Newsroom
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I am deeply concerned by the developments unfolding in Georgia and regret Parliament’s adoption in second reading of the draft law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’, despite calls by Georgia’s...
World Press Freedom Day
2024 election year: Secretary General urges governments to protect journalists to safeguard democracy
Ukraine: Disregard false information concerning derogations from the European Convention on Human Rights
In 2022, Ukraine notified the Council of Europe of derogations to several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights resulting from the Russian aggression and ongoing state of war in the country. Ukraine regularly updates the Council of Europe about these derogations. As of 4 April 2024...
“Our rights, our future”
Secretary General 2024 report on democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Europe
L’Atelier de l’Europe: immersion in the Council of Europe’s art collection
To mark its 75th anniversary, the Council of Europe is offering a unique audio experience featuring 12 works of art that are emblematic of the organisation’s history, heritage and values. L’Atelier de l’Europe (Europe’s workshop), a 12-episode podcast in French, will be available from 1 May. The...
Anti-trafficking group GRETA issues 2023 report
The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its latest general report of activities, highlighting the key achievements in 2023. These include the publication of 11 new country evaluation reports (in respect of Azerbaijan, Estonia,...
Secretary General welcomes new three-year contract “Strasbourg, European Capital”
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Ukraine: Anti-torture committee expresses concern over prison overcrowding and informal hierarchies
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report on its October 2023 periodic visit to Ukraine, the first since the start of the full-scale military aggression by Russia in February 2022. Despite the efforts by...
Human Rights Commissioner calls for stronger support for Ukraine
The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, carried out a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine from 23-25 April. This was his first visit to a member state since taking up his post on 1 April. With the current human rights landscape in Europe being dominated by Russia’s war...
Secretary General attends OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna
“I said at the very beginning of my mandate, in 2019, that I wanted to reinforce co-operation between the Council of Europe and other international organisations in the interest of people in Europe, and the wider world. And I cannot think of a better way to mark the Council of Europe’s 75th...
Anti-torture annual report: Rights of transgender prisoners in focus
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issued a set of standards and recommendations to European prisons aimed at ensuring that transgender prisoners, a highly vulnerable segment of the prison population, are treated with respect and protected from the risks of...
Secretary General meets Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia Lasha Darsalia. During the meeting, the Secretary General highlighted once more the unwavering commitment of the Council of Europe to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, as...
Serious human rights concerns about United Kingdom’s Rwanda Bill
“The adoption of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the UK Parliament raises major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more generally”, said Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. “The United Kingdom government...
Secretary General meets French Minister Delegate for Europe
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the French Minister Delegate for Europe Jean-Noël Barrot. The meeting focused on current global challenges for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Marija Pejčinović Burić and Jean-Noël Barrot exchanged views mainly on the finalisation of...
Secretary General on official visit to Lithuania
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with President of the Republic Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska, and other key personalities during an official visit to Lithuania to discuss...
Council of Europe to celebrate the Freedom of Artistic Expression at Venice Biennale
On the occasion of the 60th Venice Biennale, the Council of Europe is organising an event in Venice on 20 April under the title the Other Session, to discuss and assess, through dialogues, performances and exhibitions, the landscape of artistic freedom in Europe, and to identify measures needed...
2024 Europe Prize awarded to Terrassa (Spain)
The 2024 Europe Prize has been awarded to Terrassa, Spain. This award is given annually by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to the town most active in promoting the European ideal. Terrassa is a city of 225,000 inhabitants in central-eastern Catalonia (Spain). A...
“There will be no peace without justice” – H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois tells PACE
“Aggressive power politics must not prevail. Those challenging our common commitment to the rules base international order must be held to account,” was the message at the heart of His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein’s address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the...