PACE President expresses concern over the situation of Roma in Europe

Strasbourg, 20.08.2010 - “Recent developments in several European countries, most recently evictions of Roma camps in France and expulsions of Roma from France and Germany, are certainly not the right measures to improve the situation of this vulnerable minority. On the contrary, they are likely to lead to an increase in racist and xenophobic feelings in Europe,” Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), today declared.

Council of Europe uses film to promote freedom of expression

The Sarajevo Film Festival sets the scene for law students from Bosnia & Herzegovina to debate over a controversial film. In a hypothetical scenario involving a ban imposed by national authorities on a film that is highly critical of Islam, participants take on different roles in a simulation of a case before the European Court of Human Rights. Cedomir Radnic, Bosnian Court Officer at the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, will guide participants through the process, making sure that Council of Europe standards on freedom of expression are respected.

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5th Summer University of the Council of Europe on the theme "The crisis of leadership"

Strasbourg, 28.06.2010 – Some 600 students of the schools of political studies of 16 European countries are participating in the fifth Summer University for Democracy, which began today in Strasbourg and which is devoted to "The crisis of leadership".

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Tripartite meeting in Vienna: Maud de Boer-Buquicchio highlights gender equality

In her speech on 14 June in Vienna at the annual tripartite meeting between the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN, the Deputy Secretary General stressed the need to have women as active and effective contributors to security and democratic stability, and not victims of its absence. She said the the three organisations should co-ordinate their respective efforts to contribute more to gender equality and broader security in Europe and beyond.

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PACE summer session: Address of the Prime Minister of Montenegro

Strasbourg, 09.06.2010 – A possible urgent debate on the flare-up of tension in the Middle East,¹ as well as reports on the handling of the H1N1 pandemic, on Islamophobia and on legal remedies for human rights violations in the North Caucasus are among highlights of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg (21-25 June 2010).

There will be addresses by the President of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” Gjorgje Ivanov, the President of Croatia Ivo Josipović, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Ðukanović. The head of the UN’s Alliance of Civilizations Jorge Sampaio will speak during the debate on Islam, Islamism and Islamophobia, and French actress Fanny Ardant, patron of the Council of Europe’s Dosta! campaign, will take part in a debate on the situation of Roma in Europe.

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Reform of European Court of Human Rights: Protocol No.14 enters into force

Strasbourg, 31.05.2010 – Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which aims to make the European Court of Human Rights more efficient, enters into force tomorrow.

In a joint statement, Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Jean-Paul Costa, President of the European Court of Human Rights, said "the entry into force of Protocol No. 14 represents a crucial step in improving the effectiveness of the Court and the protection of human rights in Europe. The Convention establishes the foundations of a common legal space across Europe. Protocol 14 will permit the Court to concentrate more on cases that raise important human rights issues, so it can play its role most effectively."

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Peace through democracy and democracy through law – 20 years since establishment of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe

Strasbourg, 10.05.2010 - Today 20 years ago in Strasbourg, on 10 May 1990, 18 member states of the Council of Europe - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey - established the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, formally called "The European Commission for Democracy through law".  

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Ukrainian President and Russian Foreign Minister to address PACE at its spring session

Strasbourg, 14.04.2010 – Addresses by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich¹ and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as a series of debates on the consequences of the economic crisis, are among highlights of the Parliamentary Assembly’s forthcoming spring session (26-30 April 2010).

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Communication by Thorbjørn JAGLAND

Future of the European Court of Human Rights and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the agenda of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers

PACE Monitoring Committee asks Montenegro to maintain the reform dynamic so as to ‘catch up with deadlines’

Strasbourg, 17.03.2010 - While welcoming Montenegro’s substantial progress in implementing its commitments since accession to the Council of Europe in 2007, the Parliamentary Assembly’s Monitoring Committee this morning called on the Montenegrin authorities to "maintain the current reform dynamic in order to catch up with the deadlines" and complete the implementation of the remaining post-accession commitments. In the meantime it proposes that the monitoring procedure with regard to Montenegro be continued.

