EU Priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe adopted for the next two years

EU Priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe adopted for the next two years

The General Affairs Council adopted on 17 December 2024 the European Union's (EU) priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe (CoE) in 2025-2026.

The Council Conclusions clearly demonstrate that in 2025, as the EU marks the 25th anniversary of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the CoE marks the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, protecting and promoting fundamental rights will remain of utmost importance in our joint work.

Thus, the Council Conclusions reiterate the EU's continued commitment to the effective functioning of the European human rights system and to the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. Furthermore, they reaffirm the Union's determination to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights, the cornerstone of the Council of Europe and all its activities.

Support for Ukraine remains high on the agenda. The EU will continue to work closely with the CoE in pursuing full accountability of Russia and its leadership for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the damage caused by its war. Support for the Belarusian civil society and democratic forces is also an important priority.

EU enlargement is a strategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity across the continent. The EU-CoE joint programmes will continue to support the reforms aimed at meeting the membership criteria related to the fundamentals of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Promoting key Council of Europe conventions among non-European countries, including the new Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, is also among the main priorities.

With these and other priorities, the mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and the CoE will be reinforced. The strategic partnership with the CoE is a key example of effective multilateral cooperation on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The full Council conclusions on EU priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe in 2025-2026 can be accessed here.