News 2022
Council of Europe Digital Partnership: two new partners
The International Chamber of Commerce and The LEGO Group have joined the Council of Europe’s Digital Partnership, an initiative aimed at fostering cooperation with companies and their business associations to promote respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the internet. During...
Council of Europe statement on missile attack in Kremenchuk
The Secretary General of the 46-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has today made the following statement: “Yesterday’s missile attack carried out by the Russian Federation on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, was utterly barbaric. Such senseless killing of civilians shows...
Young people should stand up against populism, nationalism and extremism that risk silencing their voices, says Secretary General
Opening the major event in Strasbourg, Youth Action Week which marks the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe’s youth sector, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić called on young people to remain engaged in revitalising democracy and in addressing the emerging threats...
New thematic factsheet on Protection of Property
The Execution Department issued today a new thematic factsheet on Protection of Property. The European Convention on Human Rights enunciates the principle of the peaceful enjoyment of one’s property and subjects its deprivation to conditions, protecting a person against unjustified interference...
MONEYVAL calls on Bulgaria to improve use of financial intelligence, investigation and prosecution and the confiscations regime
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL draws up a comprehensive assessment of the country’s level of compliance with the Recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as at the date of the onsite visit in September 2021. It calls on Bulgaria’s...
Council of Europe marks 20 years of action for the proper functioning of justice
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice of the Council of Europe (CEPEJ) is marking its 20th anniversary on 27 June in La Valletta (Malta) at an event devoted to challenges of a digitised judicial system and the way to improve the work of the CEPEJ in the future. Known mainly for...
Ireland supports Action Plans and joins Human Rights Trust Fund
In the framework of their Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the Government of Ireland has made a voluntary contribution of €665 616 towards Council of Europe Action Plans and projects that support the priorities of the Irish Chairmanship. Ireland’s contribution will support the Council...
Flight MH17 shot down by a Russian-supplied Buk missile ‘most convincing scenario by far’, says PACE
PACE has said that, based on the evidence made available to its rapporteur by Ukrainian and Dutch authorities, it considers “as the most convincing scenario by far” that flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk missile made available to military units controlled by the Russian...
“Brute force and misuse of power can never be allowed to have the last word” King of The Netherlands tells PACE
“Brute force and misuse of power can never be allowed to have the last word. That conviction is what inspired the Kingdom of the Netherlands to join with nine other countries in 1949 to establish the Council of Europe”, highlighted His Majesty King Willem-Alexander while addressing PACE. ‘It must...
Greek President calls for a strengthened Council of Europe to face Russian aggression and other challenges
In an address to the Parliamentary Assembly today, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou called for a stronger Council of Europe and greater multilateralism to tackle the many challenges facing Europe today – ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change and economic and social upheaval....
Simon Coveney at PACE: It’s time for Council of Europe Heads of State and Government to reconvene
In the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has called for a fourth summit of Heads of State and Government of the 46-nation Council of Europe. Speaking to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as chair of the organisation’s Committee...
Marija Pejčinović Burić: upholding the principles of democratic security requires political will
“The time has come for a fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government” to agree on how we best fit in the newly shaped geopolitical architecture of Europe and how to put democratic security on a firmer footing for the years to come, said Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović...
Sanctions and measures without deprivation of liberty in Europe: annual statistics for 2021
The number of persons subject to sanctions and measures which keep offenders in the community remained relatively stable from January 2020 to January 2021, after several years of regular growth, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the 2021 SPACE II annual survey, carried out for...
Türkiye: Reducing threshold for parliamentary elections is welcome but other amendments could hamper inclusive democracy and impartiality of elections
Despite some positive aspects, a recent law amending parliamentary election procedures in Türkiye (Law No. 7393) could impede the participation of newer (and smaller) parties, according to an opinion by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission of legal and constitutional experts. Jointly drafted...
PACE President urges members not to get used to the war in Ukraine
In his opening speech of the PACE summer session, President Tiny Kox invited members to hold a minute of silence for all the victims of the war in Ukraine, urging them to help end the suffering of the Ukrainian people and to continue showing solidarity. “This horrible war should never become a...
Azerbaijan media law: overregulation in an already restrictive environment
In the context of an already extremely confined space for independent journalism and media in Azerbaijan, the new media Law in Azerbaijan will have a “chilling effect”, said the Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, in its joint opinion together with the...
Secretary General welcomes Ukrainian Parliament’s approval of Istanbul Convention
Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has made the following statement today: “As women and girls are particularly vulnerable during the conflict, I warmly welcome the approval by the Ukrainian Parliament of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating...
Council of Europe and UNHCR: anyone fleeing war or persecution has the right to seek safety and protection
On the occasion of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2022, the Council of Europe and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emphasise that anyone fleeing war, conflict or persecution or risking violence, abuse or exploitation, has the right to seek safety and protection. Almost four months into the war in...
Continued use of the situation of Russian as a minority language as a pretext for aggression against Ukraine unacceptable
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the statement adopted at the latest plenary session condemned in the strongest possible terms the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and expressed its solidarity with all people of Ukraine....
Moldova needs more resources and expertise to welcome refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) has concluded her fact-finding visit to the Republic of Moldova (13-15 June 2022), which focused on the protection of the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. The number of arrivals in the country has decreased...