Newsroom
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 14 AUGUST 2026
Call for participants: Training Course-Youth advocacy for democracy and human rights
The Council of Europe Youth Department organises the third edition of the training course Youth Advocacy for Democracy and Human Rights between 27 September and 4 October 2026 at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg. The training course takes place in parallel with the plenary session of the...
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 7 September 2026
Call for participants: Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies – How to Start?
The Council of Europe Youth Department and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities are organising – in partnership with DemNet Foundation – a public panel discussion and a two-day workshop on deliberative democracy and citizens’ assemblies. The event is the next activity in the programme...
“Dear democracy, our youth is yours”
Democracy is worth fighting for, say young people on the International Youth Day
“Young people are often told that we are the future. Yet many of us struggle to trust that future.” These are the first lines of the “Youth visions for a European democracy in 2049” manifesto that was developed by 120 participants of a youth event of the New Democratic Pact for Europe held by the...
Call for Participation: Art Competition on Interfaith Dialogue
The Committee for Interreligious and Interconvictional Dialogue of the Conference of INGOs, in cooperation with Religions for Peace Europe, is organising a painting and photography competition for young people aged 18–25 across Europe. The theme is “Interfaith Dialogue: Bridges of Cooperation,...
PACE condemns ‘transnational repression’ and urges new laws to stop it
PACE has condemned all forms of “transnational repression” – a form of foreign interference used by authoritarian regimes to repress political dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and members of diaspora communities beyond their borders – and has urged new laws to prevent it. In a...
Deadline to apply: 19 July 2026
Call for applications: ACCESS! - Training Course for Local Action on Young People’s Social Rights
ACCESS! - Training course for local action on young people’s social rights serves as a capacity-building and policy-support initiative aimed at strengthening local implementation of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)3 through multi-stakeholder cooperation in the format of long-term blended learning...
Council of Europe advances equality agenda with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society: new tools and strengthened commitments
Representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and international partners have presented key results of their work to promote equality and non-discrimination principles over the past two years in Belarus, at a conference held in Warsaw as part of a joint European Union-Council of Europe...
Presidents of CINGO and its Expert Council reiterate concerns about Greece’s NGO registration and Ministerial Decision No. 82876 of 8 May 2026
In a letter sent today to the Permanent Representative of Greece to the Council of Europe, the presidents of the Conference of INGOs and of its Expert Council on NGO Law address Greece’s Ministerial Decision (MD) No. 82876 on the Establishment of the “Register of Greek and Foreign...
Call to contribute to a new study on “Restrictions on NGOs Representing or Providing Support to National Minorities”
The Expert Council on NGO Law of the Conference of INGOs is launching a new study on “Restrictions on NGOs Representing or Providing Support to National Minorities” and is therefore inviting Civil Society Groups, National Human Rights Institutions and Others Working on National Minority Issues to...
New civil society newsletter: showcasing opportunities to engage with the Council of Europe
Stay informed on key developments The Council of Europe recognises the vital contributions of civil society in strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and advancing the rule of law. The objective of the newsletter is to inform civil society about Council of Europe work, including new...
Romania: legislative initiative prompts concerns from the President of CINGO and its Expert Council on NGO Law
In a letter dated 28 May sent to the Permanent Representative of Romania to the Council of Europe, the President of the Conference of International NGO and the President of its Expert Council on NGO Law are sharing concerns regarding the recent legislative proposal (L233/2026) to amend Government...
Register before 8 June 2026. - The event will take place online on 10 June 2026 from 14:30 to 17:30 .
Join the Public Hearing on The Reykjavik Parameters for Democracy - From Diagnosis to Action: Towards Democratic Security
Are you interested in safeguarding Europe’s democratic security? Do you wish to hear from experts what safeguards are needed to uphold democracy, the rule of law and human rights as protection against democratic backsliding? Join the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) on this public online...
Report provides a state of play of the New Democratic Pact for Europe
Europe’s security starts with democracy: Council of Europe Secretary General’s 2026 annual report
Europe does not have to choose between security and democracy. It never did and cannot afford to start now. In his 2026 annual report, entitled “The New Democratic Pact for Europe in times of rupture”, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset calls for a legal and democratic framework...
The second edition of the Hackathon of the Council of Europe will harness practical, technology-driven solutions to combat online hate speech for a New Democratic Pact in Europe.
Registrations open: Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!
Registrations are now open for Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!, the second edition of the Hackathon of the Council of Europe taking place in Strasbourg from 17 to 19 June 2026. Interdisciplinary teams will be selected to co-create practical, technology-driven solutions to combat hate speech in...
Intercultural Cities
Have Your Say: Help Shape the 10 Principles for Inclusive Societies and Stronger Democracies
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Intercultural Inclusion (ADI‑INT) intends to contribute to the New Democratic Pact for Europe through the development of the 10 Principles for inclusive societies and stronger democracies. The Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and...

