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The Council of Europe: An Overview The Council of Europe in brief ................................................ 2 The Structure ....................................................................... 4 The Main Conventions . ......................................................... 6 The Monitoring Bodies .......................................................... 11 The Main Partial Agreements ................................................. 12 The Council of Europe: Working with Young People ................. 15 The Main Campaigns ............................................................ 16 The Member States .............................................................. 18 The Council of Europe in the International Arena ..................... 20
The Council of Europe in brief Objectives
The Council of Europe is one of the oldest international organisations dedicated to fostering co-operation in Europe through the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The Council of Europe was established to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Council believes that these values form the basis of a tolerant and civilised society, and that they are indispensable in building a stable, functional and cohesive Europe.
Founded in 1949 by the Treaty of London, it was established by a group of national leaders to ensure that the horror and suffering of the 20th century’s two world wars would never be repeated. Since then, the ten original members (Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom) have been joined by almost all of Europe’s other countries, and the Council now has 47 member states.
History Since its creation, the Council of Europe has successfully evolved in the pursuit of its goals. It has responded to major changes in Europe’s political and social landscape and to the emergence of new threats to the human rights of the European population. The Council of Europe was one of the first international institutions to open its doors to central and eastern European countries following the fall of the Berlin Wall and it has introduced new treaties to tackle modern issues such as cybercrime, healthcare crime, international terrorism and people trafficking.
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The Organisation
No country has ever joined the European Union (EU - 27 member states) without first belonging to the Council of Europe.
The circumstances in which the Council of Europe operates have changed dramatically since its fouding in 1949. Technological, scientific, political, social and economic developments have brought new opportunities, but also new threats to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Central to its mandate is the role of co-operation as a means of meeting the challenges of modern European society. Nurturing Europe’s cultural identity and diversity, and achieving democratic stability through political, legislative and constitutional reform are at the heart of this process.
Symbols The symbols of the Council of Europe are its flag, anthem and logo. The European flag, with its circle of 12 gold stars against a vivid blue background, is one of the most famous in the world. Equally as illustrious is the European Anthem, the prelude to the Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. The Council of Europe adopted these symbols of unity in 1955 and 1972 respectively, with the European Union doing the same in 1986. They are now the emblems of a shared European identity. The e-shaped logo housing the European motif of 12 gold stars is the Council of Europe’s own distinctive logo and was adopted on its 50th anniversary in 1999.
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A number of separate bodies and individuals are responsible for the functioning of the Council of Europe and each one has a vital role:
The Committee of Ministers This is the Council of Europe’s decision-making body (policies, activities and budget) and comprises the foreign ministers of all the member states, or their permanent representatives in Strasbourg. . www.coe.int/cm
The Parliamentary Assembly This is the political driving force behind many Council of Europe initiatives. It consists of parliamentarians from the 47 member states and sits four times a year. . www.assembly.coe.int
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities The Congress nurtures local and regional democracy. It comprises political representatives from local and regional authorities in all of the Council of Europe’s member states. . www.coe.int/congress
The European Court of Human Rights Established in 1959, the Court is an institution that allows individuals, groups and . governments, regardless of nationality, to contest alleged breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights. . www.echr.coe.int
The Commissioner for Human Rights
The Commissioner for Human Rights The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent institution within the Council of Europe, mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in 47 Council of Europe member states. . www.coe.int/commissioner
The Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations The Conference provides a vital link between politicians and ordinary citizens, and helps to ensure that the voice of civil society is heard at the Council. It comprises delegates from INGOs. . www.coe.int/ngo
The Secretary General Elected by the Parliamentary Assembly for a term of five years, the holder of this office heads the Secretariat of the Council of Europe. The current incumbent is Thorbjørn Jagland of Norway. . www.coe.int/sg
The Secretariat The Secretariat is the Council of Europe’s administrative body. It ensures that the organisation’s various offices function properly and fulfil their mandates, and implements internal policy. .
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The Structure
The Council of Europe has 47 member states whose combined population is more than 800 million.
