Discover the latest news from the Council of Europe on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Browse news and updates by country, theme and institution.
No place for business as usual with Russia in international sport
Reacting to the International Weightlifting Federation’s decision to award Moscow the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships and the recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowing the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey competitions, Mogens Jensen...
PACE President: ‘Democracy has no emergency button. It has us’
Opening the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, PACE President Petra Bayr warned that the most dangerous threats to democracy often go unnoticed. “The most dangerous threats to democracy make no noise at all”, she said, pointing to disinformation, weakening institutions and the gradual...
Congress Secretary General to the Committee of Ministers: “All levels of governance are concerned when it comes to restoring confidence in democratic institutions”
The Secretary General of the Congress, Andreas Kiefer, presented on 2 May 2019 the contribution of the Congress to the ministerial meeting to take place in Helsinki on 16-17 May 2019 to the...
World Forum for Democracy 2026: imagining possible futures to strengthen democratic security in Europe
From consultation to action, the New Democratic Pact for Europe enters a new phase
At the Congress, youth delegates want to turn words into action
In Strasbourg, during the 51st session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, youth delegates presented their initiatives in support of local democracy,...
Brazil becomes the first Latin American country to sign the Macolin Convention
Signature is milestone in global fight against sports manipulation
Iran: PACE President and General Rapporteur call for Najmeh Amini’s death sentence in Iran to be overturned
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Petra Bayr, and PACE’s General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty, Gala Veldhoen (Netherlands, SOC), have made the following statement: “We are appalled by reports that Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old Iranian...
Council of Europe calls for stronger legal framework for civil-society organisations amid growing restrictions
Committee of Ministers’ recommendation says receiving foreign funding by civil-society organisations cannot, in itself, be treated as unlawful
Council of Europe Congress adopts recommendations on elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska), the Netherlands, Serbia and the United Kingdom
In a joint debate on election observation missions, on 28 October 2026 during its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted...
Congress calls for a binding instrument on the environment protection
On 29 October 2026, at its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress adopted a recommendation “Towards a healthy environment from the local level up”, stressing the urgent need to draw up a...
Local democracy in Switzerland: Council of Europe Congress commends a robust model and calls for the militia system to be adapted
In a report monitoring the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Switzerland, the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities commended the...
Council of Europe Secretary General to open ministerial sport conference in Monaco
Monaco princely family continue deep involvement in sport with participation at event
Case of İmamoğlu against Türkiye: Congress to submit observations to the Human Rights Court by way of third-party intervention
Following a debate on a report by Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), the Congress voted on 29 October 2026 to submit written observations by way of third-party intervention in the...
Türkiye: Release of Sinem Dedetaş from prison to house arrest is a first step towards her full reinstatement, says Council of Europe Congress President
Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has issued the following statement on the decision to release...
Remembering those unjustly deprived of their freedom
On the occasion of the International Day of Political Prisoners (30 October), PACE’s General Rapporteur on Political Prisoners, Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners, Steve Cohen (United States of America), made the...
Congress adopts early-warning instruments against democratic backsliding at local and regional level
Instruments form part of the Congress’ contribution to the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact
Contested Heritage, Community Solutions
Screenshot of Mussolini’s villa in Riccione, featured on The Guardian website on April 4, 2026. On 29 October 2026 in Strasbourg, the Congress adopted the report “Contested memories: how local...
Council of Europe Congress reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and decentralisation reforms
During its 51st session in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted on 28 October 2026 a Declaration entitled “Intensifying attacks of the...
France: Anti-torture committee calls for improved conditions and security in immigration detention centres
A new report highlights an increase in tensions and violence among detainees
Overtourism and population decline: the challenge of retaining local populations in regions
How can we preserve the vitality and liveability of European regions, which are under threat from overtourism or a decline in their population? This was the focus of a debate organised on 28...
*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.