Rules governing access to documents:

1. Documents not subject to any particular classification are public.
2. Documents classified “restricted until examined by the Committee of Ministers” are declassified after the Committee of Ministers (CM) has examined the item in question. Prior to declassification, these documents are only visible to member governments and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe.
3. Documents classified “restricted” are declassified a year after being issued. Prior to declassification, these documents are only visible to member governments and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe.
4. Documents classified “confidential” are declassified ten years after being issued. Prior to declassification, these documents are only visible to member governments and the service or committee responsible for the document. Distribution to other parties requires written permission from the author service.

Cf. CM/Del/Dec(1998)641/1.3 and CM/Del/Dec(2000)7351.5a