The Main Conventions The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The European Convention on Human Rights
Created in 1987, this convention is concerned with the prevention of torture and inhuman treatment in places of detention. It sets and enforces standards with regard to safeguarding the rights of those imprisoned or otherwise deprived of their liberty in the Council’s member states.. www.cpt.coe.int
Established in 1950, this Convention is a unique and powerful propagator of civilised values and democratic growth. It guarantees the right to life, liberty, security, a fair trial, family life and freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression.. www.coe.int/convention
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
The European Social Charter
This framework convention is concerned with the protection of national minorities within the 47 member states. It sets out guidelines relating to a wide range of fundamental freedoms, including peaceful assembly, expression, conscience and religion, access to media, language and education.. www.coe.int/minorities
Major conventions include:
Introduced in 1961 and revised in 1996, the Charter works to protect the economic and social rights of Europe’s citizens. It safeguards rights regarding employment, social and legal protection, housing, health, education, free movement and non-discrimination.. www.coe.int/socialcharter
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Conventions are the pillars on which the Council of Europe is built. They are legally binding agreements with which a member state is obliged to comply once it has signed and ratified them. Compliance with many of these conventions, in particular the newer ones, is monitored by a number of bodies.
The Council of Europe has created more than 200 treaties to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The European Cultural Convention Created in Paris in 1954, this convention helps to promote and protect cultural diversity throughout Europe. It works to encourage appreciation of the many national identities that comprise Europe’s common cultural heritage, with a focus on languages, history and society.. www.coe.int/culture
This convention is the only binding international agreement on cybercrime. Created in 2004, it issues guidelines for the development of comprehensive national legislation on cybercrime and also acts as a framework for international co-operation between signatory countries.. www.coe.int/cybercrime
The European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine
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This convention safeguards ethical practice in biomedicine. It issues guidelines on . practices including organ transplanting and the use of substances of human origin, medical research on human beings, the protection of human embryos and foetuses, and the use of medical records.. www.coe.int/bioethics In 1996 the Council of Europe adopted the first international agreement on bioethics: the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine.
The European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings This convention came into force in 2008 and its main responsibility is to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings. It works to protect the victims of trafficking, . to safeguard their rights, and to prosecute traffickers.. www.coe.int/trafficking
The European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism This convention was the first international treaty to establish as criminal offences activities such as incitement, recruitment and training that may lead to acts of terrorism. It also works to harmonise arrangements regarding extradition and mutual legal assistance between member states. . www.coe.int/terrorism
The European Charter of Local Self-Government This charter came into force in 1988 and defines the constitutional basis of local selfgovernment in the Council of Europe’s member states. It guarantees the political, . administrative and financial independence of local authorities.. www.coe.int/congress
The Anti-Doping Convention The purpose of this convention is the harmonisation of anti-doping regulations throughout the Council’s member states. It works to limit the availability and use of banned substances, to fund anti-doping tests and to ensure the strict application of anti-doping rules. www.coe.int/sport
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The Convention on Cybercrime
The Council of Europe’s is the only organisation to have adopted an international legal agreement on anti-doping.
The Monitoring Bodies The Bern Convention This convention came into force in 1982 and is concerned with the conservation of wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, and the monitoring and control of endangered and vulnerable species. It also provides assistance with legal and scientific issues in these areas.. www.coe.int/bernconvention
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages The charter, adopted in 1992, aims to protect and promote regional and minority languages in Europe. It works to maintain their use in all parts of society and nurture their status as a valuable part of Europe’s cultural heritage.. www.coe.int/minlang/
The Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities This convention sets out a framework for enabling cross-border co-operation between local and regional authorities belonging to the Council’s member states. Areas of collaboration include urban and rural development, environmental protection and the improvement of public services.. www.coe.int/congress
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Monitoring the compliance of member states with its treaties is an important part of the Council of Europe’s mandate. It has established various independent monitoring bodies to carry out this task. . www.coe.int/monitoring/
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Comprising an expert from each member state, ECRI is the Council’s independent human rights monitoring body. It specialises in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance.. www.coe.int/ecri
GRETA (Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings) GRETA is the taskforce attached to the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and is responsible for monitoring its implementation across the Council’s 47 member states.. www.coe.int/trafficking
MONEYVAL (The Select Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures) Created in 1997, MONEYVAL is responsible for ensuring that the member states have effective systems in place to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.. www.coe.int/moneyval
