Description
Since 1949, the Council of Europe has been promoting the values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in its 46 member states. The seat of the Council of Europe is in Strasbourg.
After the Second World War, the idea emerged that democratic states should not engage in wars of aggression. The Council of Europe is often confused with the EU, as amongst other things the EU adopted the Council of Europe’s flag and anthem in 1985. Both organisations were established as peace projects but pursue different approaches: The EU focused on economic integration, while the Council of Europe created a community of values.
A key difference is membership: The Council of Europe compromises almost all European countries, while the EU only has 27 states. All members of the Council of Europe commit to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Council of Europe also promotes international cooperation to strengthen social progress and the protection of vulnerable groups, for example through the Istanbul Convention on violence against women. It also supports cultural projects to break down barriers between countries. Luxembourg, one of the ten founding members, will assume the chairmanship of the Council of Europe for six months from November 2024 – a unique opportunity to implement important projects and gain visibility across Europe.