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.
What future is left for us?” World Forum for Democracy opens with a call to earn back trust
World Forum for Democracy gathers 1,400 participants from 60 countries in Strasbourg
Brazil becomes the first Latin American country to sign the Macolin Convention
Signature is milestone in global fight against sports manipulation
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
“Peace founded on justice is a choice” – Alain Berset in Bern
Secretary General highlights Europe’s approaches to reconciling security and democracy at the Swiss Parliament’s Foreign Policy Day
Kaja Kallas visits Register of Damage for Ukraine
EU High Representative underlines strong support for the Council of Europe’s work on accountability and compensation for Russia’s aggression
European Court of Human Rights wins international prize for independence
Judicial independence is a cornerstone of the Council of Europe’s work on the rule of law
Ending Rome summit, Speakers of Parliament pledge to ‘stand resolute as guardians of shared values’
Parliaments must “stand resolute as the guardians of shared values” against a backdrop of war and profound and rapid transformation on the international scene, Speakers of Parliament from across Europe have pledged, adding: “And in so doing, we continue to stand with Ukraine.” A set of...
‘Our duty is to turn rules into guarantees, dialogue into solutions, and the hope of peace into a concrete commitment’
“We must never forget that behind every political decision there are millions of people who trust in our ability to protect them and to build a horizon of peace,” Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, said, opening a session on renewing the rules-based international order...
Court presidents stand together in the face of attacks
Presidents of the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court meet in The Hague
Parliamentary Assembly denounces threats to the International Criminal Court
Resolution calls on member states and other countries to forbear from sanctioning judges for their work
Russian assets should be used to pay Ukraine potentially ‘billions’ in compensation after Strasbourg Court rulings
Russian state assets should be repurposed to pay Ukraine potentially “billions of euros” in compensation after two rulings against Russia by the European Court of Human Rights, according to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In two inter-state cases brought by Ukraine...
“The Council of Europe must respond to crises, without ever allowing urgency to take precedence over the law” – Isabelle Berro-Amadeï
The President of the Committee of Ministers addresses the Parliamentary Assembly
Register of Damage for Ukraine now fully open for compensation claims
Claims can now be registered for people’s loss of access to healthcare and education, and damage to the country’s environment and natural resources
Systemic support for Ukrainian veterans across Europe discussed at Parliamentary Assembly
Social inclusion an important aspect of the Council of Europe’s new Action Plan for Ukraine presented today
Mattias Guyomar: Strasbourg Court judges derive ‘strong democratic legitimacy’ from their election by the Parliamentary Assembly
In an address to the Parliamentary Assembly, the President of the European Court of Human Rights Mattias Guyomar has highlighted that the judges elected in respect of each of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe are “an essential link in the DNA chain of the Convention system”, adding...
Parliamentary Assembly President, opening the session, calls for work to begin on a binding right to a healthy environment
PACE President Petra Bayr, opening the Assembly’s autumn session in Strasbourg, has called for preparatory work to begin this autumn on a binding Council of Europe convention to create a right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment. “There is no human right that survives an uninhabitable...
Council of Europe opens first permanent UN Observer Office in New York during General Assembly
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has inaugurated the 46-member organisation’s first permanent Observer Office to the United Nations in New York, marking a significant step in cooperation between the Council of Europe and the UN at a time of growing geopolitical fragmentation and...
Secretary General Berset on mission to New York and Washington
Alain Berset will argue for closer links between international and regional organisations, and for transatlantic cooperation
Prince Albert of Monaco, the President of Portugal and Germany’s Foreign Minister to address PACE autumn session
Addresses by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the President of the Portuguese Republic António José Seguro and Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul are among highlights of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) taking place in Strasbourg from...
*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.