About: Council of Europe
Latvia might quit Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly as Russia returns
Latvia said Thursday (27 June) that lawmakers will vote next month on whether to suspend its participation in the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly after the rights body agreed to reinstate Russia.
Council of Europe elects new chief amid row over Russia
Europe’s leading democracy and human rights organisation elected a new leadership late on Wednesday (26 June), overshadowed by the walk-out of several delegations following the ratification of Russia’s return to the assembly. With 159 votes from 268 members of the...
Ukraine slams Russia’s reintegration into the Council of Europe
Ukraine on Tuesday (25 June) slammed as an “unacceptable concession to Russia” the decision of the Council of Europe to re-admit Russia, after the country was stripped of voting rights following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Council of Europe assembly authorises Russia’s return
The Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly agreed Tuesday (25 June) to allow Russian representatives to return to the body, five years after it was stripped of its voting rights over the annexation of Crimea.
Council of Europe turns 70 amid Russia crisis
The Council of Europe, a pan-continental rights watchdog, on Sunday (5 May) marked its 70th anniversary at a time of mounting populism and a standoff with Russia as well as doubts over its own role in the modern world.
Europe’s media freedom increasingly under attack, report warns
A "climate of impunity" has taken hold in parts of Europe, where media freedom is increasingly under attack, the annual report to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists has warned.
Trans-Europe Express – Songs about land and ice
Northern Europe's indigenous Arctic people battle to maintain traditions as their culture and age-old way of life is increasingly threatened by climate change and globalisation.
Russian MPs prolong payments freeze to Council of Europe
Russia's parliament voted Thursday (17 January) against sending delegates or paying contributions to the Council of Europe, increasing the risk of ultimate exclusion from the rights body and the European Court of Human Rights.
Spain’s foreign minister in bid to improve nation’s standing in Catalan conflict
As the first anniversary of the declaration of independence of Catalonia approaches and tensions between Madrid and Barcelona increase, Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Josep Borrell met with senior European officials in Strasbourg to seek support.
EPP silent on Spanish scandal, pledges to do ‘everything’ to fight corruption
The European Peoples' Party (EPP) will set up a committee in November to do “everything” to address “unethical behaviour” but remained silent on whether it would send a warning to its Spanish member following a major sentence against Partido Popular (PP).
Azerbaijan opposition vows to boycott snap presidential vote
Leaders of Azerbaijan's main opposition parties pledged on Monday (12 February) to boycott a snap presidential election which is expected to extend the autocratic rule of President Ilham Aliyev.
MEPs grill Romania’s government in absentia
Procedural problems prevented Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader from addressing the European Parliament's plenary session on Wednesday (7 February) and explaining the government’s current judiciary reforms, which many MEPs see as a threat to the rule of law.
Venice Commission active on Poland, expects the same from Warsaw
The Venice Commission is waiting for the response of the Polish government regarding the sent draft opinions on the reform of the judiciary in Poland, as well as for confirmation that a representative of the Polish government will participate in the next plenary session of the Commission. EURACTIV Poland reports.
EU hesitates to recognise Kazakhstan as European
Kazakhstan is searching for a post-Soviet identity somewhere between its traditional Kazakh and Turkish cultures, Europe and multiculturalism, diplomats have told EURACTIV. But Europe has been slow to forge closer ties with the young country, despite its strategic location and potential.
Trans-Europe Express: Gay marriage and the German elections
Call it the Merkel tack. “For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. That is my concept, but I support civil partnerships,” she told YouTube vlogger Le Floid, AKA Florian Mundt, in July 2014.
Days numbered for Council of Europe leader?
The Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly has cleared the path for a possible impeachment of its president, Pedro Agramunt, who has courted controversy in the past by visiting Syria and meeting Bashar al-Assad. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Georgia denies role in Azerbaijani journalist’s abduction
Georgia today (1 June) denied it was involved in the alleged abduction and handover of a pro-opposition Azerbaijani journalist to his country's authoritarian government.
Council of Europe blasts moves to turn public TV into state broadcasting
Public service broadcasting in Europe is under threat, the Council of Europe said yesterday, ahead of the World Press Freedom Day (3 May), a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom.
Turkey’s EU bid in jeopardy after Council of Europe vote
The Council of Europe has voted to reopen its monitoring procedure against Turkey. The decision deals another potentially fatal blow to Ankara's EU membership hopes, as exiting the process was made a precondition of negotiations back in 2004.
Council of Europe plagued by ‘caviar diplomacy’
A corruption scandal involving payments running into millions of euros has rocked the Council of Europe. But details are still hard to come by and the organisation seems unwilling to delve deeper into the matter. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Commission ‘seriously concerned’ about Turkish constitutional changes
The European Commission highlighted the “serious concerns” expressed by the Council of Europe on Monday (13 March) over the amendments to the Turkish Constitution which are due to be voted on in the 16 April referendum.
Council of Europe condemns Jordan hangings
Jordan's execution of 15 prisoners has provoked "indignation" from Council of Europe leader Pedro Agramunt, who insisted the Arab kingdom remains committed to maintaining a moratorium on the death penalty. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Council of Europe calls on Slovenia to amend new migrant law
The Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights organisation, called on Slovenia's parliament to reject some legal changes affecting migrants that the government proposed earlier in January in a set of amendments.