News 2024
Strengthening disciplinary liability of judges while safeguarding their independence
The Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) of the Council of Europe has adopted a new opinion on the disciplinary liability of judges. This strategy document sets out concrete recommendations on how to strike the subtle balance between ensuring judicial accountability and safeguarding...
Anti-torture Committee publishes report on ad hoc visit to Italy
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report on its visit to Italy in April 2024, together with the response of the Italian authorities. The visit focused on the treatment and conditions of detention of...
Council of Europe at the Internet Governance Forum: the AI Convention in focus
The use of AI systems may pose risks to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Council of Europe’s work to help address those risks, and in particular its ground-breaking Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, will be showcased...
Tributes Paid to Former Council of Europe Secretary General and Parliamentary Assembly Member Terry Davis
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset and Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos have expressed their sadness at the death of Terry Davis, who served as Council of Europe Secretary General from 2004 to 2009 and was a long-standing member of the Parliamentary Assembly....
“No Culture. No Democracy”: Celebrating 70 Years of the European Cultural Convention
The Council of Europe is set to host a conference in Strasbourg today, marking the 70th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention. Under the evocative title “No Culture. No Democracy”, the event highlights the indispensable role of culture in nurturing democracy, safeguarding human rights,...
Anti-torture Committee publishes report on Denmark
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published its report on Denmark, based on a visit carried out from 23 May to 3 June 2024. Regarding persons held in police custody, while most of the persons interviewed by the...
Money laundering and terrorist financing: MONEYVAL publishes progress reports on Croatia, Georgia and Monaco
The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) has published follow-up reports on Croatia, Monaco and Georgia assessing their compliance with the 40 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations. In its...
Let this Human Rights Day be the turning point we need
Statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Human Rights Day 2024
Venice Commission Final 2024 Plenary: Key Opinions Adopted
During its final plenary session of 2024, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission adopted several opinions. These covered a range of topics: Albania: On the implementation of Constitutional Court decisions by Parliament. Haiti: On possible legislative solutions to conduct future electoral...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 3 to 5 December to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 42 decisions...
Anti-Corruption Day: “States must take determined action to protect democracy against corruption”
To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, held every year on 9 December, the President of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), Marin Mrčela, has issued the following statement: “Corruption is at the core of many of the challenges democracies face today, from...
Secretary General Alain Berset visits Ukraine, confirms next steps in support
The Secretary General Alain Berset has concluded a three-day visit to Ukraine (4-6 December), during which he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed next steps in the Council of Europe’s support for Ukraine. He also restated that support for Ukraine remains the Council of Europe’s top...
Venice Commission holding plenary session
During its final plenary session of 2024, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission is set to examine with a view to adoption in particular: Five draft opinions concerning : Albania on the implementation of Constitutional Court decisions by Parliament; Haiti on possible legislative solutions to...
Addressing violence and discrimination against LBQ women in Europe
A conference co-organised by the Parliamentary Assembly’s Parliamentary Platform for the rights of LGBTI people and the Council of Europe’s SOGIESC Unit has focused on the invisibility of LBQ women, and the challenges they face from lesbophobia, which can lead to them suffering from violence and...
Death of Ukrainian Mayor in Russian prison: Statement by the Congress President
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “I am saddened and dismayed to learn about the death of Yevhen Matvieiev, mayor of the temporarily occupied town of Dniprorudne in Ukraine, in Russian captivity....
Observatory on History Teaching in Europe mobilises to fight increasing instrumentalisation of history
A conference on the topic “History in Crisi(e)s?” organised by the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) opens on 5 December 2024 with interventions by several high-level guests, including Ministers of Education from Luxembourg, Montenegro, and Slovakia, as well as the deputy Ministers...
Experts in safe sport highlight trauma-informed approaches to child safeguarding
On 3 December 2024 in Strasbourg and online, a seminar on trauma-informed child safeguarding practices in sport was organised in collaboration with the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. The event, which took place during the Council of Europe’s Pool of International Experts on...
Commissioner for Human Rights: Georgian authorities must fulfil their obligation to uphold the right of peaceful assembly
"I am following with serious concern the reports of disproportionate use of force by the police against predominantly peaceful demonstrators and journalists covering the ongoing protests in Georgia. The authorities must uphold their human rights obligations to respect freedom of peaceful...
Situation in Georgia: Secretary General exchanges views with President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze
Secretary General Alain Berset is closely following the current developments in Georgia. Over the past 24 hours, he spoke by phone with President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. In light of the tense situation and on-going confrontations, the Secretary General expressed...
Euskararen Etxea (House of the Basque Language) in Bilbao wins 2025 Council of Europe Museum Prize
The 2025 Council of Europe Museum Prize has been awarded to Euskararen Etxea (the House of the Basque Language) in Bilbao, Spain. The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting on 3 December 2024. The House of the Basque...
