Council of Europe
- Council of Europe Logo (Photo: http://www.coe.int/DefaultEN.asp)
An all-European organisation based in Strasbourg with 44 European member states. Founded in 1949 following the Congress of Europe in The Hague. Not to be confused with the European Council or the Council of Ministers of the EU.
The Council of Europe has a parliamentary assembly, meeting in Strasbourg near the European Parliament. The parliamentary assembly can advise a ministerial committee that makes recommendations for the member states.
Unlike the EU, the Council of Europe does not make supra-national binding decisions or laws. It has been responsible for a number of international Conventions, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights.
Notes
The EU borrowed its blue and yellow 12 star flag from the Council of Europe as well as Beethoven's 9th symphony, which is used as the European anthem. There are therefore now two different European institutions using the same flag and music for symbolic identification.
Links