Country monitoring
ECRI analyses the situation in each member state and makes recommendations for addressing any problems of racism and intolerance identified there.
ECRI Leaflet
Who are we?
A unique human rights expert body
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is a unique human rights expert body that monitors Council of Europe member states’ action against racism, intolerance and related discrimination.
ECRI monitors action against racism, intolerance and related discrimination on grounds of “race”, ethnic or national background, skin colour, citizenship, religion, language, sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. ECRI is not entitled to receive individual complaints, which are handled by the European Court of Human Rights.
ECRI deals with the phenomena of racism and intolerance as well as related forms of discrimination that are or may be of a structural or general nature.
ECRI’s annual report
Each year, ECRI issues an annual report describing the main trends it observed and its recent activities. In the context of the publication of such a report, the Chair of ECRI holds an annual exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers.
“We have observed at ECRI how hate speech flourishes, most visibly during election periods, and how it has targeted Roma, migrants, people of African descent, Muslims or transgender persons, wrapped in the language of security, of cultural protection, of common sense”.
A pan-European commission
Independent members, appointed across Council of Europe member states
ECRI was created by the first Summit of Heads of State and Government of the member states of the Council of Europe in 1993 and became operational in 1994. Its Statute was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2002.
ECRI is composed of 46 members appointed on the basis of their independence, impartiality, moral authority and recognised expertise in dealing with issues of racism and intolerance. Each Council of Europe member state appoints one person to serve as member of ECRI.
Observer States to the Council of Europe are entitled to request observer status in ECRI, and may, upon a favourable opinion of ECRI, be granted such status and appoint observers on the basis of the same criteria as member states. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the European Union are also entitled to appoint observers in ECRI.
1993 Created by the first Summit of
Heads of State and Government
Heads of State and Government
1994 Became operational
46 Independent members
What we do
Three statutory activities
ECRI’s core activities are country monitoring, thematic work and relations with civil society, equality bodies and other partners.
Thematic work
ECRI issues General Policy Recommendations, statements and opinions to guide government action against racism and intolerance across Europe.
Relations with civil society, equality bodies and other partners
ECRI regularly engages with civil society actors and equality bodies, as well as relevant international and European bodies.
Cooperation with partners
“To prevent and combat the various forms of racism effectively, we must remain united in our goals, distinct in our roles. Close cooperation between the European Union and the Council of Europe, with the valuable input of European civil society organisations, is key.”
ECRI co-operates with the authorities of Council of Europe member states, equality bodies to combat racism and intolerance at national level and civil society actors, as well as with relevant international and European bodies, such as the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR), the Commission of the European Union (EU) and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
1. Country monitoring
“The Council of Europe can take pride in having established the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance […], which has been working tirelessly to promote equality and combat discrimination”.
Country monitoring
From evidence to recommendations
Within the framework of its country monitoring work, ECRI analyses the situation closely in each of the member states and makes recommendations for addressing any problems of racism and intolerance identified there.
1
Notification of the country to be monitored, desk research and data collection
2
Country visit
A country visit is organised before the preparation of each new report in order to obtain as comprehensive a picture as possible of the situation in the country concerned.
3
Meetings with key actors
During the country visit, the ECRI delegation meets key governmental and non-governmental actors in preventing and combating racism and intolerance.
4
Reliable information
ECRI’s findings are based on various, relevant and reliable information gathered through several means, including confidential written input from governments, equality bodies and civil society, confidential meetings with many different actors and direct observations on the ground.
5
Confidential dialogue
The preparation of each report follows a country visit and includes a confidential dialogue with the government concerned to eliminate any factual errors.
6
Final report and recommendations
Each report contains up to 15 recommendations, as well as suggestions and proposals. ECRI requests priority implementation of two recommendations within a specific timeframe, normally about 18 months after the publication of the report.
7
Follow-up
After the period of 18 months, an interim follow-up process is initiated by ECRI, which requests information from the government and independent partners about the implementation of both priority recommendations. Following a careful examination of the information received, ECRI adopts conclusions.
ECRI’s country monitoring approach deals with all Council of Europe member states on an equal footing.
Its country monitoring work is organised in cycles of about five years, covering a number of countries per year.
Groups of concern to ECRI
Depending on national circumstances
Groups of concern to ECRI may include, for example:
Roma and Travellers Black persons and people of African descent Non-nationals Refugees Other persons benefitting from international protection Migrants Nationals with a migration background Jews Muslims LGBTI persons
Monitoring cycles
Current areas of focus
Since 2019
SIXTH MONITORING CYCLE
Since 2019, in the context of its sixth country monitoring cycle, ECRI has been focusing on several areas: effective equality and access to rights, hate speech and hate-motivated violence, and integration and inclusion. The reports have also included country-specific issues.
