Newsroom
Council of Europe at the 2026 European Dialogue on internet governance
Balancing risks and opportunities for human rights in new digital technologies
Accountability for Russia’s war against Ukraine is a shared responsibility says Special Envoy
Safe return, rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian children necessary, Thórdís Gylfadóttir tells the International Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children
Peace through historical memories: Congress supports the European cities’ pledge
“The Brussels Pledge to foster peace by preserving historical memories reinforces co-operation among European cities in mobilising local leaders around shared commitments to defend European...
Congress 50th session: new leadership, Ukraine’s reconstruction, local democracy in Georgia, integrity of local elections, violence against elected officials and social rights at local level
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will hold its 50th session from 31 March to 2 April 2026 in Strasbourg, France. It will welcome new national delegations with a five-year mandate, elect its new leadership and adopt its priorities for 2026-2031. The session’s...
Congress Secretary General to visit Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium
Congress Secretary general Mathieu Mori will visit the Brussels-Capital Region in Belgium on 11-12 February 2026. He will have meetings with the Region’s Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and Minister in charge of local authorities Bernard Clerfayt, President of the Brussels Parliament Bertin...
Secretary General completes first official visit to Belgium
Talks focus on migration, reinforcing democracy and upholding human rights
Democratic security on agenda for Secretary General’s first official visit to Belgium
Alain Berset to meet King Phillippe and Prime Minister De Wever and speak at the College of Europe
Two new assessments from Council of Europe anti-corruption group on Belgium
Action on a number of GRECO recommendations still outstanding
Congress President welcomes launch of European Observatory for the Defence of Democracy at Local Level
“This vital initiative will actively defend democracy—especially at the local level,” underlined Congress President Marc Cools welcoming the launch of the European Observatory for the Defence...
Laudable progress in dealing with violence against women in Belgium
Council of Europe recommends better data collection and access to shelters
A just peace for Ukraine, freedom of assembly and expression, new Charter on youth participation, housing crisis and drugs in European cities: 49th Congress session
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will hold its 49th session from 28 to 30 October 2025 in Strasbourg, France. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, opened for signature on 15 October 1985, the session will be...
Council of Europe standards on multilevel governance: the cornerstone of Ukraine’s EU integration
“The Council of Europe with its Congress is accompanying consultation and decision-making processes over reforms on multilevel governance, which are fundamental for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union,” underlined Congress Director Claudia Luciani speaking at the session “The Future through...
CEMR and the Congress for Local and Regional Authorities Call for Stronger Democratic Resilience in the Digital Age
To mark 40 years of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe convened in Brussels to hold a consultation on the New Democratic Pact for Europe and to explore...
Public authorities getting equipped with AI knowledge and non-discrimination tools in Belgium
Approximately 100 staff members from equality bodies, public authorities and independent regulators in Belgium, took part in the opening seminar of a new training course “Artificial...
The Local Self-Government Charter turns 40: Renewing Democracy in the Digital Age
Date: 13 October 2025 Venue: ACE Events, 22 Avenue d’Auderghem, 1040 Brussels, Belgium This year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening for signature of the European Charter of...
The Council of Europe updates mutual assistance provisions in criminal matters
The new “Valetta Protocol” will strengthen cooperation in countering transnational crimes
One third of spending on European original films and series is made by global streamers
The European Audiovisual Observatory has just published a new report on investment in original European films and series made by the main media players in Europe. This new study reveals that total spending on European original works (excluding news and sports rights) amounted to EUR 25.1 billion...
New Child-Friendly Justice Assessment Tool and self-assessments presented in Brussels
On 24 June 2025, the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe together with representatives from Belgium, Poland and Slovenia presented new Child-Friendly Justice Assessment Tool...
First monitoring report on implementation of MEDICRIME Convention focuses on public health protection during COVID pandemic
The first monitoring report on the implementation of the Convention on the Counterfeiting of Medical Products and Similar Crimes Involving Threats to Public Health (MEDICRIME Convention) highlights how 13 of the 23 State Parties to the Convention (*) applied its provisions, with a particular...
Social rights committee backs Belgium over Roma discrimination complaint
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has decided that Belgium did not violate the European Social Charter during police operations targeting two Travellers’ sites in April 2020. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) had complained that the seizure of caravans and property by the...
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.