Countering migrant smuggling is identified as a priority in the decisions of the Council of Europe Heads of State and Government at their 4th Summit held in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023. The aim of the Conference is to foster enhanced international cooperation, discuss the effectiveness of the existing legal frameworks and any possible gaps, share best practices, and explore comprehensive measures needed for effectively countering migrant smuggling. These measures aim to prosecute smugglers while protecting the rights and dignity of migrants and avoiding the criminalisation of humanitarian assistance.

The aim of the Conference, which is funded together by the Council of Europe and the European Commission, is to bring together judges, prosecutors and representatives of the Ministries of Justice of all European countries in order to discuss the recurring problem of prison overcrowding and the possible practical steps that could to be taken at the different stages of the criminal justice process to overcome it. The possible support and assistance the Council of Europe can offer in this area will also be discussed, including by holding a high-level political meeting dedicated to this issue.

The Criminal Law and Counter-Terrorism Divisions of the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the City Hall and the University of Malaga, are organising an International Conference on Terrorism and Organised Crime. In addition to discussing issues relating to the crime-terror nexus and exploring realistic strategies to prevent and suppress terrorism and organised crime, the different conference sessions will try and identify how relevant actors can work together to share experiences, exchange information, develop practical strategies for transnational co-operation, and enhance the co-ordination of law enforcement responses.

The Conference on smuggling of migrants will focus on the importance of a harmonised approach to prevent and suppress this worrisome phenomenon effectively. The full-day Conference will take place on 23 June 2017, at the Palais de l’Europe (Room 5) in Strasbourg.

The Council of Europe Conferences of Directors of Prison Administration (CDAP) have been organised since 1971. Since 2004 Directors of the probation services are being regularly invited to attend these high level events. In 2013 at the 18^th Conference in Brussels it was decided that henceforth this annual event will be named Council of Europe Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services (CDPPS).

The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Spanish authorities, organised a high-level International Conference on the fight against trafficking in human organs. During this conference, and following the decision of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs was opened for signature on 25 March 2015. Member States of the Council of Europe and States outside Europe were invited to sign the Convention on this occasion.

As a follow-up of the 31st Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Justice (Vienna, September 2012), the Council of Europe organised, together with the Ministry of Justice of Portugal, an International Conference on Urban Violence. The Conference brought together representatives of law-enforcement authorities (judges, prosecutors, police forces) and both telecommunication and Internet service providers, as well as representatives of International Organisations and academic experts, who found an appropriate framework in which to examine existing good practices with the aim to better understand and prevent urban violence.

The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the University of Málaga and City Hall of Málaga, organised an International Conference on Terrorism and Organised Crime. The Conference brought together government experts and policy-makers responsible for combating terrorism and organised crime, as well as representatives of international organisations and academic experts, to share their experience and insights regarding similarities and links between terrorism and other forms of serious organised crime.