Key Dates

5 May 1949
Treaty of London, establishing the Council of Europe, signed by ten states: Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

4 November 1950
Signature in Rome of the Council’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms – the first international legal instrument safeguarding human rights.

19 December 1954
Signature of the European Cultural Convention, forming the framework for the Council’s work in education, culture, youth and sport.

16 April 1956
Creation of the resettlement Fund (which is now the Council of Europe Development Bank), intended to help member States finance social projects.

12 January 1957
The Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (now the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe) set up by the Council of Europe, to bring together local and regional authority representatives.

18 September 1959
The European Court of Human Rights established by the Council in Strasbourg, under the European Convention on Human Rights, to ensure observance of the obligations undertaken by contracting states.

18 October 1961
The Council’s European Social Charter signed in Turin as the economic and social counterpart of the European Convention on Human Rights.

1 June 1972
The Council’s first European Youth Centre is opened in Strasbourg (France).

27 March 1980
The Pompidou Group established by the Council as a multi-disciplinary forum for inter-ministerial co-operation against drug abuse and trafficking.

8 June 1989
Special guest status introduced by the Council’s Parliamentary Assembly, to forge closer links with the parliaments of new member states moving towards democracy.

30 April 1990
The Council’s North/South Centre opened in Lisbon (Portugal).

10 May 1990
The European Commission for Democracy through Law (the "Venice Commission") established by the Council to deal with legal guarantees on democracy.

6 November 1990
Accession of the first State from the former Soviet Block: Hungary.

8 and 9 October 1993 First Council of Europe summit of heads of state and government in Vienna (Austria) adopts a declaration confirming its pan-European vocation and setting new political priorities in protecting national minorities and combating all forms of racism, xenophobia and intolerance.

17 January 1994
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) set up by the Council’s Committee of Ministers to replace the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

10 and 11 October 1997 Second Council of Europe summit of heads of state and government, in Strasbourg (France).

1 November 1998
Single permanent European Court of Human Rights to be established in Strasbourg under Protocol No. 11 to the Council’s European Convention on Human Rights, replacing the existing system.

16 and 17 May 2005 Third Council of Europe summit of heads of state and government, in Warsaw (Poland).