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Council of Europe

Any European state can become a member of the Council of Europe provided it accepts the principle of the rule of law and guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms to everyone under its jurisdiction.

he Council is an intergovernmental organisation that aims:

• to protect human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law; 
• to promote awareness and encourage the development of Europe’s cultural identity and diversity; 
• to seek solutions to problems facing European society (discrimination against minorities, xenophobia, intolerance, environmental protection, human cloning, Aids, drugs, organised crime, etc.); 
• to help consolidate democratic stability in Europe by backing political, legislative and constitutional reform.

The Council of Europe should not be confused with the European Union. The two organisations are quite distinct. The 15 European Union states, however, are all members of the Council of Europe.

Website: www.coe.int (opens in new window)