Leadership and Management of the Organisation

The Secretary General is elected by the Parliamentary Assembly for a five-year term at the head of the Organisation. The Secretary General is responsible for the strategic planning and direction of the Council of Europe’s work programme and budget and oversees the day-to-day management of the Organisation.  Alain Berset became Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 18 September 2024.

Guardian of the Council of Europe’s Fundamental Values

The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe’s decision-making body and consists of the 46 member states’ foreign ministers, or their permanent diplomatic representatives in Strasbourg. It is both a governmental body where national approaches to European problems are discussed on an equal footing and a forum to find collective responses to these challenges. With the Parliamentary Assembly, it is the guardian of the Council’s fundamental values, and monitors member states’ compliance with their undertakings. The Committee of Ministers decides the Council’s policy and approves the Council’s programme of activities and budget. It also determines the action to be taken on recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the proposals from various intergovernmental committees and conferences of specialised ministers. It approves the Council of Europe’s Programme and Budget. The Committee of Ministers also supervises the execution by member states of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Political Driving Force

The Parliamentary Assembly is the political driving force behind the Council of Europe.The Assembly brings together 306 men and women from the parliaments of the Council of Europe's 46 member states. Though it contains many voices, reflecting political opinion across the continent, its mission is to uphold the shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law that are the "common heritage" of the peoples of Europe. Though its texts are not binding, the Assembly speaks on behalf of 700 million Europeans and the 46 Council of Europe governments must give a collective reply. It is the democratic conscience of Greater Europe. The Assembly initiates international treaties; it debates and adopts recommendations and provides guidelines for the Committee of Ministers, national governments and parliaments; elects the Secretary General, the Human Rights Commissioner and the judges to the European Court of Human Rights; it provides a democratic forum for debate and monitors elections; its committees play an important role in examining current issues.

The Watchdog of Grassroots Democracy

The Congress is a driving force in hastening the devolution of power to the local and regional tiers of government. The Congress is the voice of Europe's 200 000 regions and municipalities and provides a forum where elected representatives can discuss common problems, pool their experiences and develop policies. It works to strengthen democracy and improve services at local and regional level.

It monitors the development of local and regional democracy, encourages political dialogue between national governments and territorial entities, and supports regional and local transfrontier cooperation.

Providing a Vital Link with Civil Society

The Conference includes some 400 international NGOs. It provides vital links between politicians and the public and brings the voice of civil society to the Council. The Council’s work benefits extensively from the INGOs’ expertise and their outreach to European citizens.

Protector of Fundamental Freedoms

The European Court of Human Rights, which sits in Strasbourg, is the permanent judicial body responsible for monitoring compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. Its role is to ensure respect for the rights safeguarded by the Convention, to which the 46 member states of the Council of Europe are contracted. The Court is composed of a number of judges equal to that of the Contracting States. It rules on individual or State applications alleging violations of the civil and political rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. Since 1998 it has sat as a full-time court and individuals can apply to it directly. In almost fifty years the Court has delivered more than 10,000 judgments. These are binding on the countries concerned and have led governments to alter their legislation and administrative practice in a wide range of areas. The Court’s case-law makes the Convention a powerful living instrument for meeting new challenges and consolidating the rule of law and democracy in Europe.

Advancing the Development of Human Rights-Based Democratic Cultures                                                          

The Commissioner is an independent institution and is responsible for promoting education, awareness and respect for human rights in member states and ensuring the full and effective compliance with the Council of Europe’s standard-setting instruments. The Commissioner plays an essentially preventive role, performing different functions from those of the European Court of Human Rights and other treaty-based organisations. The Commissioner does not have executive powers. 

Dr. Michael O'Flaherty was elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January 2024. He is the fifth Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe. The Commissioner's mandate lasts for six years and is non-renewable.