On May 5, 1949, was founded the intergovernmental organization – the Council of Europe, which includes 47 countries today. The most active supporter of its creation is Winston Churchill. In his famous speech on September 19, 1946 at the University of Zurich, the British prime minister called for the reconciliation and the founding of the United States of Europe and the Council of Europe.
Ukraine became a member of the organization in 1995. Today, the Council of Europe is sometimes more effective and progressive diplomatic platform than, for example, the UN Security Council. In the end of April, the PACE, for example, recognized the occupation of the separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the Russian Federation, and in 2017 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CMCE), that is, the key body of this international organization, adopted a first decision on Crimea from 2014 first.
The most important achievement of the Council of Europe is, of course, the development and adoption of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1953), which today is the basis for the struggle for human rights, in particular, and in Ukraine.
Congratulations to the Council of Europe, all pro-European Ukrainians and European colleagues!
Press service
European Party of Ukraine