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Restrictions imposed on the activity of strike pickets constitute a violation of the Charter in Belgium
[08/02/2012] In its decision on the merits with regard to the case European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Centrale Générale des Syndicats Libéraux de Belgique (CGSLB), Confédération des Syndicats chrétiens de Belgique (CSC) and Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique (FGTB) v. Belgium, No. 59/2009, which became public today, the European Committee  rules that Belgium is not in conformity with Article 6§4 (right to strike) of the Revised Charter (more information) Summary of Complaint No. 59/2009

Data Protection Day – 28 January 2012
[31/01/2012] On the eve of “Data Protection Day”, the Council of Europe held on 27 January in Brussels a consultation with representatives of the private sector and civil society to discuss its latest proposals to modernise the Data Protection Convention (“Convention 108”). This Convention and its additional protocol have been the model for data protection legislation in Europe and beyond since 1981 and served as a basis for the 1995 EU Directive. (more)
Convention No. 108 for the Protection of Personal Data
Special file on data protection
Website on data protection

Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption calls on the USA to ratify the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
[30/01/2012] The GRECO calls for the United States of America to ratify the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and to fully incorporate it into the law. GRECO stresses that the United States is one of the very few member states which are not a party to the Convention and its Additional Protocol. Although the US legislation and practice provide for a high degree of “functional” consistency with the Convention and the enforcement regime is effective in prosecuting corruption offences (more)
Links to the report: theme I / theme II

The Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights for 2011 are public
[24/01/2011] It is now possible to consult Conclusions 2011 and Conclusions XIX-4 (2011) by State Party. These conclusions contain the assessments of the European Committee of Social Rights on the application of the Charter with regard to rights pertaining to children, family and migrants.
More information
Conclusions by State
General Introductions 2011 and XIX-4 (2011)

Assessment of policy and procedures for the selection of judges in Azerbaijan
[16/01/2012] The Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan requested CEPEJ's assistance to verify if its new policy for the appointment of judges is in conformity with European standards in the field of justice and Rule of Law. The report, which describes the main orientations of this policy and the methodology for the selection of candidates, has been drawn up by Audun Hognes Berg, Head of International Secretariat, Norwegian Courts Administration and CEPEJ member, and by Ms Ivana Goranic, Director of the Judicial Academy, Republic of Croatia, Representative of the Lisbon Network to the CEPEJ.
Assessment of policy and procedures for the selection of judges in Azerbaijan

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee publishes report on Moldova
[13/01/2012] The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published today the report on its last visit to Moldova in June 2011. It has been made public following the request by the Moldovan Government that visit reports and responses be published automatically. In its report, the CPT notes that a significant proportion of detained persons interviewed by its delegation complained of police ill-treatment during the months preceding the visit. Consequently, the Committee recommends that the Moldovan authorities continue to implement anti-torture measures with determination. The Committee also recommends reinforcing the mechanisms for the investigation of alleged ill-treatment. (more)

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee publishes report on Greece and response of the Greek Government
[13/01/2012] The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today the report on its ad hoc visit to Greece in January 2011, together with the response of the Greek Government. The 2011 ad hoc visit was carried out to assess the concrete steps taken by the Greek authorities to implement long-standing recommendations made by the CPT, in particular those contained in the reports on the Committee’s visits of September 2005, February 2007, September 2008 and September 2009. (more)

A guide for courts wishing to implement SATURN judicial time management tools
[12/01/2012] This guide is intended to courts and legal professionals wishing to concretely implement the tools developed by the CEPEJ to improve judicial time management and optimize by the way the delays and the foreseeability of judicial procedures. (more)
Implementing the Saturn management tools in courts – A guide

Study on Council of Europe Member States on Appeal and Supreme Courts' Lengths of Proceedings
[12/01/2012] On the basis of the information collected by the CEPEJ during the 2008-2010 evaluation cycle of European judicial systems, this study analyses in depth lengths of proceedings in second instance (appeal) and at Supreme Court level and completes, by the way, the 2010 Edition of the report on European Judicial systems.
Study on Council of Europe Member States on Appeal and Supreme Courts' Lengths of Proceedings

International documents for independent and efficient judiciary in Macedonian
[06/01/2012]The Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia published Editions I and II containing international documents for independent and efficient judiciary in Macedonian. These books contain the Opinions of the CCJE, completed by 63 other selected relevant international documents which guarantee the independence and efficiency of the judiciary adopted by different bodies of the Council of Europe (especially the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)) and by the United Nations. (more)
Edition I of International documents for independent and efficient judiciary in Macedonian
Edition II of International documents for independent and efficient judiciary in Macedonian

MONEYVAL's role in the global AML/CFT network
[21/12/2011] The Financial Action Task Force’s President Giancarlo del Bufalo highlighted the important role that MONEYVAL plays in the global AML/CFT network as one of the senior, and consistently well-performing FATF associated member during his speech before the MONEYVAL delegations at the 37th Plenary meeting. He congratulated MONEYVAL for its work and positively noted in particular the strong action taken when implementation shortcomings are identified in its members.
Read the speech

GRETA publishes report on Denmark
[20/12/2011]The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published today its first evaluation report on Denmark. In its report, GRETA notes the important steps taken by the Danish authorities to combat trafficking in human beings, including the setting up of the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking, the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Human Trafficking, and the adoption of multiannual national anti-trafficking action plans, the latest covering the period 2011-2014. (more)

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee visits Armenia
[14/12/2011] 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 Armenia from 5 to 7 December 2011. The purpose of the visit was to review progress made in the light of the recommendations contained in the report on the CPT’s visit to Armenia in 2010, in particular as regards the treatment of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. The CPT’s delegation visited Yerevan-Kentron Prison and carried out a targeted visit to the unit for lifers and the disciplinary unit of Nubarashen Prison. (more)

Read more news (2011)