Council of Europe

The Council of Europe (French: Conseil de l'Europe) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1949, with its headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Its primary purpose is to protect human rights, parliamentary democracy, and the rule of law in its member states. The organization works through negotiating and adopting conventions (agreements) that member states then implement within their own legal systems.

The Council of Europe is distinct from the European Union. It has no direct legislative power over member states, no common budget, or shared market. It should also be distinguished from the European Council, which is an institution within the structure of the European Union. The official languages of the Council of Europe are English and French.

Origins and founding

The organization was established after the Second World War, with the aim of preventing the recurrence of wars and widespread violations of human rights. The founding treaty was signed in London in 1949 and was initially signed by ten states, including France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Ireland. Membership expanded in subsequent decades, particularly after the 1990s following the collapse of Eastern European regimes.

The European Convention on Human Rights

The most significant instrument of the Council of Europe is the European Convention on Human Rights, signed in 1950. The convention establishes rights including the right to life, prohibition of torture, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial. Membership in the Council of Europe requires that states accept the convention.

The European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights, also based in Strasbourg, interprets and supervises the implementation of the convention. Individuals and states can bring cases once domestic legal remedies have been exhausted. The court's judgments are binding on the defendant state, and implementation is supervised by the Committee of Ministers. Some court judgments have prompted significant legal reforms in member states.

Institutions and membership

The main institutions are the Committee of Ministers (composed of foreign affairs ministers of member states), the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE, whose members are drawn from national parliaments), the Secretary General, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and the Commissioner for Human Rights. The Venice Commission, which provides legal advice on constitutional matters and elections, also operates under its auspices. Russia's membership was suspended in 2022 following its armed aggression against Ukraine.