Celebrating a Double Anniversary: New Brochure & Factsheet on EU-CoE Human Rights Collaboration
2025 marks a milestone year for human rights protection in Europe. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the opening for signature of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the 25th anniversary of the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, the EU Delegation to the Council of Europe is pleased to present two new publications that highlight the depth, achievements, and forward-looking priorities of EU–CoE cooperation.
A New Brochure: “Stronger Together”
To honour this double anniversary, the Delegation has released a dedicated brochure, “Stronger Together: Celebrating 75 Years of the European Convention on Human Rights and 25 Years of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.”
The publication offers an accessible overview of how the EU Charter and the ECHR complement one another in protecting the fundamental rights of over 700 million people across Europe . It retraces the evolution of both instruments, explains their respective legal frameworks, and illustrates the rights they safeguard.
The brochure also sheds light on the judicial dialogue between the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, whose complementary case-law reinforces coherence in human rights protection across the continent.
You can read the brochure here:
English: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/council-europe/new-publication-%E2%80%9Cstronger-together-celebrating-75-years-european-convention-human-rights-and-25_en?s=51
Français: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/council-europe/nouvelle-publication-%C2%AB-plus-forts-ensembles-la-charte-des-droits-fondamentaux-de-l%E2%80%99union-europ%C3%A9enne_fr?s=51
Updated Factsheet on the EU–CoE Strategic Partnership
The Delegation has also published an updated factsheet outlining the strategic partnership between the EU and the Council of Europe, drawing on the three key pillars of cooperation: political dialogue, legal cooperation, and joint programmes.
The factsheet highlights the EU’s priorities at the Council of Europe — promoting and protecting human rights, defending democracy, and upholding the rule of law — and details the EU’s role as the Council of Europe’s main institutional partner and largest contributor to its extraordinary budget.
It also provides an overview of the extensive joint programme portfolio, amounting to over €240 million in 2024, and spanning thematic areas such as anti-corruption, cybercrime, gender equality, and data protection. Technical and legislative assistance supports reforms both within the EU and in neighbouring regions, via flagship regional programmes including the Partnership for Good Governance, the Horizontal Facility, and the South Programme.
The factsheet also underlines joint efforts to ensure full accountability for international crimes committed in and against Ukraine, including cooperation towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression and an international compensation mechanism.
Finally, the factsheet reiterates ongoing progress toward the EU’s accession to the ECHR, a long-standing objective and legal obligation under the Lisbon Treaty.
Access the factsheet here:
English: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/council-europe/european-union-and-council-europe-values-based-partnership_en?s=51
Français: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/council-europe/lunion-europ%C3%A9enne-et-le-conseil-de-leurope-un-partenariat-fond%C3%A9-sur-nos-valeurs_fr?s=51
