The Council of Europe
CONTAINS
47 member states
820 million Europeans
INTRODUCTION
Established on 5 May 1949 (Treaty of London) by 10 states
Comprises 47 member states today
Based in Strasbourg (France)
Intergovernmental political organization, founded on three main values:
1. Human rights
2. Democracy
3. The rule of law
The Council of Europe is active in all areas effecting European society, with the
exception of defense and the economy, and addresses modern-day challenges
such as:
Examples:
Match-fixing Overcrowded prisons
intercultural dialogue Money laundering
Education for citizenship Fight against discrimination
Migrants’ rights Counterfeit medical products
Youth The efficiency of justice
INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
Committee of Ministers: (decision-making body)
The Council of Europe 1
, Comprises the foreign ministers of all the member states, or their ambassadors
Adopts legal instruments (recommendations, conventions) and approves the
Organisation’s budget
Supervises the execution of the judgements delivered by the European Court of
Human Rights
Meets annually at ministerial level and several times a month (ambassadors)
Parliamentary Assembly: (forum for debates and proposals)
represents the 47 national parliaments: 324 members and their substitutes (2 to
18 per delegation)
is responsible for many conventions
elects the judges to the European Court of Human Rights, the commissioner for
Human Rights and the Secretary-General
meets in four public plenary sessions a year
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: (voice of local and regional democracy)
comprises 648 local and regional representatives reflecting over 200 000
municipalities and regions in Europe
supervises the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-
Government and observes elections
holds two public plenary sessions a year
European Court of Human Rights: (judiciary body)
is composed of 47 judges based permanently in Strasbourg
supervises the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights
is accessible to individuals and governments
has so far delivered 18500 judgements (September 2016)
The Council of Europe 2
CONTAINS
47 member states
820 million Europeans
INTRODUCTION
Established on 5 May 1949 (Treaty of London) by 10 states
Comprises 47 member states today
Based in Strasbourg (France)
Intergovernmental political organization, founded on three main values:
1. Human rights
2. Democracy
3. The rule of law
The Council of Europe is active in all areas effecting European society, with the
exception of defense and the economy, and addresses modern-day challenges
such as:
Examples:
Match-fixing Overcrowded prisons
intercultural dialogue Money laundering
Education for citizenship Fight against discrimination
Migrants’ rights Counterfeit medical products
Youth The efficiency of justice
INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
Committee of Ministers: (decision-making body)
The Council of Europe 1
, Comprises the foreign ministers of all the member states, or their ambassadors
Adopts legal instruments (recommendations, conventions) and approves the
Organisation’s budget
Supervises the execution of the judgements delivered by the European Court of
Human Rights
Meets annually at ministerial level and several times a month (ambassadors)
Parliamentary Assembly: (forum for debates and proposals)
represents the 47 national parliaments: 324 members and their substitutes (2 to
18 per delegation)
is responsible for many conventions
elects the judges to the European Court of Human Rights, the commissioner for
Human Rights and the Secretary-General
meets in four public plenary sessions a year
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: (voice of local and regional democracy)
comprises 648 local and regional representatives reflecting over 200 000
municipalities and regions in Europe
supervises the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-
Government and observes elections
holds two public plenary sessions a year
European Court of Human Rights: (judiciary body)
is composed of 47 judges based permanently in Strasbourg
supervises the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights
is accessible to individuals and governments
has so far delivered 18500 judgements (September 2016)
The Council of Europe 2
