Council of Europe: history of creation and functions

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

What is the Council of Europe?

From the title we can understand that we are talking about an organization that solves certain issues in relations between countries located on the continent. This is really so. The Council of Europe is considered a regional organization, whose members were recognized by almost all states of the continent. The idea of its creation was based on the thought of the growing instability of the world. The point is that previously security issues were resolved by bilateral or multilateral negotiations. However, the level of technology 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 owner country of this enterprise will suffer. The consequences will affect all the inhabitants of the continent. The Council of Europe is called upon to raise the issue of preventing threats of a different nature. This is a platform for expressing and discussing the different points of view of the participating States. A kind of international negotiating base.

History of creation

There has been CE since 1949. Ten Western European states agreed to establish it. Gradually, they began to join other countries. 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 questions considered by the organization concern all spheres of human life activity. Not the last place in its agenda is occupied by problems of law, economy, culture.

Management

Several structures have been established to coordinate and direct the activities of such a complex community . The governing bodies are some of them. First of all, this is the Committee of Ministers. It includes the heads of foreign affairs agencies of the participating countries. This body is the highest in the Council. Its functions include deciding on the work of the organization, endorsing the proposals of the Consultative Assembly. According to the plan, the Committee of Ministers meets twice a year, if there is no force majeure. On an ongoing basis, the Consultative Assembly operates. It consists of deputies, whose number is determined by the population from the corresponding state. This body develops recommendations that are submitted for consideration by the Committee of Ministers.

Council of Europe Convention

This body produces its own documents. They are called conventions. They deal mainly with issues of civil liberties. For example, there is the Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. These documents cover a wide range of issues: from the participation of foreigners in public life to counteracting torture or trafficking in persons. The norms prescribed in these agreements are of an advisory 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 with a view to deciding whether to accede to them.

Legal Activities

The main goal of the organization's work is to create conditions for achieving unity of countries. This is impossible without studying and harmonizing the legal space of states. A European Court dealing with human rights was established to work in this field. He examines complaints and appeals of citizens of the participating countries. It takes decisions that are mandatory for execution in them. The Council of Europe's right is to monitor the implementation of its decisions. But he intervenes only in cases when the relevant case (complaint) was examined 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 pass the procedure for studying the issue at home. The point, let's face it, is long.

Confusion in vocabulary

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

Membership of the Russian Federation

Our country joined the Council of Europe in February 1996. Although the application filed four years earlier. The fact is that it was necessary to carry out work to change the legislation of the country. Nevertheless, the process took only four days. The Committee of Ministers adopted the Conclusion (No. 193), which invited Russia to become a member of the organization. Then the relevant conventions were ratified by the country's parliament. Since then, the Russian Federation is a full member of the organization. Eighteen deputies from Russia take part in the meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly. In 2014, the delegation of the Russian Federation was deprived of certain rights due to the Ukrainian crisis. The delegation decided not to participate in the work of the Council of Europe. The same situation developed in early 2015.