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Czechia should take resolute action to protect minority languages
New Council of Europe expert committee report also calls for closer supervision by the authorities
Austria and Czechia to lead the Pompidou Group for 2026–29
Mexico as Vice-President, conference welcomes Spain’s joining the group
Czechia should make access to national-minority rights more flexible
New Council of Europe expert committee report released
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...
Three candidates shortlisted for the 2025 Václav Havel Prize
The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the 2025 Award. Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2025: three nominees to be shortlisted in Prague
The Selection Panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize will meet on Tuesday 26 August in Prague to determine a shortlist of three nominees from among the candidatures received. This shortlist – three individuals or organisations judged to have undertaken outstanding action in defence of human...
Winners of Council of Europe’s Journalism Excellence Award for reporting on Roma and Travellers announced
The Council of Europe held the second edition of the Journalism Excellence Awards, which honour and promote media contributions that avoid stigma faced by Roma and Travellers – and impartially capture their human stories. This year’s winners come from Hungary, Greece, Czechia, Slovenia and...
The Global Forum on Higher Education 2025: Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission
This high-level event will take place on 3-4 June 2025 at Charles University in Prague. It is co-organised by four global partners: the Council of Europe, the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy, the International Association of Universities, and the...
Peer Review in Cyprus contributes to ongoing debate on local government reform
Senior experts and policymakers from the Czechia, Germany, Ireland, Poland and the United Kingdom gathered in Nicosia 5-7 March 2025 to offer advice on internal governance procedures for local authorities in Cyprus. Known as a “Peer Review”, this activity of the Congress focused on the role and...
Insufficient protection of access to housing for vulnerable groups in Czechia breaches the European Social Charter
In a new decision on the merits of the collective complaint European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) v. the Czech Republic (Complaint No. 191/2020), the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has unanimously concluded that there is a violation of...
Roundtable and Training on How to Organise a Citizens’ Assembly in Prague
In Czechia, citizen assemblies are largely unexplored, with public administration having little knowledge of their potential. Civil society organisations are familiar with the concept, but practical experience is minimal. Therefore, the Council of Europe and the Government Commissioner for Human...
Czech Republic: the authorities should extend the law on compensation for victims of forced sterilisations
Letters - Commissioner O’Flaherty published today letters to the Prime Minister and to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic. The letters...
Czechia urged to step up efforts to prevent human trafficking for labour exploitation
The Czech authorities should strengthen their efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, in particular as regards labour exploitation, improve the identification of victims, and take further action to prevent child trafficking, according to a new report by the Council of Europe’s...
Expert committee calls for action plans to protect minority languages in Czechia
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe has called on Czechia to design and implement a specific strategy and action plan for protecting and promoting each of the languages covered by the treaty in the country: German, Moravian...
European Committee of Social Rights publishes 2023 Findings and Conclusions on Children, Family and Migrants
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Conclusions 2023 in respect of the articles of the European Social Charter relating to Children, Family and Migrants. In the framework of the reporting procedure, the ECSR adopted 799 conclusions: 415 conclusions of conformity with...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is holding its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 12 to 14 March. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia,...
GRECO: Czechia must improve the effectiveness of its system to promote integrity and prevent corruption in government and the police
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), calls in a new report for determined measures to prevent corruption in Czechia in respect of persons with top executive functions, including the Prime Minister, ministers, deputy ministers, ministers’ advisers, as well as members...
Czechia extends protection of German language under the minority languages charter
Czechia has decided to extend its undertakings under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) regarding German in the districts of Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Sokolov, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Český Krumlov, Opava and Svitavy (see the notification in full here). The authorities...
Secretary General meets the President of the Czech Republic Pavel
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the President of Czechia Petr Pavel. The exchange of views underlined the impact of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government setting up an ambitious path to strengthen democratic security, put an end to democratic backsliding and...
CEB approves seven new loans totalling €670 million
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved seven new loans totalling €670 million in support of education and vocational training, environmental protection, health and social care, MSME financing, and the promotion of inclusive and resilient living environments. “We believe that...
*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.