After 18 months of negotiations, in which the EU participated actively, the Committee on Artificial Intelligence finalised the text of the Draft Framework Convention on AI, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, an effective legal framework at the global level. Besides the EU, supported by its Member States, and the Council of Europe’s Member States, this instrument was negotiated by non-European States, namely Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States of America and Uruguay. The states were joined in their negotiations by 68 civil society and industry representatives as well as representatives of other international organisations, such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The Draft Convention aims to ensure that public and private actors' activities within the lifecycle of AI systems uphold the Council of Europe’s legal standards in human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It is fully compatible with existing relevant EU law on fundamental rights and with the EU’s future AI Act. Future parties to the Convention will have an obligation to implement it through appropriate legislative, administrative or other measures to give effect to its underlying principles, such as human dignity, transparency, accountability, privacy, equality and non-discrimination.

The Committee of Ministers transmitted the Draft Framework Convention to the Parliamentary Assembly on 20 March 2024, requesting the Assembly to give its opinion. Once the Parliamentary Assembly has presented its opinion, the Committee of Ministers plans to decide on the Convention’s adoption at the Ministerial Session on 17 May 2024. Members of the Council of Europe and those who are not members of the Council of Europe will then be invited to sign and ratify the Framework Convention.

To have a look at the Draft Framework Convention on AI human rights, democracy and the rule of law yourself, read more here.