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Reform of the European Court of Human Rights: joint declaration reached in Interlaken

In the framework of its Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, on 18 and 19 February 2010 Switzerland organised a Ministerial Conference in Interlaken in order to decisively spur the reform of the overburdened European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). By issuing a joint declaration the representatives of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe confirm their intention to secure the long-term future of the ECHR.

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8 March 2010 - International Women’s Day

Improving the lives of women in Europe through the Rule of Law

Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland calls on states to do more to eradicate discrimination against women

Strasbourg, 05.03.2010 – On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said: “It is time for states and all social actors to take direct action – not only through legislation, but also by introducing social policies, to fight discrimination against women. They must promote cultural change to make equality of women and men a reality.”

Future of the European Court of Human Rights

Ministers from the 47 states to meet in Interlaken (Switzerland)

The future of the European Court of Human Rights will take centre-stage when human rights ministers from the 47 member states of the Council of Europe gather on 18 and 19 February at the Casino Kursaal in Interlaken.

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Council of Europe calls for deinstitutionalisation of children with disabilities

The Committee of Ministers has just adopted a text recommending that member states no longer place children with disabilities in institutional care and instead give preference to community living.

There are many concerns about the compatibility of institutional care with the exercise of children’s rights. Barring exceptional circumstances, no children should be placed in institutional care. Moreover, institutional provision should be replaced with community-based services within a reasonable timeframe as part of a comprehensive approach.

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PACE winter session: ‘False pandemics, a threat to health’

“False pandemics: a threat to health” will be one of the major themes of the next plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), to be held in Strasbourg from 25 to 29 January. The PACE Social Affairs Committee has proposed the holding of an urgent debate on this subject. If the Assembly agrees when it adopts its agenda on the opening day, the debate is likely to be held on the morning of Thursday 28 January.

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Council of Europe publishes report on minority languages in Montenegro

The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has today made public the first report on the situation of minority languages in Montenegro. This report has been drawn up by a committee of independent experts which monitors the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

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Human Rights Day – 10 December

Statement by Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today gave the following message to mark Human Rights Day:

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the European Convention on Human rights and a pillar of the Europe we know today.

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25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Statement by Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio

"Violence against women is cruel, demeaning and destructive. It violates the victims’ integrity and human dignity. It is a crime against the body and a crime against the mind. It is simply a violation of human rights to which we cannot turn a blind eye.

Council of Europe – Switzerland takes over from Slovenia as Chair of the Committee of Ministers

Switzerland is to take over the Chair of the Committee of Ministers from Slovenia during a meeting to be held in Strasbourg on Wednesday 18 November.

Under the joint chairmanship of Samuel Žbogar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, and Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies will start at 4 p.m. (Committee of Ministers meeting room, Palais de l’Europe).

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Thorbjørn Jagland: European Union is Council of Europe’s most important institutional partner

Third report on Montenegro’s honouring of commitments and obligations available on our website

The Committee of Ministers continues to monitor Montenegro’s progress in relation to its accession commitments and obligations on the basis of CM Resolution (2007) 7 and the exchange of correspondence between the Chair of the Committee of Ministers and the President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament of Montenegro. The first monitoring report covered events during the brief period between Montenegro’s accession and July 2007 and the second report covered the period from July 2007 to May 2008.

This third report is based, inter alia, on a Secretariat visit to Montenegro which took place from 11 to 15 May 2009 and covers the period from May 2008 to August 2009.

It was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on its session held on September 23, 2009.

The report can be seen in the section Documents of our web site, or by visiting the following link:

Thorbjørn Jagland elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe

The Parliamentary Assembly on 29 September elected Thorbjørn Jagland (Norway) Secretary General of the Organisation for a five-year term. In the first round of the election, Thorbjørn Jagland obtained 165 votes (an absolute majority) and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (Poland) 80 votes. There were 245 votes cast. Mr Jagland has been President of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) since 2005 and Member of Parliament for Buskerud County since 1993. Thorbjørn Jagland will be sworn in as Secretary.

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Autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly

The challenges posed by climate change, the war between Russia and Georgia one year after and the election of the new Secretary General are among highlights of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg (28 September-2 October). Slovenian President Danilo Türk will address the Assembly and French Secretary of State for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche will take part in a debate on the future of the Council of Europe in the light of its 60 years of experience.

