47 again? Russia out, Kosovo in
Support Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe
This is a moment of truth for many European countries which have long claimed to support Kosovo’s European aspirations.
This is a moment of truth for many European countries which have long claimed to support Kosovo’s European aspirations.
Human Rights monument in front of the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / EPeiWhat to doAn airlift 2022 for Ukrainians
Proposal for a Macron-Scholz Plan
Europe has not yet understood that Ukrainian refugees are part of Putin's plan of attack. What an answer to the millions of refugees could look like.
Europe has not yet understood that Ukrainian refugees are part of Putin's plan of attack. What an answer to the millions of refugees could look like.
Ukrainian refugee children in Lviv, Ukraine on 5 March 2022. Photo: REUTERS / KAI PFAFFENBACH - stock.adobe.comWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
Expel Russia from the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe must not harbour a dictatorship invading a neighbouring state
The Council of Europe must not harbour a dictatorship that is invading a neighbouring state, committing massive war-crimes, while suppressing the human rights of its own citizens to hide its aggressive war from its public.
The Council of Europe must not harbour a dictatorship that is invading a neighbouring state, committing massive war-crimes, while suppressing the human rights of its own citizens to hide its aggressive war from its public.
Russian invasion troops in Ukraine. Photo: Twitter / Kamil GaleevWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
How to save the rule of law in Poland
The European Commission should return to the ECJ
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has forced Poland to undo some steps in the demolition of judicial independence. But Poland's judiciary is still under siege. No member state of the EU has ever gone as far in subjugating its courts to executive control. EU member states and all parliamentary groups should support the European Commission and the Court in their ongoing battle to protect the rule of law in Poland.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has forced Poland to undo some steps in the demolition of judicial independence. But Poland's judiciary is still under siege. No member state of the EU has ever gone as far in subjugating its courts to executive…
Minister Ziobro’s message for Commissioner Reynders, 18 November 2021. Photo: Twitter / Zbigniew ZiobroWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
Open EU Single Market to the Balkans
For a merit-based EU accession process that offers a credible goal
The EU accession process should offer membership in the Single Market as an interim goal to any of the six Western Balkan nations interested in it.
The EU accession process should offer membership in the Single Market as an interim goal to any of the six Western Balkan nations interested in it.
Photo: Johannes Menge / Adobe StockWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
The Council of Europe and Russia
Countries blatantly violating its rules should be suspended
Nobody has turned to the European Court of Human Rights as often as Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny – 20 times. It made no difference. Navalny was arrested again in January 2021 in a case that the Strasbourg court had already dismissed as arbitrary in 2017. Strasbourg ordered Navalny’s immediate release, but Russia openly refused to implement the binding ruling. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers should make clear: either Russia releases Navalny or will face suspension.
Nobody has turned to the European Court of Human Rights as often as Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny – 20 times. It made no difference. Navalny was arrested again in January 2021 in a case that the Strasbourg court had already…
Photo: Press service of Simonovsky District CourtWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
Humane Borders
Saving the Refugee Convention
A humane global refugee system is one where more, not fewer, countries offer refugee protection. At this moment such a world seems more elusive than ever. So what is to be done?
A humane global refugee system is one where more, not fewer, countries offer refugee protection. At this moment such a world seems more elusive than ever. So what is to be done?
The island nation of Nauru: is this the future of the global refugee system? Photo: Shutterstock / Robert SzymanskiWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
Caviar Diplomacy
Why every European should care
Azerbaijan’s “Caviar Diplomacy” of systematic bribing to downplay Azerbaijan’s human rights record has led to investigations and convictions in several EU member states. So far, however, the main culprit has escaped unscathed. It is time that the Committee of Ministers investigate Azerbaijan’s role in the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the Council of Europe.
Azerbaijan’s “Caviar Diplomacy” of systematic bribing to downplay Azerbaijan’s human rights record has led to investigations and convictions in several EU member states. So far, however, the main culprit has escaped unscathed. It is time that the…
Caviar. Photo: flickr/Marco Verch Professional PhotographerWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
No border changes
Why Kosovo and Serbia must not discuss territory
The two decade old consensus of no border changes in the Balkans keeps being challenged. Serbia's president Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci and some leading US and EU officials have supported border changes in recent years. In a region where most states are multi-ethnic this is dangerous. The EU should take a clear stance against.
The two decade old consensus of no border changes in the Balkans keeps being challenged. Serbia's president Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci and some leading US and EU officials have supported border changes in recent years…
"If Kosovo is not Serbia, then Republika Srpska is not Bosnia!" Banner in front of Serbia's Foreign Ministry. December 2018. Photo: Kristof Bender/ESIWhat to doLatest reports and media reactions
EU-Turkey Statement 2.0
How the EU and Turkey must cooperate in their mutual interest
The EU-Turkey statement in March 2016 has drastically brought down numbers of people trying to cross the Aegean and thereby also the numbers of people drowning. Then it broke down in March 2020. What is needed now is a revised statement 2.0 that addresses the shortcomings and builds on the successes of the first statement.
The EU-Turkey statement in March 2016 has drastically brought down numbers of people trying to cross the Aegean and thereby also the numbers of people drowning. Then it broke down in March 2020. What is needed now is a revised statement 2.0 that…
Syrian school children at the Temporary Education Center in Osmaniye, southern Turkey. Photo: European CommissionWhat to do