justice, Mr...
Businesses begin to recognise their human rights responsibilities
The effects of business practices on human rights have become a central issue for human rights protection. For a long time already, concerns have been raised about malpractices related to labour rights, health and safety at work and the use of child labour by some business enterprises. Later on,...
Secretary General Jagland urges return to Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire
Statement by Council of Europe of Secretary General Jagland: "I am dismayed and deeply concerned by the escalation of hostilities at the contact line in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The Council of Europe urges both sides to stop this totally unnecessary bloodshed which leads nowhere except...
Deputy Secretary General at 500th anniversary of the Ghetto in Venice
Deputy Secretary General has taken part in the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Ghetto in Venice and in the opening of the exhibition on the European Route of Jewish Heritage. Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni unveiled a commemorative plate by the Council of Europe at the local Jewish...
Anti-torture Committee calls on Belgium to tackle prison overcrowding and the adverse impact of strikes on inmates
In a report published today, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) calls on Belgium to solve its chronic problem of prison overcrowding and to take measures to ensure that strikes of prison staff do not have a negative impact on inmates. During its visit to Belgium in 2013, the CPT...
Cyprus should enhance refugee protection and alleviate effects of austerity measures on human rights
“Despite some progress made in immigration law and policy, Cyprus’ asylum system still suffers from a number of shortcomings that need to be urgently redressed”, said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing a report based on his visit to Cyprus...
Supervision of the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
Committee of Ministers publishes 9th annual report: Positive trends continue in 2015 – new record number of cases closed
Death penalty in Japan
In a Statement adopted today, the Committee of Ministers representing the 47 Council of Europe member states deplores the execution of Yasutoshi Kamata and Junko Yoshida in Japan on 25 March 2016. The Committee of Ministers recalls that capital punishment contravenes the principles set out in the...
Protecting and empowering people on the Internet - New Internet Governance strategy
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers today adopted its Internet Governance Strategy for 2016-2019, which aims to tackle the challenges to human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the rapidly evolving online environment. With the strategy, the Council of Europe endeavours to help the...
Paris joins the Council of Europe Intercultural Cities Network
The City of Paris today became a member of the Council of Europe Intercultural Cities Programme, which provides support for the establishment of local strategies for managing diversity and integrating migrants and minorities. “I welcome the decision of the City of Paris to join the network of...
Statement by the Committee of Ministers on the terrorist attacks in Turkey and Belgium
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, representing the governments of the 47 member States, today condemned “in the strongest terms” the terrorist attacks carried out in Turkey and more recently in Belgium. In a Statement, the Committee of Ministers paid homage to the memory of the...
New challenges for children rights in Europe in focus of high-level conference in Sofia on 5-6 April
The refugee influx, rapidly developing digital environment, economic crisis – all these new challenges that Europe is facing today create new risks for human rights of children. How the member States of the Council of Europe can best address these challenges will be the key theme of a high-level...
Ukraine: accountability for serious human rights violations is key to reconciliation process
Statement by Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks following his visit to Ukraine in March 2016
Congress adopts Recommendation following 2015 local elections in Ukraine
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe held a debate based on the findings of the observation mission of the local elections in Ukraine on 25 October 2015. Following the debate, the Congress adopted a Recommendation focusing on electoral reform and progress of...
