News 2017
Secretary General Jagland urges Bucharest to rethink reform of the judiciary
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has today sent a letter to the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, urging the authorities to seek the expertise of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission (European Commission for Democracy through Law) regarding the legislative reforms on the judiciary...
Secretary General Jagland on the passing of Arseny Roginsky, President of International Memorial
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland expressed his condolences today in the following statement:“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Arseny Roginsky, one of the founders and the President of the International Memorial, one of the best known and most respected human...
Secretary General in Madrid to commemorate 40th anniversary of Spain's accession
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is in Madrid today to speak at the opening of an event in the Spanish Parliament to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Spain´s accession to the Council of Europe, on 24 November 1977. The Secretary General said that “over the last 40 years Spain has developed a...
Secretary General Jagland attends Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is attending a major European Summit to promote fair jobs and growth. The Social Summit is taking place on Friday 17 November in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is jointly organised by the European Commission and the Swedish government. The summit was...
Council of Europe partners with leading technology companies to promote respect for human rights
The Council of Europe will strengthen its co-operation with the private sector in order to promote an open and safe internet, where human rights, democracy, and the rule of law are respected. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland signed the agreement – in the form of an exchange...
Press conference with Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland and CHP Leader Kılıçdaroğlu
Strasbourg, Wednesday 8 November, 14.30, in front of the Secretary General’s office
PEN International joins Council of Europe platform to protect journalists
The Executive Director of PEN International, Carles Torner, today signed the agreement to join the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists with the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. The platform allows trusted media freedom organisations to...
European Conference of Judges "Judicial Integrity and Corruption"
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland will open the European Conference of Judges: "Judicial Integrity and Corruption", to be held at the Council of Europe on 7 November 2017. This conference, organised by the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) will allow to...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Denmark
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, made an official visit to Denmark on 3 November where he met the Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen, the Minister for Justice Søren Pape Poulsen and the Minister for Equal...
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the Council of Europe
President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed France’s support for the Council of Europe and its institutions during a visit to the organisation’s headquarters in Strasbourg, where he met the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland before making a speech at the European Court of Human Rights. During a...
Secretary General appalled by attack against Russian journalist
Secretary General Jagland is appalled by the violent attack against Tatiana Felgenhauer, Deputy Editor of Ekho Moskvy, which took place on the premises of the well-known Russian radio station. The Secretary General wishes to express his support to Ms Fegenhauer, who is now hospitalised, and to...
Passing away of Ambassador Guido Bellati Ceccoli
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Telephone conversation of Secretary General Jagland with Turkish Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today had a phone conversation with the Turkish Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül. They discussed the latest developments regarding human rights defenders, including the Director and Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Idil Eser and Taner...
Thorbjørn Jagland: “Member states have a duty to ensure Council of Europe principles are respected”
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today addressed Congress members during their 33rd Session in Strasbourg, France. “Our Organisation, which covers the European continent from the Atlantic to Vladivostok, promotes fundamental standards, particularly those of the...
Secretary General’s working visit to the Russian Federation 19-20 October
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will be in Moscow on an official visit 19-20 October. Meetings are planned with Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma; Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly; Serguei Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs and...
Murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
Statement by Secretary General Jagland
Secretary General Jagland says Catalonia crisis must be solved within the context of the Spanish constitution
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in reply to questions from PACE members, has emphasised the importance of resolving the conflict in Catalonia on the basis of the existing Spanish constitution, or an amended version of it. He rejected the idea of international mediation, and...
Spokesperson of the Secretary General: Meeting between Secretary General Jagland and the Foreign Minister of Spain, Alfonso Dastis Quecedo
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today met with the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Alfonso Dastis Quecedo for a detailed and comprehensive exchange regarding the situation in Catalonia. The Secretary General emphasised the importance of...
Statement on recent arrests of LGBTI persons in Azerbaijan
We are very concerned by reports from Azerbaijan alleging mistreatment of LGBTI persons by police. Discrimination of minorities, sexual or other, is against the European Convention of Human Rights. LGBTI persons have no special rights under the Convention; they have the same rights as anyone...
European Day of Languages 2017: statement from Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland
"This year's European Day of Languages celebrates innovation in language learning and teaching. This provides us with the perfect opportunity to highlight the huge value of Europe's cultural diversity. Europe's nations are always at their strongest and most prosperous when we are open and...
