Treaty Office

The Treaty Office exercises, for the Secretary General, depositary functions with respect to more than 200 Council of Europe treaties. It keeps the originals of all treaties and registers signatures and ratifications, as well as declarations and reservations, and any withdrawals or modifications thereof. It notifies all legal acts relating to the treaties to all the member States and any other States or Organisations mentioned in the treaty concerned. It may also give information and advice on treaty issues.

Public international law

In a climate of increasing interdependence between states, international law is developing and becoming a key factor in the organisation of inter-state relations. Accordingly, the Council of Europe is endeavouring to co-ordinate its member states’ activities in this field, essentially through its Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI). This intergovernmental committee brings together the legal advisers of the Ministries for foreign affairs of the member States of the Council of Europe as well as of a significant number of observer States and Organisations.

Fight against Terrorism

The Council of Europe has been dedicated since 1949 to upholding human rights, the rule of law and pluralist democracy, and has acquired unique authority and experience in those fields. The Organisation is determined to combat terrorism which repudiates these three fundamental values and in this respect it serves as a forum for discussing and adopting regional standards and best practice. It also provides assistance to Council of Europe's member States in improving their counter-terrorism capabilities. The Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER) coordinates the implementation of the Organisation's action against terrorism.