Committee of Ministers publishes decisions on the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe concluded on 3 June 2010 its second special human rights meeting devoted to the supervision of the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The decisions adopted directly at the meeting in some 20 cases or groups of cases have just been published.
The decisions in the other cases and the annotated agenda containing a summary of the information available in the different cases will be published, following a written procedure, on 17 June 2010.
Peace through democracy and democracy through law – 20 years since establishment of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
20 years ago in Strasbourg, on 10 May 1990, 18 member states of the Council of Europe - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey - established the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, formally called "The European Commission for Democracy through law".
Its initial purpose was to assist countries coming out of totalitarian regimes to bring their constitutions and other fundamental laws into conformity with Council of Europe standards: democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Commission’s founder and its first President Professor Antonio La Pergola defined the goal of the Commission “Peace through democracy and democracy through law are going to be our steadfast commitment…”.
In a joint statement, Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Jean-Paul Costa, President of the European Court of Human Rights, said "the entry into force of Protocol No. 14 represents a crucial step in improving the effectiveness of the Court and the protection of human rights in Europe. The Convention establishes the foundations of a common legal space across Europe. Protocol 14 will permit the Court to concentrate more on cases that raise important human rights issues, so it can play its role most effectively."
“Protocol No. 14 provides the legal basis for the possibility of EU accession to the Convention, to which the EU is commited under the Lisbon Treaty. EU accession will further strengthen the protection of human rights in Europe by submitting the EU’s legal system to independent external control with regard to the rights protected by the Convention, as interpreted by the Court in its case law”, they added.
Council of Europe mediates solution to end constitutional crisis in Moldova
Chisinau, 03.06.2010 – Today in Moldova, the four party leaders in the governing “Alliance for European Integration” (AEI) announced that they will hold a referendum to amend Article 78 of the Constitution (to allow for direct election of the President), dissolve Parliament and call for new elections. The referendum is expected to be held in the first half of September and new parliamentary elections are to be organised in Autumn after the Parliament’s dissolution in October.
Today’s solution was reached as the result of the lengthy mediation efforts by the Council of Europe and its Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, after it became clear that a broad compromise between the governing Alliance and the opposition Communist Party (CPRM) was not possible.
“Confidence Building Measures between two banks of Nistru/Dniestr river”, a project funded by the Council of Europe
Chisinau-Tiraspol, May 13. A journalistic competition opens today for reporters from both sides of the Nistru/Dniestr river. Local, regional and national journalists are invited to submit media report proposals on cross-river cooperation activities, which they consider as examples of measures contributing to build confidence between people.
Competition is open until June 10, 2010. The proposals must identify a case study of cross-river cooperation in any field, be it cultural, social, economic, political… to be published this summer in broadcast, print or electronic format. An editor’s panel will select the best proposals mid-June. Winning journalists will take part in a seminar in Odessa late July to exchange on best practices and set up a platform for fast flow of information exchange. In August and early September, journalists will then carry out and publish stories. The authors of best stories will be rewarded by a trip to Strasbourg in autumn 2010.