Council of Europe: history of creation and functions

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

In our turbulent times, no one can foresee where new troubles will fall on Russia. The Russian Federation is trying to cooperate with all states and organizations. However, in response, we are increasingly receiving threats or new sanctions. Understanding this intertwining of information can sometimes be very difficult. You just need to look at the root of all this fuss. Namely, to find out what is the role and functions of this or that body, showing its position on Russia. Let's take a closer look at the Council of Europe. What is he, what issues does he deal with?

What is the Council of Europe?

From the name we can understand that we are talking about a certain organization that resolves certain issues in relations between countries located on the continent. It really is. The Council of Europe is considered to be a regional organization whose members are recognized by almost all states of the continent. The idea behind its creation wasbased on the idea of the increasing instability of the world. The fact is that earlier security issues were resolved by bilateral or multilateral negotiations. However, the level of technological development creates such problems and threats that sometimes affect every inhabitant of the continent. For example, the construction of nuclear power plants. In the event of an accident, not only the population of the country that owns the enterprise will suffer. The consequences will affect all inhabitants of the continent. The Council of Europe is called upon to raise issues of preventing threats of various kinds. This is a platform for expressing and discussing the various points of view of the participating States. A kind of international negotiation framework.

History of Creation

CE has existed since 1949. Ten Western European states agreed to establish it. Gradually, other countries began to join them. Today it includes forty-one states. Among them is the Russian Federation. Members of the Council of Europe have the same rights. The organization defends the principles that are the property of all citizens of the participating countries. It was created in order to be able to join forces to protect the freedoms and rights of the inhabitants of the continent. The issues considered by the organization relate to all spheres of human life. Not the last place on her agenda is occupied by problems of law, economics, and culture.

Manual

Several structures have been set up to coordinate and guide such a complex community. Some of them are considered governing bodies. The first is the Committee of Ministers. It includesheads of foreign ministries of the participating countries. This body is the highest in the Council. Its functions include making decisions regarding the work of the organization, approving the proposals of the Consultative Assembly. According to the plan, the Committee of Ministers meets twice a year, unless force majeure occurs. The Consultative Assembly operates on a permanent basis. It consists of deputies, the number of which from the respective state is determined by the population. This body makes recommendations that are submitted to the Committee of Ministers.

Council of Europe Conventions

This body produces its own documents. They are called conventions. They deal primarily with civil liberties. For example, there is the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. These documents cover a wide range of issues: from the participation of foreigners in public life to combating torture or human trafficking. The norms prescribed in these agreements are advisory in nature. In order for them to spread to the territory of the state, ratification is necessary. That is, the conventions are considered by the relevant parliament for a decision on accession to them.

Legal Activities

The main goal of the organization's work is to create conditions for achieving the unity of countries. This is impossible without studying and harmonizing the legal space of states. Created to work in this areaEuropean Court of Human Rights. It considers complaints and appeals from citizens of the participating countries. Makes decisions that are binding on them. The right of the Council of Europe is to control the implementation of its decisions. But he intervenes only in cases where the relevant case (complaint) has been considered by the national authorities of the country. That is, in order to apply to any institution of the Council of Europe, it is necessary to go through the procedure of studying the issue in your home country. The case, let's face it, is a long one.

Vocabulary confusion

Many people confuse such concepts as the European Council and the Council of Europe. It should be noted that these are completely different organs. And the field of their activity does not always intersect. The European Council is a political body. It makes decisions on issues related to the external interaction of the EU with other states. Whereas the Council of Europe is studying the state of realization of the rights of citizens in the participating countries. The regions, as you can see, are as different from each other as heaven and earth.

RF Membership

Our country joined the Council of Europe in February 1996. Although the application was submitted four years earlier. The fact is that it was necessary to carry out work to change the country's legislation. However, the process itself took only four days. The Committee of Ministers adopted a Conclusion (No. 193) inviting Russia to become a member of the organization. Then the relevant conventions were ratified by the country's parliament. Since then, the Russian Federation has been a full member of the organization. At meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly, it adoptsparticipation of eighteen deputies from Russia. In 2014, the Russian delegation was deprived of some rights due to the Ukrainian crisis. The Delegation decided not to take part in the work of the Council of Europe. The same situation happened at the beginning of 2015.