Since 2025
SEVENTH MONITORING CYCLE
In 2025, ECRI started its seventh country monitoring cycle, focusing on two core themes across all member states: preventing and combating hate speech and hate crime, and ensuring equal treatment and inclusion in education and healthcare.
Where appropriate, country-specific topics are also meant to be dealt with. Reports also incorporate intersectional and gender-sensitive approaches, and highlight promising or good practices.
2. Thematic work
General Policy Recommendations
“The standards set by ECRI’s General Policy Recommendations, among other things, are a powerful source of inspiration”.
ECRI issues General Policy Recommendations (also known as GPRs) addressed to the governments of all member states. GPRs cover important areas of concern in state action against racism and intolerance across Europe and are intended to serve as guidance for policy makers.
General Policy Recommendations
“Whether we say anti-Muslim racism or hatred, or Islamophobia, we agree on one thing: it has no place in Europe”.
General Policy Recommendation No. 2 revised
Equality bodies to combat racism and intolerance at national level, adopted on 13 June 1997 and revised on 7 December 2017.
General Policy Recommendation No. 5 revised
Preventing and combating anti-Muslim racism and discrimination, adopted on 16 March 2000 and revised on 8 December 2021.
General Policy Recommendation No. 7
National legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination, adopted on 13 December 2002 and amended on 7 December 2017.
General Policy Recommendation No. 9 revised
Preventing and combating antisemitism, adopted on 25 June 2004 and revised on 1 July 2021.
General Policy Recommendation No. 10
Combating racism and racial discrimination in and through school education, adopted on 15 December 2006.
General Policy Recommendation No. 11
Combating racism and racial discrimination in policing, adopted on 29 June 2009.
General Policy Recommendation No. 12
Combating racism and racial discrimination in the field of sport, adopted on 19 December 2008.
General Policy Recommendation No. 13
Combating antigypsyism and discrimination against Roma, adopted on 24 June 2011 and amended on 1 December 2020.
General Policy Recommendation No. 14
Combating racism and racial discrimination in employment, adopted on 22 June 2012.
General Policy Recommendation No. 15
Combating hate speech, adopted on 8 December 2015.
General Policy Recommendation No. 16
Safeguarding irregularly present migrants from discrimination, adopted on 16 March 2016.
General Policy Recommendation No. 17
Preventing and combating intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons, adopted on 28 June 2023.
Statements
Since 2020, ECRI has published statements pointing to issues of concern in Europe and, where necessary, providing further general guidance.
- Statement on the rise of antisemitism in Europe as a result of the current conflict in the Middle East, adopted at its 93rd plenary meeting, 5-8 December 2023.
- Statement on the consequences of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, adopted at ECRI’s 88th plenary meeting, 29 March-1 April 2022.
- Statement on preventing and combating ultra-nationalistic and racist hate speech and violence in relation to confrontations and unresolved conflicts in Europe, adopted at ECRI’s 85th plenary meeting, 30-31 March 2021.
- Statement on racist police abuse, including racial profiling, and systemic racism, adopted at ECRI’s 82nd plenary meeting, 30 June-2 July 2020.
- Statement on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and related government responses on groups of concern to ECRI, adopted by the Bureau of ECRI at its meeting of 19 May 2020.
Opinions
Since 2020, ECRI has given its views on relevant definitions and terminology issues pertaining to racism and intolerance.
3. Relations with civil society and equality bodies
Building partnerships for equality
“I believe that ECRI stands as a sign of hope. A sign of hope that if we all work together sufficiently smartly and with enough engagement, we can indeed build a better future.”
In order to carry out its work effectively, ECRI regularly engages with relevant civil society actors and equality bodies. For this purpose, it established a dedicated permanent working group and, together with key partners, organises regular events at national or European level.
Round tables and other similar events
At national level, round tables or other similar events may be held following the publication of ECRI’s country monitoring reports or conclusions. They are organised with equality bodies and aimed at representatives of civil society and the national authorities, the main objective being to encourage all parties concerned to think about ways of jointly solving the problems of racism and intolerance in the country and ensuring that ECRI’s specific recommendations are fully implemented.
Such events are organised by ECRI or, in consultation with ECRI, by Council of Europe specialised units in charge of co-operation activities in support of member states.
ECRI’s annual seminars with equality bodies and other thematic events
At European level, ECRI organises thematic events that link national experiences with international action. A flagship initiative is the organisation of annual seminars with national equality bodies, organised by ECRI in consultation with CERD and the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET).
Such events bring together national equality bodies and international partners to address emerging or persisting challenges and explore coordinated strategies.