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Joint statement by Mr Samuel Žbogar, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, and Mr Lluís Maria de Puig, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Draft proposals for enhanced dialogue and co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers 

During the course of five informal meetings between the Presidential Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Bureau of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, we have reached an agreement on a proposed package of measures to enhance dialogue and co-operation between the two statutory organs of the Council of Europe. It includes a series of measures, including the review of the future election procedures and immediate action for improving dialogue and co-operation in general. We also propose to task the Secretary General to report to us not later than October 2010 on an array of other suggested measures for enhancing co-operation. The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and the President of the Assembly will continue to meet regularly to monitor progress in this regard.

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What future for human rights and democracy in Europe? The role of the Council of Europe

Sixty years after its creation, in a completely changed political and economic environment, the Council of Europe faces new major challenges for the defence of human rights and the democratic ideal in Europe. In this context, a conference is organised in Paris on 11 September on the theme ’’What future for human rights and democracy in Europe? The role of the Council of Europe’’. Bringing together personalities from the realms of politics, civil society and academia throughout Europe, the Paris conference will contribute to the preparation of a report on the future of the Council of Europe to be debated at the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly

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Adoption of four reports on climate change

Council of Europe sponsors Best Movie Award

The Award “Heart of Sarajevo" for the best film, presented on the occasion of the international Sarajevo Film Festival, is being sponsored by the Council of Europe for the second consecutive year as part of its action to promote European artistic production. This international cultural event, held for the first time in 1995 at the height of the siege of the Bosnian capital, seeks to support and further regional cinema and authors. It will run from 12 to 20 August 2009 .

Killing of Zarema Sadulayeva and her husband - Statement by Samuel Žbogar

Samuel Žbogar, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, condemned the murder of Sarema Sadulajeva and her husband Alik Djibralov, and expressed deep concern over yet another criminal attack against humanitarian workers in the region. ’’I call on the Russian authorities to do the utmost to bring the culprits to justice as soon as possible and to investigate any possible link with similar recent tragic events. The chain of assassinations must stop, and the enemies of human rights must know that they cannot act with impunity’’.

PACE has clocked up 60 years now, but its work is far from over

Strasbourg, 07.08.2009 – On the eve of the 60^th anniversary of the first meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), that took place on 10^th August 1949, its President, Lluís Maria de Puig, gives a very positive account of its achievements, but recalls that the work of the Council of Europe and its Assembly as the “conscience of Europe” is far from over:

“Ethnic and religious profiling clashes with human rights standards” says Commissioner Hammarberg

Strasbourg, 20.07.2009 - In his latest Viewpoint published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, states that “members of minorities are more often than others stopped by the police, asked for identity papers, questioned and searched. They are victims of ‘ethnic profiling’, a form of discrimination which is widespread in today’s Europe. Such methods clash with agreed human rights standards. They tend also to be counter-productive as they discourage people from cooperating with police efforts to detect real crimes.”

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4th Summer University for Democracy closes in Strasbourg

Strasbourg, 10.07.2009 –Some 600 participants of the 4^th Summer University for Democracy, that ended today, stressed that global challenges to democracy should be faced through advocating the rule of law and re-thinking the values that prevail in our world.

10th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations

’’Adults want children to grow up and respect the world into which they are born. It is high time that our adult world also developed its respect for children’s rights.’’ declared Maud de Boer-Buquicchio at the 10th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 11 March. ’’It is my belief that corporal punishment sends a message to children that violence is an acceptable means of resolving conflicts between people, and ultimately, even between peoples’’ she added.

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Queen of Jordan Rania and Jorge Sampaio receive the North-South Prize

Lisbon, 17.03.2009 – Her Majesty Queen of Jordan Rania Al Abdullah and Jorge Sampaio, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, have received the 14^th Council of Europe North-South Prize during a solemn ceremony held in Lisbon on 16 March.

Opening of the judicial year of the European Court of Human Rights

The judicial year of the European Court of Human Rights will open on 30 January 2009, officially marking the start of the

One hundred and fifty eminent figures from the European judicial scene will attend a seminar organised for the occasion.

