News
Deadline extensionto register: 8 June 2026
Join us for the Public Hearing on the Reykjavik Parameters for Democracy -registration deadline extended!
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...
Annual Session of the Committee of Ministers encourages the use of the Reykjavik Parameters for Democracy
On 15 May 2026, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 46 Council of Europe member states held their annual session in Chișinău (Republic of Moldova). Among the decisions adopted, Foreign Minister made a resolved call to strengthen democratic resilience in face of current challenges to Europe’s...
Deadline: 5 May 2026
Call for Seconded National Expert – World Forum for Democracy
The Council of Europe’s World Forum for Democracy is an annual platform that brings together political leaders, civil society actors, academics and journalists to discuss key challenges facing democracies and to explore democratic innovation. The unit responsible for organising the Forum is...
Guidelines to boost electoral participation and representation
The CDDEM working group “Reykjavik Parameters of Democracy – framework and methodology for their application” (GT-P2) is working on a set of guidelines for member states to better understand the conditions that shape electoral participation and to address structural barriers that, combined with...
Multilevel governance in focus
The Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) working group on multi-level governance (GT-GPN) held its first meeting to define the approach of a new Council of Europe Recommendation on multi-level governance. Multilevel governance (MLG) refers to the coordinated exercise of public authority across...
Council of Europe democracy experts set their workplan for 2026-2027
The CDDEM will be delivering new international standards to promote inclusive participation in elections and to establish mechanisms for multi-level governance. The CDDEM will develop as well detailed guidance on the application of the Reykjavik Parameters for Democracy and review the...
4th plenary meeting of the CDDEM
Experts gather to discuss Democratic Standards, AI Governance, and inclusive participation in Europe
The Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) will meet from 26 to 28 November in Strasbourg during its fourth plenary session, bringing together key stakeholders from member states and invited experts. Over the next three days, the Committee will progress on key initiatives, including the...
Meeting in Strasbourg on new Recommendation on the legal status of civil society organisations
On 22 and 23 of September 2025, the working group on civil society participation (GT-CS) met in Strasbourg to complete the discussion on the updating of Recommendation CM (2007)14 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the legal status of non-governmental organisations in Europe....
Public consultation on the draft parameters for the implementation of the Reykjavik Principles for democracy
The Council of Europe Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) is looking for input to the draft text of the parameters for the implementation of the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy. The 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, held in Reykjavik on May 2023, marked...
Public consultation on the draft revised Recommendation on the legal status of civil society organisations
The Council of Europe Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) is looking for input to the draft text of the revised Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to members states on the legal status of civil society organisations. Civil society organisations (CSOs) are fundamental for the...
3rd plenary meeting of the CDDEM
Experts discuss how to sustain healthy democracies in Europe
The third plenary meeting of the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) saw experts from member states, Council of Europe representatives and invited experts discuss ongoing work in the areas of democracy and civil society, explore the Committee’s role in Europe’s evolving democracy support...
Council of Europe’s experts advance in developing a blueprint for reinvigorating democracy in Europe
On 6 and 7 March, the Council of Europe working group on Parameters for the application and implementation of the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy (GT-P) discussed how to implement in practice the Principles of Democracy agreed by Heads of State and Government in Reykjavík in May 2023, through...
Council of Europe committed to engage more meaningfully with civil society
A new guidance note is available to foster civil society participation in the intergovernmental work of the Council of Europe. The document proposes practical ways in which the Council of Europe could strengthen its working methods and internal rules and practices to ensure that civil society...
Enhancing the legal status of civil society organisations in Europe
On 17 and 18 February 2025, the working group on civil society participation (GT-CS) met in Strasbourg to discuss the updating of Recommendation CM (2007)14 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the legal status of non-governmental organisations in Europe. Participants exchanged on...
Results of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Steering Committee on Democracy
On 29 and 30 October 2024, members of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) convened in Strasbourg for their second plenary meeting. Representatives from the Council’s member States and other participants, including from civil society, discussed ways to increase...
Second Plenary Meeting of the Steering Committee on Democracy to take place next week
The second plenary meeting of the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) will be held in Strasbourg on 29-30 October 2024. The Committee will finalise and adopt the Guidance Note on civil society participation in the intergovernmental work of the Council of Europe. It will also hold the initial...
Conference on the protection and promotion of civil society space in Europe
Join us online on June 25, 2024, for the CDDH Conference on the Protection and Promotion of Civil Society Space in Europe. This significant half-day event in Helsinki, which will be livestreamed, aims to evaluate progress since the adoption of CM/Rec(2018)11 and foster dialogue on the protection...
On the first meeting, 39 member states discussed democratic challenges and CDDEM tasks for the biennium 2024-2025
On 13-14 May 2024, the Steering Committee on Democracy held its first plenary meeting in Strasbourg. The Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and President of the Ministers' Deputies, Domenik Wanger, welcomed the participants. Delegates from 39 member states discussed democratic challenges...
First Plenary Meeting of the Steering Committee on Democracy CDDEM
Following the decisions taken at the highest political level by the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Council of Europe at their 4th Summit in Reykjavik last year, namely to enhance the Council’s efforts on securing and strengthening democracy and good governance at all...
