Sub-Committees
PC-OC
Committee of Experts on the Operation of European Conventions on Co-operation in Criminal Matters
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Operation of European Conventions on Co-operation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC / Terms of reference / List of Conventions) is the forum in which, since 1981, experts from all member and observer states and organisations come together to elaborate ways to improve international co-operation in criminal matters and identify solutions to practical problems encountered in the application of Council of Europe Conventions in this field.
PC-CP
Council for Penological Co-operation
The Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP) is the expert committee of the Council of Europe responsible for reviewing and revising standards and principles in the field of execution of custodial and non-custodial penal sanctions and measures.
It contributes to the Council of Europe’s role as an important standard-setting organisation and a platform for the exchange of experience and professional inspiration. The Working Group is composed of 9 elected members who are renowned experts in the prison and probation field.
PC-TM
Committee of Experts on combatting the smuggling of migrants
The smuggling of migrants is a rapidly evolving global crime that endangers human life, exploits vulnerability and cannot be effectively addressed by any State acting alone.
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Terms of Reference establishing the Committee of Experts on combatting the smuggling of migrants (PC-TM), a subordinate body of the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC). Countering migrant smuggling was identified as a priority in the Reykjavík Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe at their 4th Summit in May 2023, in which they committed to intensifying international cooperation while protecting victims and respecting the human rights of migrants and refugees.
PC-RAC
Committee of Experts on Criminal Asset Recovery
The Council of Europe has historically been at the forefront of international action against organised crime by developing a range of conventions and other soft law standards aimed at facilitating international co-operation as regards investigative assistance, search, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds from all types of criminality. Work in this area has led to the adoption of the 1990 Council of Europe Convention on laundering, search, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds from crime (“the Strasbourg Convention”), as the first internationally binding treaty that focuses exclusively on money laundering.