The Council of Europe and the European Union: different roles, shared values

 


The Council of Europe and the European Union share the same fundamental values – human rights, democracy and the rule of law – but are separate entities which perform different, yet complementary, roles.

Focusing on those core values, the Council of Europe brings together governments from across Europe – and beyond – to agree minimum legal standards in a wide range of areas. It then monitors how well countries apply the standards that they have chosen to sign up to. It also provides technical assistance, often working together with the European Union, to help them do so.

The European Union refers to those same European values as a key element of its deeper political and economic integration processes. It often builds upon Council of Europe standards when drawing up legal instruments and agreements which apply to its 27 member states. Furthermore, the European Union regularly refers to Council of Europe standards and monitoring work in its dealings with neighbouring countries, many of which are Council of Europe member states.

The Lisbon Treaty increased the scope for European Union action in many areas where the Council of Europe already has significant experience and expertise. This has led to increased cooperation on issues such as fighting human trafficking, the sexual exploitation of children and violence against women. It has also opened the way for the European Union itself to sign up to the European Convention on Human Rights, and to other Council of Europe agreements.

Relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union are set out in the:

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News

Back Council of Europe and EU discuss cooperation in the Southern Mediterranean

Senior officials from the 47-nation Council of Europe and the 27-member European Union met in Strasbourg today to discuss current issues of importance to both organisations, including cooperation in the Southern Mediterranean.

Participants stressed that democratic reforms in the Southern Mediterranean are in Europe's interests, as well as those of the region itself. They pledged to continue working together to help support the reform process, notably in the areas of constitutional and judicial reform, as well as holding free and fair elections and promoting human rights.

The high-level representatives also welcomed initiatives which are planned by the Andorran chairmanship of the Council of Europe over the next six months to promote education on human rights, especially among young people, as an important way of supporting democracy and social cohesion.

The Council of Europe was represented at the meeting by Secretary General Jagland and Andorran Foreign Minister Gilbert Saboya, the Chair of the organsation's Committee of Ministers. Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcoullis took part on behalf of the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

Speaking after the meeting Secretary General Jagland, Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis and Minister Saboya concluded: "Cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe is strong at all levels, including recent developments taking place in neighbouring countries of the South Mediterranean."

The meeting was the latest in the regular series of high-level exchanges between the Council of Europe and the EU on issues of common interest.

Council of Europe Strasbourg 20/11/2012
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Budget contribution

The Annual Receipts on EU contributions under Joint Programmes between the Council of Europe and the European Union in 2019, amounted to €206.1 million. Co-funded by EU at 85%, by CoE at 15%

29 new Joint Programmes negotiated in 2019 for a total of €111.7 million.

Multimedia

Global Action on Cybercrime (GLACY), video report on a joint project between the Council of Europe and the European Union