The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the 46-nation Council of Europe today reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine by establishing an Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The Committee of Ministers also adopted a declaration on the European Convention on Human Rights and migration, modernised the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism, and gave its green light to a new legal instrument on foreign information manipulation and interference.
Special Tribunal for Ukraine: 36 countries and the European Union
The ministers adopted a Resolution establishing an Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, marking a crucial step towards the practical implementation of the tribunal tasked with investigating, prosecuting and trying persons who bear the greatest responsibility. Thirty-six countries (*) and the European Union have declared their intention to join the agreement and to define the Special Tribunal will operate and be funded.
(*) Thirty-four Council of Europe member states (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom), as well as the European Union, Australia and Costa Rica.
The ministers also welcomed the broad support of states for the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine and encouraged further countries to join, so that a compensation mechanism can be established rapidly.
Council of Europe ministers reaffirmed their determination to ensure the return of Ukrainian children unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia, including in the framework of the execution of the July 2025 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. the Russian Federation.
In addition, they intend to continue to contribute to Ukraine's programme of reforms, in particular through the Action Plan for Ukraine, "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction 2023-2026", facilitating the country's progress towards accession to the EU, including in the area of fundamental rights, justice, social protection and inclusion, as well as in terms of fighting corruption.
The European Convention on Human Rights and migration: new declaration
Following on from the Conference of Ministers of Justice, which took place in Strasbourg in December 2025, the Committee of Ministers adopted an important declaration which reaffirms member states' deep and abiding commitment to the Convention, and their support for the independence of the European Court of Human Rights. It also notes the need to balance the general interest of the community with individual rights.
Europe's foreign ministers reaffirmed that migration challenges require a common response from member states based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and that states have an undeniable sovereign right to control the entry and residence of foreign nationals. Ministers agreed to continue discussions in this area within the framework of the Council of Europe's Network of Focal Points on Migration.
Towards a legal instrument on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)
The Committee of Ministers welcomed the Secretary General's annual reported entitled "The New Democratic Pact for Europe in Times of Rupture", stressing the importance of boosting democratic security.
It also instructed the Secretary General to submit proposals on negotiating a legal instrument, including a possible framework convention, on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which pose a serious threat to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
New treaty to strengthen criminal asset recovery
The ministers adopted an Additional Protocol to the Convention on laundering, search, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds from crime and on the financing of terrorism ("Warsaw Convention"), which modernises the legal and institutional frameworks for asset recovery, in response to increasingly sophisticated transnational and technologically advanced criminal networks. The new treaty enhances authorities' capacities to monitor and suspend suspicious transactions and to confiscate assets, including crypto-assets, obtained through criminal conduct. The Additional Protocol will be opened for signature at the cybercrime conference to be held in Strasbourg on 14 October 2026.
Council of Europe's external action: new strategy
The Committee of Ministers also adopted a strategy for external action designed to strengthen the Council of Europe's position in the international arena. To this end, the organisation intends to expand the scope of its legal and standard-setting instruments, while increasing engagement with observer and non-member states and boosting partnerships with international and regional organisations.
Ministers pointed out that the Council of Europe and the EU are strategic partners committed to ensuring full accountability for Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine and that EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights remains a key goal of their partnership.
Lastly, drawing on the Reykjavik Declaration, the ministers reiterated that freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, social rights, equality, youth participation and dialogue with civil society remain among the organisation's priority areas of action.
Monaco takes over presidency of Committee of Ministers
At the close of the ministerial session, the Principality of Monaco assumed the rotating presidency of the Committee of Ministers (15 May-10 November 2026), taking over from the Republic of Moldova. Mihai Popşoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, took stock of the Moldovan Presidency, after which Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, presented the priorities of the Monegasque Presidency.
On the margins of the session, several treaties were signed or ratified:
- Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series, signed by the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom;
- Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, signed by the Czech Republic and North Macedonia, and ratified by Ireland, Ukraine and the EU;
- Convention on the protection of the environment through criminal law, signed by Sweden;
- Third additional protocol to the European Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters, signed by the Republic of Moldova;
- Convention for the protection of the profession of lawyer, signed by the Slovak Republic and San Marino;
- Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, ratified by the European Union;
- Protocol amending the Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data, ratified by the Republic of Moldova;
- Additional protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the prevention of terrorism, ratified by Liechtenstein;
- Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions, ratified by Armenia;
- European Convention on the protection of the archaeological heritage, signed by Montenegro.
Speech by the Secretary General Alain Berset
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