In our turbulent times, no one can foresee where new troubles will fall on Russia from. The Russian Federation is trying to cooperate with all states and organizations. However, in response, we are increasingly receiving threats or new sanctions. Understanding this interweaving of information is sometimes very difficult. You just need to look at the root of all this fuss. Namely, to find out what is the role and functions of one or another body that shows its position regarding Russia. Let's take a closer look at the Council of Europe. What is he, what issues does he deal with?
What is the Council of Europe?
From the name we can understand that we are talking about a certain organization that solves certain issues in relations between countries located on the continent. It really is. The Council of Europe is considered a regional organization, the members of which are recognized by almost all the states of the continent. The idea of its creation was based on the thought of the increasing instability of the world. The fact is that previously security issues were resolved by bilateral or multilateral negotiations. However, the level of technological 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 country-owner of the enterprise will suffer. The consequences will affect all the inhabitants of the continent. The Council of Europe is called upon to raise issues of preventing threats of various kinds. This is a platform for the expression and discussion of the various points of view of the participating States. A kind of international negotiation framework.
History of creation
There is CE since 1949. We agreed to establish ten Western European states. Gradually, other countries began to join them. Today it includes forty-one states. Among them is the Russian Federation. Council of Europe members have the same rights. The organization protects the principles that are the property of all citizens of the participating countries. It was created in order to be able to combine efforts to protect the freedoms and rights of the inhabitants of the continent. The issues addressed by the organization relate to all spheres of human activity. Not the last place on its agenda is occupied by the problems of law, economics, and culture.
Guide
Several structures have been created to coordinate and direct the activities of such a complex community . Governing bodies are considered some of them. First of all, it is the Committee of Ministers. It includes the heads of the foreign affairs agencies of the participating countries. This body is the highest in the Council. Its functions include making decisions regarding the work of the organization, approval of the proposals of the Consultative Assembly. According to the plan, the Committee of Ministers meets twice a year, unless force majeure circumstances arise. The Consultative Assembly operates on an ongoing basis. It consists of deputies, the number of which from the corresponding state is determined by the population. This body makes recommendations that are submitted to the Committee of Ministers for consideration.
Council of Europe conventions
This body produces its own documents. They are called conventions. They mainly deal with issues of civil liberties. For example, there is a Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. These documents cover a wide range of issues: from the participation of foreigners in public life to combating torture or human trafficking. The norms prescribed in these agreements are advisory in 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 making a decision on accession to them.
Legal activity
The main objective of the organization is to create conditions for achieving unity of countries. This is impossible without studying and harmonizing the legal space of states. The European Court of Human Rights has been established to work in this area. It considers complaints and appeals of citizens of the participating countries. Makes decisions binding on them. The right of the Council of Europe is to control the implementation of its decisions. But he intervenes only in cases where the relevant case (complaint) has been 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 go through the process of studying the issue in their own country. Frankly speaking, the matter is long.
Confusion in vocabulary
Many people confuse concepts such as the European Council and the Council of Europe. It should be noted that these are completely different bodies. And the field of their activity does not always intersect. The European Council is a political body. He makes decisions on issues related to the external interaction of the EU with other states. Whereas the Council of Europe is examining the status of the exercise of citizens' rights in the participating countries. The areas, as you 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 she filed an application four years earlier. The fact is that it was necessary to carry out work to change the legislation of the country. Nevertheless, the process itself took only four days. The Committee of Ministers adopted the Opinion (No. 193), which invited Russia to become a member of the organization. Then the corresponding conventions were ratified by the country's parliament. Since then, the Russian Federation has been a full member of the organization. Eighteen deputies from Russia take part in the meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly. In 2014, the Russian delegation was deprived of some rights due to the Ukrainian crisis. The delegation decided not to participate in the work of the Council of Europe. The same situation prevailed at the beginning of 2015.