The Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has finalised the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has commented that this first of its kind treaty will ‘ensure that the rise of AI upholds Council of Europe legal standards in human rights, democracy and the rule of law.’ The draft text will be referred to the Committee of Ministers for adoption and opened for signature at a later stage.

The Council of Europe (to be distinguished from the Council of the EU) has adopted the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law; the first international legally binding instrument to address environmental crime.

The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2026)7 setting out best practices for the remote and online provision of medicines. The recommendation, co-ordinated by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), aims to support the safe, appropriate and equitable supply of medicines in an increasingly digital healthcare environment. It establishes a framework covering all stages of the medication process, including prescribing, supply, delivery, follow-up care and addresses challenges such as cross-border provision and patient safety. The recommendation also emphasises the importance of national and international co-operation to maintain high standards of quality and public health protection.

The Council of Europe has adopted the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the first global treaty which ensures that AI systems uphold human rights. The treaty, open to Member States and 11 non-Member States including Australia, Japan, Costa Rica and the USA, covers the use of AI in the public and private sectors, transparency and oversight requirements in relation to generative AI and states’ accountability and responsibilities for adverse impacts of AI. The treaty also requires signatories to ensure gender equality, privacy rights, and make legal remedies available for victims of human rights violations related to the use of AI systems through independent oversight mechanisms and compliance processes.

The Council of Europe has approved a regulation amending the Capital Requirements Regulation (Regulation (EU)575/273) (CRR) as regards requirements for securities financing transactions under the net stable funding ratio.

The Council of Europe foreign ministers have adopted a political declaration on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) system, in particular addressing the context of migration. The declaration was adopted by consensus at the Committee of Ministers session in Chișinău on 15 May 2026. The declaration reaffirms the member states’ commitments and obligations under the ECHR, while recognising the various challenges connected with migration. Negotiations were launched in December 2025 at an informal conference of Council of Europe ministers convened by Secretary General Berset.

The Council of Europe’s member state ministers have called on the Committee of Ministers to prepare a political declaration on migration-related issues within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), alongside a new recommendation on migrant smuggling for 2026.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has published a recommendation entitled 'Protecting the defenders: Ending repression of human rights defenders assisting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Europe'. The recommendation explains the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Europe and the ways in which Council of Europe member states can protect them.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has issued a response to the 22 May 2025 joint letter issued by nine Member States which criticises the role and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The joint letter was initiated by   Denmark and Italy and includes Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The letter addresses concerns regarding the ECtHR’s interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly in relation to migration. In his responding statement Berset affirms that the Court, established by the Member States, must remain independent and immune to political pressure in order to continue protecting fundamental rights effectively. The statement also highlights the Court’s crucial role in upholding the Convention’s principles, especially amid the challenges posed by the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Council of the European Union has outlined its position on the proposed Regulation amending the EU Benchmarks Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1011) as regards the scope of the rules for benchmarks, the use in the EU of benchmarks provided by an administrator located in a third country, and certain reporting requirements. The amendments introduce criteria and procedures for designating benchmarks as ‘significant’ based on their usage or systemic importance. Notification and compliance requirements are set for administrators of significant benchmarks. The regulation aims to reduce the regulatory burden by limiting the applicability of most rules in the EU Benchmarks Regulation to significant and critical benchmarks (as described in amended Article 24), and on those benchmarks that contribute to the promotion of key Union policies, ie. EU Climate Transition and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks, while certain provisions related to benchmark cessation remain applicable to all benchmarks. The amendments focus on the scope of rules for benchmarks, the use of benchmarks provided by administrators located in third countries, and certain reporting requirements. The changes are effective from 1 January 2026. The amendments aim to streamline reporting requirements, reduce the regulatory burden on smaller benchmarks, and focus on significant and critical benchmarks. Provisions are included for the designation of significant benchmarks, exemptions for certain spot foreign exchange benchmarks, and specific requirements for EU Climate Transition and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks.

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has written to Chairs of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and of the Women and Equalities Committee outlining concerns about the current climate for trans people in the UK. O’Flaherty referenced European Court of Human Rights case law affirming that gender identity falls under the scope of private life protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He noted that legal gender recognition should be meaningful and coherent across domestic legal frameworks, including the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) and the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA 2004).

The Council of the European Union has adopted the sixth Money Laundering Directive (MLD6), the AML/CFT Single Rulebook Regulation and the Regulation establishing the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) (AMLAR). This is the final step of the adoption procedure. The texts will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force.