The Council of Europe is an intergovernmental organization of which the 47 European states are part. It is based in Strasbourg (France). It was founded by the Treaty of London on May 5, 1949, states that:
"The purpose of the Council of Europe is to achieve a closer union between its members to safeguard and promote the ideals and the first ones that constitute their common heritage and promote economic and social progress."
These ideals or principles are based on two fundamental pillars, the first, Human Rights and second, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The summit held in Warsaw in 2005 reinforces the orientation for the activity of the Council of Europe, at that summit were the Heads of State and Government.
The means contemplated in the London Statute to achieve these ends are the following:
- Examination of matters of common interest. A good example is the monitoring of the European Funds that has to do with the contracting of European Funds Consulting.
- Conclusion of agreements and adoption of joint action on various topics such as economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative.
- Safeguard and have greater effectiveness of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The institutional structure of the Council of Europe has certain classic elements that have to do with other government organizations.
It is chaired by a permanent intergovernmental body, it is the Committee of Ministers that holds a series of meetings that are weekly in the format of Delegates of Ministers, are assisted by their respective secretaries. On the other hand, the titular Ministers meet every 6 months or every year. The supervision of the execution of the sentences of the Human Rights Court stands out. This court was created in 1959 to ensure compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, the Court is responsible for dealing with a large number of individual claims, making it the most visible body of the Council of Europe.
On the other hand, the Parliamentary Assembly is made up of deputies and senators from the member states; four sessions are usually held annually as plenary sessions. It is dedicated to sending suggestions, recommendations and questions to the Committee of Ministers. The Presidents of the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers regularly appear in another of the organs of the Union to answer for their work.
In 1994, the Congress of Local and Regional Powers was held, it represents everything related to both the local and regional level. The NGO conference is responsible for coordinating the contributions made by civil society, that is, by citizens.
The Secretary-General of the Council itself is in charge of directing the official structure of the organization and if the Committee of Ministers deems it appropriate, it exercises certain functions related to the representation of the Council of Europe abroad.
To achieve these objectives, a wide variety of mechanisms have been created that are responsible for monitoring independently and with the obligation to carry out any type of report regularly. Much of these mechanisms have been made through a full agreement, but others have only a partial agreement, a good example of this is the Anti-Corruption Agreement.
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