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2009: the year of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe

Statement by Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Lluís Maria De Puig, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, and Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, on the occasion of the launching of the 2009 celebration of the Council of Europe’s 60th anniversary

“The Council of Europe was created 60 years ago with the aim of achieving greater unity between its members. Its core objective is to preserve and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The coming year, 2009, is an opportunity to mark this anniversary and to look towards the future and the challenges it brings.

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International Day against Corruption on 9 December

Statement by the Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis

Strasbourg, 09.12.2008 - We need real action - not words - in the fight against corruption. Most people would agree that corruption has devastating effects on democratic values, but it is difficult to ignore the impression that decision-makers often confuse lip-service with real action against corrupt practice and the abuse of authority.

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16 November - International Day for Tolerance

Statement by Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Strasbourg, 14.11.2008 - I firmly believe that human rights are universal and should not be subordinated to cultural or religious traditions or sensitivities, but I also believe that deliberate insults of ethnic or religious communities are neither the most appropriate nor the most effective way to make that point.

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UN General Assembly unanimously adopts resolution on heightened co-operation with the Council of Europe

Strasbourg, 04.11.2008 - Calling for closer co-operation between the UN General Assembly and the Council of Europe, a new four-page resolution praises the Council of Europe for specific recent initiatives, such as the entry into force earlier this year of the Council of Europe Convention against human trafficking and the Council of Europe’s Campaign to combat violence against women.

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International Human Rights Day on 10 December

Statement by Terry Davis, Council of Europe Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Strasbourg, 10.12.2008 - “In principle, human rights are universal and indivisible. In practice, we still have a long way to go. We are still far from ensuring that the same rights apply to all the people everywhere in the world. The idea of universal human rights is challenged by habitual offenders and hypocritical guardians alike. There are few things more detrimental to human rights than the “do as I say not as I do” approach by some their most vocal and powerful advocates.

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Ten years of the ’’new’’ European Court of Human Rights

Ten years after the setting up of a full-time European Court of Human Rights guaranteeing a right of individual petition to over 800 million Europeans, the President of the Court Jean-Paul Costa on 30 October hailed the establishment of the ’’new’’ Court in 1998 as a landmark in the development of international human rights protection. Speaking in Strasbourg, the President said: ’’Much has been achieved over the last ten years, which has seen over 9,000 judgments delivered and human rights jurisprudence evolve into a common language understood and used by legal professionals and others throughout Europe and beyond.’’

Cultural heritage: Summit of Heads of State of South East Europe

’’We do not ’’own’’ cultural heritage, not as a generation, not as a country, not as an ethnic group and not as a religious group,’’ declared Secretary General Terry Davis on 4 June in Cetinje in Montenegro. ’’A precondition for any effective and meaningful policy on cultural heritage is to move from the concept of ownership to the concept of responsibility,’’ he added. Fifteen countries have signed the Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society up to the present.

60th Anniversary of the Council of Europe

Joint statement by Secretary General Terry Davis, PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig and Committee of Ministers Chairman Miguel Angel Moratinos

Strasbourg, 4 May 2009 - In the first sixty years of its existence, the Council of Europe has helped to reconcile a continent after decades of ideological divide, created a Europe-wide court in which individuals can seek protection of their human rights, outlawed the death penalty in Europe, and produced an arsenal of more than 200 international treaties to defend and extend the Council of Europe values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

PACE autumn session: consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia

Montenegro’s elections met almost all international standards, but further democratic development is needed, observers say

PODGORICA, 30.03.2009 – Yesterday’s parliamentary elections in Montenegro met almost all international commitments and standards, but the process again underscored the need for further democratic development, the international election observation mission concluded in a statement issued today.

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PACE Co-rapporteurs visited Podgorica, July 6-8

Situation in Georgia

A step in the right direction in Georgia says Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis

Strasbourg, 09.09.2008 - "The new agreement on the withdrawal of Russian forces to pre-7 August positions brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the name of the EU Presidency is a step in the right direction. It is now essential to continue searching for a comprehensive and lasting political solution for Abkhazia and South Ossetia in full compliance with international law. For the Council of Europe, it is also important to prevent the creation of new grey zones in Europe, in which the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights and other Council of Europe treaties are not effectively respected, monitored and enforced."