“Did you know” that the Council of Europe in Strasbourg is not the European Union? People often mix them up. Let’s explore the fascinating story of the Council of Europe.
Founded in 1949 the Council of Europe is Europe’s oldest intergovernmental organization. It represents 46 member states. That’s about 675 million people. The Council of Europe operates with a yearly budget of about 500 million euros. It focuses on upholding human rights democracy and the rule of law.
Unlike the EU the Council of Europe cannot create binding laws. However it has created many international treaties. The most famous is the European Convention on Human Rights. This convention is part of the domestic law in many countries.
The European Court of Human Rights is its best-known body. It rules on alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Council has two main bodies. First is the Committee of Ministers. It includes the foreign ministers of each member state. Second is the Parliamentary Assembly. It comprises members of national parliaments. The Commissioner for Human Rights promotes human rights awareness. The Secretary General leads the organization’s secretariat. Other important parts are the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and the European Audiovisual Observatory.
The Council of Europe’s headquarters and the Court of Human Rights are in Strasbourg France. English and French are the official languages. German and Italian are also used sometimes.
The idea for the Council came about in 1929. French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand suggested a “federal union” of European nations. Winston Churchill supported this idea during World War II. He wanted to rebuild and keep peace in Europe. Many others also worked to create the Council. They saw it as a way to prevent war and protect human rights. Some viewed it as a step toward a “United States of Europe”.
The Council of Europe was created on May 5 1949. Ten states signed the Treaty of London agreeing to democracy human rights and the rule of law.
In its early years the Council focused on human rights. It created the European Convention on Human Rights. This charter aimed to protect individual rights. It established an international court to enforce these rights. Today the European Court of Human Rights is a powerful system of international justice.
One early action was welcoming West Germany in 1951. This began a long process of expansion. The Council grew from ten to 46 member states.
Speeches by heads of state are archived online. This project is called “Voices of Europe”. It includes speeches from leaders across Europe and beyond.
The Council of Europe aims to unite members. It wants to protect their common heritage and promote progress. Member states cooperate based on shared values.
The Council’s work includes protecting the rule of law and promoting cultural cooperation. It also focuses on fair sport and youth exchanges.
The Council of Europe has several institutions including the Secretary General the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly. It also has the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the European Court of Human Rights.
The Council also has “Partial Agreements” with semi-autonomous structures. These include the Council of Europe Development Bank and the European Audiovisual Observatory.
The Council of Europe organizes summits of heads of state. Four summits have been held so far.
The Council of Europe’s buildings are in Strasbourg’s Quartier européen. Building began in 1949 and ended in 2007 with the Agora Building. The Palais de l’Europe and Villa Schutzenberger are in the Orangerie district.
The Council of Europe also has offices in other cities. It works with other organizations like the UN and the EU.
So as you stand here remember the Council of Europe’s mission. It strives to protect human rights democracy and the rule of law across Europe. Its work shapes the lives of millions. Its impact resonates far beyond Strasbourg.