The Council of Europe is an international organisation that was founded in 1949 to promote cooperation and integration among European countries in the areas of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The Council is composed of 47 member states, including most of the countries in Europe, and it is headquartered in Strasbourg, France.
The Council of Europe is responsible for a number of important initiatives and activities aimed at promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. These include the European Convention on Human Rights, which is a legally binding treaty that sets out a range of civil and political rights that are protected by law in the member states of the Council of Europe. The Council also oversees the European Court of Human Rights, which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Convention.
In addition to its work on human rights, the Council of Europe is also involved in a range of other areas, such as promoting cultural diversity and heritage, combating terrorism and organised crime, and fostering cooperation among European countries in areas such as education, youth policy, and sports.
The Council of Europe is distinct from the European Union, which is a separate organisation that is focused primarily on economic and political integration among its member states. While the Council and the EU share many of the same member states, they have different mandates and functions, and operate independently of one another.
You can learn more about this topic and relevant case law with our Public Law, EU Law, and Constitutional Law notes.
