//COE

International / Regional Body

Council of Europe

13TOTAL

1OFFICIAL SOURCES

8TOPIC AREAS

Law / Act2

Standard / Framework2

International Agreement6

Other3

Agentic AiCybersecurityData Privacy & ProtectionGenerative AIHealth & Life SciencesHuman Rights & EthicsOnline Safety & Child ProtectionPublic Sector & Governance

Other

Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approve HUDERIA Model

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has approved the HUDERIA (Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law Impact Assessment for AI Systems) Model, which complements the HUDERIA Methodology adopted in 2024 by providing supporting materials and resources for its implementation, including flexible tools, illustrative resources, and scalable recommendations related to elements such as Context-Based Risk Analysis (COBRA), Stakeholder Engagement Process, Risk and Impact Assessment, and Mitigation Plan; however, these resources are not presented as best practice examples and do not establish minimum standards, but may serve as a foundation for developing interactive tools like online platforms or structured workflows to aid in conducting risk and impact assessments of AI systems.

25 February 2026Human Rights & Ethics

↗ Link available

Standard / Framework

Council of Europe publishes policy guidelines on AI and algorithm-driven discrimination for equality bodies and other national human rights structures

The Council of Europe has published the 'European Policy Guidelines on AI and Algorithm-Driven Discrimination for Equality Bodies and Other National Human Rights Structures' to assist institutions in identifying, preventing, and addressing discrimination from AI and automated decision-making systems. The guidelines recommend applying regulations like the EU AI Act and the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, emphasizing the role of equality bodies and national human rights structures in safeguarding fundamental rights, particularly in the public sector. They detail prohibited AI systems, classify high-risk AI systems, outline transparency and database requirements, and discuss enforcement mechanisms, providing policy recommendations for preventing and addressing algorithmic discrimination. The guidelines also analyze new EU Directives on standards for equality bodies and offer thematic insights on AI use in sectors such as law enforcement and education, ensuring adaptability to various national contexts while promoting compliance with European equality and non-discrimination law.

11 February 2026Human Rights & EthicsPublic Sector & Governance

↗ Link availableSecondary source

Other

Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General warns of AI threats to democracy

Parliamentarians, policymakers, experts, AI professionals, academics and NGO representatives meeting at Westminster in London have called for a stronger role for parliaments in shaping the development, application and regulation of AI, to ensure compliance with democratic values and human rights. Opening the conference, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge said that AI has already altered the ways citizens form opinions and parliamentary representatives communicate with the public. He stressed that AI has also amplified the risks of foreign information manipulation and interference, noting that “in some cases, they use it to strike at the very heart of democracy by undermining free and fair elections”. The Deputy Secretary General underlined the need for collective action: “Given that artificial intelligence knows no borders, we need to work together to ensure that our democratic processes remain resilient as information ecosystems evolve, with human rights at their core. Automated systems should assist, not replace, human beings.” The conference at the British Parliament in London, provides a platform to exchange best practice, clarify parliamentary roles in AI governance and mobilise support for the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI.

15 December 2025Generative AIData Privacy & ProtectionCybersecurity

↗ Link available

Standard / Framework

Bosnia and Herzegovina signs the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence

Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. This brings the total number of signatories up to 18, to date. The Framework Convention is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

9 December 2025Data Privacy & ProtectionOnline Safety & Child Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source

International Agreement

Uruguay signs Council of Europe’s global AI treaty

Uruguay has signed the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Uruguay has become the first Latin American country to sign the treaty, thereby joining another 16 signatories that have signed it to date (eleven Council of Europe member states, as well as Canada, Israel, Japan, the USA, and the EU).

2 September 2025Generative AIData Privacy & Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source

Law / Act✓ Official

European Commission seeks approval to conclude the Council of Europe AI Convention through the EU AI Act

The European Commission has published a proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (AI Convention). The proposal seeks approval to conclude (i.e. formally implement) the AI Convention through the EU's existing AI Act, which would give the Convention full legal effect within the EU.

3 June 2025Data Privacy & ProtectionCybersecurity

↗ Link availableFull text

International Agreement

Switzerland signs Council of Europe's AI Convention

The Federal Council of Switzerland has signed the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. Following the signing, Switzerland will prepare the necessary legislative amendments. The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), in collaboration with the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), has been tasked with preparing a consultation draft, which is to be submitted by the end of 2026. DETEC has also been tasked with developing an implementation plan for legally non-binding measures to implement the Convention by the end of 2026.

27 March 2025Generative AIData Privacy & ProtectionOnline Safety & Child Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source

International Agreement

Switzerland to ratify Council of Europe Convention

The Switzerland Federal Council has announced that it intends to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and to make the necessary amendments to Swiss law. Work will also continue on the regulation of AI in specific sectors such as healthcare and transport. In terms of next steps, the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), together with the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will now prepare a consultation draft by the end of 2026 to implement the Council of Europe's AI Convention by defining the necessary legal measures, particularly in the areas of transparency, data protection, non-discrimination and supervision.

12 February 2025Data Privacy & ProtectionHealth & Life Sciences

↗ Link availableSecondary source

International Agreement

Canada and Japan sign Council of Europe’s global treaty on AI

Canada and Japan have joined eleven other signatories in signing the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, during a ceremony held before the Council of Europe’s side event at the AI Action Summit in France.

11 February 2025Data Privacy & ProtectionOnline Safety & Child Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source

Other

Council of Europe releases HUDERIA methodology for AI

The Council of Europe's Committee on Artificial Intelligence has released the HUDERIA methodology, which is a stand-alone, non-legally binding guidance that can be used by both public and private actors to aid in identifying and addressing risks and impacts to human rights, democracy and the rule of law throughout the lifecycle of AI systems.

28 November 2024Agentic AiData Privacy & ProtectionOnline Safety & Child Protection

↗ Link available

International Agreement

Council of Europe opens first ever global treaty on AI for signature

The Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225) (Framework Convention) was opened for signature during a conference of Council of Europe Ministers of Justice in Vilnius. It is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Countries from all over the world will be eligible to join it and commit to complying with its provisions. To date, the Framework Convention has been signed by Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, the United Kingdom as well as Israel, the United States of America and the European Union.

5 September 2024Data Privacy & ProtectionGenerative AIOnline Safety & Child Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source

International Agreement

Council of Europe adopts first international treaty on artificial intelligence

The Council of Europe has adopted the first international legally binding treaty to ensure human rights, the rule of law, and democracy in the use of AI systems. The treaty, known as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, was adopted in Strasbourg during the annual ministerial meeting of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.

17 May 2024Data Privacy & Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source

Law / Act

Council of Europe finalises Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law Framework Convention

The Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence has finalized the 'Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law'. This treaty aims to ensure that the development of AI adheres to the legal standards of the Council of Europe in human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The treaty covers AI systems throughout their lifecycles and is expected to be adopted and opened for signature at a later stage.

15 March 2024Data Privacy & ProtectionCybersecurityOnline Safety & Child Protection

↗ Link availableSecondary source