Decision Maker

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organization which was inaugurated on 5 May 1949 by ten European countries. Since then, it has expanded to have 47 member nations, including several non-European countries. Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, the organization's primary goal is to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It focuses on legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule-of-law and cultural cooperation. The Council of Europe is distinct from the European Union, but no country has ever joined the EU without first belonging to the Council of Europe. Its best-known body is the European Court of Human Rights, which enforces the European Convention on Human Rights.