Signatures and ratifications of the Treaties of the Council of Europe


For the most part, Council of Europe Treaties take shape in the Parliamentary Assembly which delivers its suggestions to the Committee of Ministers. Once the treaty has been adopted, member states can sign it, after which it passes to their national parliaments who decide whether or not to ratify it. If it is approved, then the rules and regulations contained within the treaty become part of their national laws.

Each state which signs and ratifies a treaty is legally obliged to respect it and put it into practice. The Council of Europe can then monitor the activities of a particular country to ensure that the various requirements of a treaty are being applied.

Council of Europe Treaty Office website

United Kingdom ratifies Convention on Cybercrime (25.05.2011)
Ambassador Eleanor Fuller, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Council of Europe ratified in the presence of Thorbjørn Jagland the Convention on cybercrime (entry into force : 01.09.2011).

Finlande accepts Additional Protocol to the Convention on cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems (20.05.2011)
The Permanent Representative of Finlande to the Council of Europe transmitted to Thorbjørn Jagland the instrument of acceptation of the Additional Protocol to the Convention on cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems (entry into force : 01.09.2011).

Luxembourg ratifies Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (18.05.2011)
The Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe transmitted to Thorbjørn Jagland the instrument of ratification of the Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (entry into force : 01.09.2011).

Romania ratifies Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (17.05.2011)
Ambassador Stelian Stoian, Permanent Representative of Romania to the Council of Europe, transmitted to Maud de Boer-Buquicchio the instrument of ratification of the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (entry into force : 01.09.2011).



Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (11.05.2011)
On the occasion of the 121st Session of the Committee of Ministers in Istanbul, in the presence of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General, the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence was opened for signature, and signed by Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.

Ukraine ratifies European Convention on the Adoption of Children (Revised) (04.05.2011)
Ambassador Mykola Tochytskyi, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, transmitted to Maud de Boer-Buquicchio the instrument of ratification of the European Convention on the Adoption of Children (Revised) (entry into force : 01.09.2011).

Cyprus signs Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (16.05.2011)
Ambassador Euripides L. Evriviades, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe signed, in the presence of Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.