Council of Europe Strategy

In the context of its Internet Governance Strategies (2012-2019) and beyond, the Council of Europe has provided its member States and partners, as well as other stakeholders, with solid references for the implementation of its standards in the digital environment. This agenda will guide a resolute implementation of the Council of Europe Strategic Framework 2022-2025 in the digital environment. The forty-one priority actions identified boil down to three main, Organisation-wide objectives:

Consolidating the existing digital regulation by supporting the implementation of Council of Europe standards to have a coherent set of effective legal mechanisms to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the digital environment;
Responding to new challenges raised and taking advantage of the opportunities provided by emerging digital technologies by developing new legal instruments, and/or adapting and updating existing ones as appropriate, to help member States meet present and future challenges raised by the digital transition and to do so in line with Council of Europe standards;
Accompanying member States for a digital transition with European values based on Council of Europe standards, through monitoring and co-operation activities.

Previous Strategies:

The Internet Governance Strategy for 2016-2019

Final report of the Secretary General on the Internet Governance (2016-2019)

Mid-term report of the Secretary General on the Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019

Implementation Table: Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2017 Progress in implementation of actions and activities

Final report of the Secretary General on the Internet Governance (2012-2015)

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Thematic leaflet

Brief overview of the Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019

The strategy

Internet Governance Strategy for 2016-2019

Inter-secretariat Task Force on Internet Governance and Information Society

Coherent realisation of the Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy is facilitated, coordinated and monitored by the Inter-secretariat Task Force on Internet Governance and Information Society (IGTF).

IGTF is a platform for joint and complementary action established in order to:

Coordinate the implementation of and reporting on the Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019;
Serve as a mechanism for collaboration and information and knowledge sharing across the Council of Europe;
Develop future Council of Europe strategies in the fields of the Information Society and Internet Governance with the view to:
- ensuring efficiency and increased impact of Council of Europe activities and messages,
- identifying where and how political and financial support might be needed and secured,
- overseeing strategic cooperation with European and international institutions and organisations as well as relevant stakeholder groups and fora, professional bodies, technical communities and civil society organisations,
- identifying priorities, objectives, expected results and conduct risk management analysis and evaluation of methods, resources and strategic partnerships;
Co-ordinate Council of Europe contributions to, including participation where justified in, major international events such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) forum, the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), and the World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS), recognizing these processes as opportunities to promote Council of Europe activities, values and messages;
Support Council of Europe partnerships with internet companies in order to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law on the internet.

On 5 April 2018 Mr Jan Kleijssen, Director of Information Society and Action Against Crime has been nominated as Internet Governance Coordinator.

Cooperation with companies

The Council of Europe will strengthen its co-operation with the private sector in order to promote an open and safe internet, where human rights, democracy, and the rule of law are respected.

International Dialogue

Council of Europe takes part in Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) and and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

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Following the decision of the Committee of Ministers on 16 March 2022 the Russian Federation is no longer a member of the Council of Europe. The website will be updated as soon as possible to take account of this development.