Belgium // 46 States, one Europe ![](//static.coe.int/pics/flags/47-member-states/belgium.svg)
Action of the Council of Europe in Belgium
Prevention of torture
The European Committee for the prevention of torture visits places of detention (for juvenile or immigration detainees, police stations, psychiatric hospitals) in order to assess how persons deprived of their liberty are treated.
Fight against racism
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is an independent monitoring body which provides member States with concrete and practical advice on how to tackle problems of racism and intolerance in their country.
Protection of social rights
The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty which guarantees social and economic human rights. It was adopted in 1961 and revised in 1996. The European Committee of Social Rights rules on the conformity of the situation in States with the European Social Charter, the 1988 Additional Protocol and the Revised European Social Charter.
Protection of minorities
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities provides for a monitoring system to evaluate how the treaty is implemented in State Parties. An advisory Committee adopts recommendations to improve minority protection. Belgium has signed the Convention on 31 July 2001, but has not yet ratified it.
Fight against corruption
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) monitors member states' compliance with the Council of Europe anti-corruption standards with the objective to improve the capacity of its members to fight corruption.
Fight against money laundering
MONEYVAL Committee of experts
The committee evaluates the effectiveness of domestic measures to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism in Council of Europe member states which are not members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Council of Europe member states which are members of MONEYVAL but subsequently become members of the FATF can elect to retain full membership of MONEYVAL. Applicant states for membership and other non-member states which are not members of the FATF may apply to join the terms of reference under certain conditions. Belgium is member of the FATF.
COP198
The Conference of the Parties under the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No. 198) monitors the proper implementation of the Convention by the Parties.
Democracy through Law
The European Commission for Democracy through Law - the Venice Commission - is an advisory body on constitutional matters which plays a leading role in the adoption of constitutions that conform to the standards of Europe's constitutional heritage
Fight against trafficking in human beings
The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is responsible for monitoring implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties. It regularly publishes evaluation reports.
Justice system
European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)
The aim of the CEPEJ is the improvement of the efficiency and functioning of justice in the member States.
Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE)
This consultative body to the Committee of Ministers prepares opinions, promotes the implementation of Rec(2000)19 and collects information about the functioning of prosecution services in Europe.
Belgium in the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers
- Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions
- Delphine Delieux, Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly
Belgium is represented in the Parliamentary Assembly by a delegation of 7 representatives and 7 substitutes.
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Marc Cools was elected President of the Congress on 24 October 2023.
Belgium is represented in the Congress by a delegation of 7 representatives and 7 substitutes.
European Court of Human Rights
- Judge to the European Court of Human Rights: Frédéric Krenc
- Applications allocated to a decision body(*) in 2023: 1328
- Judgments in 2023: 10 of which 4 violations and 6 non-violations
(*) Do not include applications which are at the pre-judicial stage (incomplete case file)
Execution of Court's judgments
Commissioner for Human Rights
As part of his mandate, the Commissioner carries out visits to countries in order to monitor the human rights situation and pursue a dialogue with national authorities and civil societies.
Council of Europe Treaties
Treaties ratified and signed by Belgium
Budget
The Council of Europe's budget, for 2024, is € 624.6M.
The contribution of Belgium is € 10 407 846.