The Main Partial Agreements 12
Partial agreements play an important role in supporting co-operation between certain member states in pursuit of common goals on particular issues. Key partial agreements include:
The Council of Europe Development Bank Based in Paris, this was one of the first financial institutions to be established in Europe and the only one with an exclusively social vocation. Its aim is to promote social cohesion in the Council’s member states. . www.coebank.org
The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (European Pharmacopoeia) The Pharmacopoeia works to guarantee access to good-quality medicines for Europe’s citizens by setting compulsory standards for the production and quality control of medicines.. www.edqm.eu
The European Audiovisual Observatory The Observatory promotes the development of the European film and television industries, providing statistical and analytical data and public policy information across a wide range of media.. www.obs.coe.int
Eurimages The first body of its kind in Europe, Eurimages funds the co-production, distribution, digitisation and exhibition of European cinematic works, encouraging co-operation between film professionals.. www.coe.int/eurimages
The Pompidou Group This is the Council of Europe’s frontline taskforce against drug abuse and drug trafficking. Formed in 1971 as an inter-governmental body, it was officially incorporated into the Council in 1980.. www.coe.int/pompidou
The Venice Commission As the Council’s advisory body on constitutional matters, the Venice Commission helps define and develop common constitutional standards and provides legal advice on various subjects.. www.venice.coe.int
GRECO (The Group of States against Corruption) Created in 1999, GRECO’s main goal is to improve the member states’ capacity to fight corruption. It monitors national anti-corruption policies and works to introduce reform where necessary.. www.coe.int/greco
European Centre for Modern Languages Based in Graz, Austria, the Centre supports the development of language teaching and learning in the member states as a means of fostering greater communication and co-operation.. www.ecml.at
The North-South Centre Set up in Lisbon, Portugal in 1990, the North-South Centre works to raise public awareness of global interdependence issues and to promote the adoption of solidaritybased policies complying with the Council’s aims.. www.nscentre.org
The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) The purpose of this partial agreement is to promote sport and emphasise its positive values. It also works to establish international standards and develop a pan-European framework of co-operation.. www.coe.int/epas
The Council of Europe: Working with Young People 15
Young people play a vital role in the development of Europe’s societies, culture and heritage. The Council of Europe takes a practical approach to working with this group and ensuring that its values are maintained through future generations.
The European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest The European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest host a wide range of educational activities for young people. Their aim is to encourage intercultural dialogue, awareness of human rights and participation in public life.. www.coe.int/youthcentres
Youth Partnership Agreement Since 1998, the Council of Europe and the European Union have established youth . partnership agreements with the aim of providing a framework for the joint . development of a coherent strategy in the field of youth worker training, youth policy . and youth research.. www.youth-partnership.net
The Main Campaigns Major recent campaigns include:
Building a Europe for and with children This programme promotes children’s social, legal, educational and healthcare rights, including protection from violence. It helps to formulate national strategies to tackle these issues.. www.coe.int/children
Dosta! Fight prejudice towards Roma
Stop domestic violence This campaign aims to raise awareness and provide support and protection for victims of violence against women, including domestic violence, which is a serious form of human rights violation.. www.coe.int/stopviolence
European Day against the Death Penalty Held annually on 10 October, this day celebrates the Council’s role in the abolition of the death penalty in Europe since 1997. The World Day against the Death Penalty is held on the same day.. www.coe.int/notodeathpenalty
Dosta, meaning “enough”, is part of the Council’s efforts to protect the rights of national minorities. Its goal is to promote a positive image of Roma citizens against common stereotypes and prejudices.. www.dosta.org
Speak Out Against Discrimination This campaign’s aim is to fight discrimination and promote intercultural dialogue at a collective and individual level, with a particular emphasis on the role of the media in achieving that goal.. www.coe.int/antidiscrimination
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Campaigns are a vital function of the Council of Europe in its promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, helping to communicate and raise awareness.
The Council of Europe has succeeded in making Europe the only death penalty-free region in the world.
The Member States 47 member states Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia�, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
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The Holy See, Canada, Japan, the United States of America and Mexico have observer status with the Council of Europe.
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The Council of Europe in the International Arena 20
While other institutions have been established since 1945 that complement the objectives of the Council of Europe, the Council retains a unique place in the international political landscape. It is a separate entity that is distinct from its peers, however it shares many of their values and goals and co-operates with them in particular in relation to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. www.coe.int/DER Major international bodies include:
• The European Union (EU) www.europa.eu
• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) www.osce.org
• The United Nations (UN) www.un.org
Discover more about the Council of Europe: Publications available for purchase at . www.book.coe.int News and activities at . www.coe.int
Edited by the Directorate of Communication, Public Information Division Design and layout: Documents and Publications Production Department. © Council of Europe – June 2010
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