News 2015
PACE maintains sanctions against Russian delegation
But leaves door open to dialogue
Mladen Ivanić: joining the EU ‘is the only hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina’
Joining the European Union “is the only hope for our country”, said Mladen Ivanić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking today in an address to the Parliamentary Assembly. “If we remain isolated, our internal differences will be more relevant. If we are part of something...
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni re-elected Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today re-elected Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni (Italy) as Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. It is her second mandate in this post. For the past two and a half years, Mrs Battaini-Dragoni has served as the Council of Europe’s Deputy...
Let Snowden return to US and plead ‘public interest’, says PACE
The United States should allow whistle-blower Edward Snowden to return to his home country “without fear of criminal prosecution under conditions that would not allow him to raise the public interest defence”, according to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The 1917...
Ban Ki-moon calls for mobilisation against violent extremism
In his address to PACE convened today in plenary session in Strasbourg, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assured Europe of UN support in combating violent extremism and the rise of antisemitism, anti-muslim attacks and related forms of discrimination. He commended the action of the...
MONEYVAL publishes a report on Montenegro
Council of Europe report calls on Montenegro to investigate and prosecute money laundering offences more proactively
Igor Crnadak presents the priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairmanship
Addressing the Assembly today, Igor Crnadak, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and current Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, said his country is “honoured to be assuming the Chairmanship for the first time since its accession to the Council of Europe in 2002”. The...
International Conference on the interface between trafficking in human beings and asylum
The Bulgarian National Commission for Combatting Trafficking in Human beings, the Council of Europe and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation is holding an International Conference on “The interface between protection of victims...
Human Rights report on Bulgaria
Progress on human rights protection remains slow in Bulgaria
Migrants can become an asset to our economies, says Maltese President
Addressing PACE today at its June session, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Malta’s membership of the Council of Europe, the President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, called for “an effective, comprehensive and holistic migration policy”, pinned on a human rights-based approach....
Hungary must ensure greater independence of media regulatory authority, say Council of Europe constitutional law experts
An Opinion adopted on 19 June 2015 during the plenary session of the Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts (the Venice Commission) calls on the Hungarian government to create a more independent regulatory framework and more balanced media environment. “Hungary has made significant...
Thorbjørn Jagland: Fight against violent extremism is a battle of ideas
Address to United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee
Slovakia should set ambitious targets for the social inclusion of Roma and persons with disabilities
“Although Slovakia has taken important measures to advance its human rights agenda, much more ambitious targets need to be set for eradicating the social exclusion and marginalisation of Roma and persons with disabilities. Also much more should be done to reinforce the effectiveness of the...
GRECO: regulating conflicts of interest must be a priority
The evaluations carried out so far by the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) show that in many European states there are currently no regulations to deal with the conflicts of interest parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors might face, and that in some countries...
New guidance for states to fight “online grooming” of children
All cases of sexual abuse of children – no matter if they are a result of a physical meeting, or committed purely online – should be criminalized, says a new Council of Europe’s opinion on “online grooming” presented in Strasbourg today. The opinion was adopted by the Lanzarote Committee bringing...
Safety and security at sports events: Adapting to today's challenges
30 years after the Heysel Stadium tragedy, the Council of Europe and the Royal Belgian Football Association are holding an international conference in Brussels to discuss how best to ensure safety, security and a service-oriented approach at football matches and other major sporting events. The...
Secretary General: Cybercrime is reaching epic proportions
Octopus conference 2015
Lowest reported drug seizures at airports since 2012: new statistics from the Council of Europe
Unveiled at a meeting organised by the Council of Europe’s drug policy experts (The Pompidou Group) new statistics indicate the lowest number of drug seizures at airports on passengers and in airfreight since 2012. Statistics indicate seizure data for 40 countries in 2014: 3,657 drug seizures...
Tackling human trafficking: Secretary General urges 5 countries to complete the jigsaw
Strasbourg event marks ten years of Europe’s anti-trafficking convention
Secretary General's message to the people of Georgia
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland today expressed his condolences over the loss of life in the devastating flood in Tbilisi during the weekend. At least twelve people died and many others are missing. “On this day of national mourning, I would like to express my...