Fourth Summit (16-17 May 2023, Reykjavík, Iceland )

The 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe took place in Reykjavík, on 16 and 17 May 2023. The leaders decided to establish a Register of damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine and agreed to strengthen the Council of Europe and its work in the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law by adopting a declaration on the situation of the children of Ukraine, democracy principles, recommitting to the European Convention on Human Rights and developing tools to tackle emerging challenges in the area of technology and the environment.

• Reykjavík Declaration - United around our values
• Resolution CM/Res(2023)3 establishing the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register of Damage caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
• Minutes of the sittings held on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 May 2023 (SUM(2023)PV) and Addendum to the Minutes (SUM(2023)PV-add)  
• Video recordings
• Summit website
• Heads of State and Government agree to strengthen Council of Europe, ensure accountability for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and support victims
• Council of Europe Summit creates register of damage for Ukraine as first step towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression
• European leaders unite around Ukraine and European values
• Summit in Reykjavik to renew ‘the Conscience of Europe’

Third Summit (16-17 May 2005, Warsaw, Poland)

The Third Summit took place in Warsaw on 16-17 May 2005. Leaders of the 46 member states redefined the Organisation’s priorities by adopting a political declaration and an action plan, laying down the principal tasks of the Council of Europe in the coming years, and aiming to strengthen the Council’s key mission to safeguard and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

• Summit website
• Warsaw Declaration and Action Plan
• Speeches made at the Summit
• Minutes of the Summit and Addendum

Second Summit (10-11 October 1997, Strasbourg, France)

During the Second Summit in Strasbourg in October 1997, the Heads of State and Government adopted an action plan to strengthen the Council of Europe's work in four areas: democracy and human rights, including the establishment of a Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner; social cohesion; the security of citizens; and democratic values and cultural diversity.

• Final Declaration and Action Plan
• Minutes of the Summit

First Summit (8-9 October 1993, Vienna, Austria)

The first Summit took place in Vienna in October 1993, following the fall of the Berlin wall and the development of new democracies in central and eastern Europe. It confirmed the Council’s policy of openness and enlargement and also launched the reform of the European Convention on Human Rights to make it more effective. The Heads of State and Government cast the Council of Europe as the guardian of democratic security - founded on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Democratic security is an essential complement to military security, and is a pre-requisite for the continent's stability and peace.

• Vienna Declaration and Action Plan
• Minutes of the Summit and Corrigendum (English only)