Council of Europe

Question 1

What is the Council of Europe?

Answer 1

1. Non EU intergovernmental Organization
2. 47 MS / 820 million citizens
3. Only 3 European states are not members
4. 9th May 1949

Question 2

What are the aims of the Council of Europe

Answer 2

1. Check Art. 1 Statute of the Council of Europe
2. Achieving greater unity between MS by safeguarding/realising ideas and principle which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress
3. Promoting and strengthening the Rule of Law and the protection of HR
4. No economic issues, no defense matters

Question 3

What are the difference bodies of the Council of Europe?

Answer 3

1. Committee of Ministers (of foreign affairs):
   - Have permanent representatives
   - Decision-making body
   - Meets once per week, once per year with the ministers
2. Parliamentary Assembly (Pace):
   - Members of national parliaments
   - Meets 4 times per year
3. Secretary-General - Head of administrative organization
4. European Court of Human Rights
5. Committee for the Prevention of Torture
6. Committee of Social Rights
7. Commissioner for Human Rights - Promotes, visits, gives recommandations

Question 4

What does the CoM do?

Answer 4

1. Decides of CoE budget
2. Political dialogue
3. Negotiates treaties
4. Adopts recommendation for states
5. Supervises the execution of judgements (art. 46)

Question 5

What does the Pace do?

Answer 5

1. Democratic forum for debate
2. Demandes action from CoE through recommendations sent to CoM
3. Suggestions for concluding treaties
4. Elects judges of ECtHR

Question 6

What does the Secretary-General do?

Answer 6

1. Visits countries - Dialogue
2. Requests reports from states to show how they implement ECHR
3. States must inform him of their derogations