Table classifying the European organisations according to various key criteria: composition, constituent instrument, aim, organisational structure, seat, etc. (situation on 1 September 2010).

Overview of the principal forms of institutionalised cooperation existing in Europe before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon amending the founding treaties of the European Union on 1 December 2009: the international organisations created by the European States, the activities that they exercise, the areas of cooperation that such activities fit into (security, economic cooperation and the human dimension) and the interconnections between the different organisations.

Diagrams showing how the European organisations covered by the CVCE have developed and particularly how the number of their members has increased since 1949.

Map showing the seats of the main European organisations and their institutions and other bodies. On 30 June 2011, WEU ceased to exist after having transferred most of its powers and responsibilities to the European Union under the Treaty of Lisbon.

Diagrams showing the development and the composition of security and defence organisations in Europe since 1949 and, in particular, the change in cooperation structures following the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.

In this interview, Jacques F. Poos, former Luxembourg Foreign Minister, analyses the role of the two intergovernmental organisations of which he chaired the decision-making body: the Council of Europe and Western European Union. Comparing these organisations, he draws attention to the benefits of the European Union, emphasising not only the value of the Community method but also the broader aims of the organisation.

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former French Junior Minister for European Affairs and former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, explains the differences between the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental method and the Community method used by the European Union and European Communities.

In this contribution, Vlad Constantinesco, Professor at the Law Faculty of the Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg, outlines the historical reasons for the number and the complex tangle of major international organisations in Europe and considers the future role of the Council of Europe, with particular regard to the European Union and, to a lesser extent, to the OSCE.

The aim of this article, published in 2002 in the German periodical Europäische Zeitung, is to draw a clear distinction between the four international courts of justice which have their seat in Europe: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague; the International Criminal Court in The Hague; the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg; and the Court of Justice of the European Communities (ECJ) in Luxembourg.

Pierre Pescatore, Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Communities from 1967 to 1985, outlines the difference between international courts which have their seats in Europe and which are frequently mixed up in the minds of the public. In particular, he gives examples to show the complementary nature between the respective roles of the Court of Justice based in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights based in Strasbourg.

The French Government’s proposal that a new European Union initiative for a stability pact be launched in Europe is approved on 21 and 22 June 1993 at the Copenhagen European Council.

In this interview, Alain Lamassoure, French Minister for European Affairs from 1993 to 1995, describes the initiative of the Prime Minister, Édouard Balladur, to hold a Conference on Stability in Europe, which took place in Paris on 20 and 21 March 1995 under the aegis of the OSCE, at the request of the European Union. The aim of this conference was to encourage countries wishing to accede to the European Union to consolidate their borders and, if necessary, to ensure the protection of minorities.

On 20 and 21 March 1995 in Paris, the Final Conference on the Stability Pact in Europe, convened on the initiative of the European Union on the basis of a proposal from France, is attended by the representatives of the OSCE Member States. The Council of Europe is represented by its Secretary General. At the end of the Conference, the participants adopt a political declaration and integrate into the Stability Pact all the agreements and arrangements for cooperation and good neighbourly relations that they have concluded. The Stability Pact, which is monitored by the OSCE, serves as a model for other joint initiatives on preventive diplomacy.

In einem Artikel vom 5. Februar 1957 in der Tageszeitung Le Peuple, dem offiziellen Organ der belgischen Sozialistischen Partei, plädiert Georges Bohy für die Konsolidierung des Gemeinsamen Marktes im Rahmen der EWG, bevor die Sechs ihre jeweilige Wirtschaft auf die Einrichtung einer Freihandelszone vorbereiten. Seiner Ansicht nach wäre es unvernünftig, Anpassungen gleichzeitig nach innen und nach außen vornehmen zu wollen.

At the conference held by the British Council of the European Movement from 19 to 21 February 1958 in London, Robert Schuman gives an address in which he puts forth his views on the British proposal for the creation of a free-trade area, a contentious issue that is giving rise to much debate between the six countries of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the other countries in the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC).

In a Resolution dated 23 October 1972, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe hopes that it will be able to maintain close ties with the remaining EFTA States and underlines the valuable role that it can play as a venue for meetings between parliamentarians from the remaining EFTA States and from the Member States of the enlarged European Communities.

Considering it necessary to maintain the social and cultural bodies of the Brussels Treaty, the Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty Organisation (Western Union) decides to propose to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe a procedure for cooperation in this field. On 15 November 1951, the Secretary-General of Western Union, instructed by the Consultative Council to pass on these proposals, sends a letter to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

In a letter dated 4 April 1952, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe informs the Secretary-General of the Brussels Treaty Organisation (Western Union) that the Committee of Ministers has adopted a Resolution, attached to the letter, approving the proposals on cooperation between the two organisations contained in the letter of 15 November 1951.

On 21 October 1959, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) decides to transfer the exercise of the social and cultural activities pursued by the organisation to the Council of Europe.

With this resolution, dated 16 November 1959, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe authorises the Member States of Western European Union (WEU) to pursue social and cultural activities within the framework of the Council of Europe, on the basis of a Partial Agreement.

On 2 June 2003, at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg, Peter Schieder, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, gives a welcome address to the Members of the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU) in which he emphasises the links between the two institutions.

Publié en 1954, ce document d'information montre comment le principe des "Autorités spécialisées", admis par le Comité des ministres du Conseil de l'Europe sur proposition de l'Assemblée consultative, échoue dans la pratique, et les "Communautés restreintes" se constituent en dehors du Conseil de l'Europe. L'intégration des Communautés dans le cadre du Conseil de l'Europe s'avérant irréalisable, le "Plan Eden" s'impose. Le gouvernement britannique propose d'instaurer une liaison organique entre les deux organisations afin de minimiser les conséquences de la division.

In this memorandum, Jean Monnet considers the possibility of building interinstitutional relations between the Council of Europe and the institutions provided for under the Schuman Plan for the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Signed on 18 April 1951, this Protocol annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) constitutes the legal basis for relations between the Community and the Council of Europe. It establishes an exchange of information between the two organisations and provides for the possibility of strengthening their cooperation by means of future agreements.

By this Resolution of 23 May 1952, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approves the principle underlying the United Kingdom proposals known under the name of 'Eden Plan' that organic liaison should be established between restricted Communities and the Council of Europe.

By this Resolution of 11 July 1952, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe authorises the Secretary-General, on its behalf, to establish relations with the competent organs of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) for the purpose of studying the most appropriate means of creating organic liaison between the two organisations.

Dans cette déclaration du 8 septembre 1952, Jacques Camille Paris, Secrétaire général du Conseil de l'Europe, fait le compte-rendu de ses entretiens avec Jean Monnet, président de la Haute Autorité de la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier (CECA), au sujet des liens organiques à établir entre les deux organisations.

In its Opinion No 3 of 30 September 1952, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe suggests practical measures concerning relations between the organisation and the European Communities.

In its Resolution No 31 of 23 June 1953, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe declares its satisfaction with regard to steps to bring about a close working relationship between the High Authority and the Common Assembly of the ECSC, on the one hand, and the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, on the other.

In accordance with the 1953 ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between Jean Monnet, President of the ECSC High Authority, and Lord Layton, first Vice-President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, the High Authority presents its annual report at a joint meeting of the Consultative Assembly and the ECSC Common Assembly.

By this Resolution of 7 May 1953, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe welcomes wholeheartedly the establishment of the links between the the Consultative Assembly and the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Delegation from the ECSC High Authority at the second part of the fifth session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg in June 1953. Among those in the picture are Jean Monnet and Franz Etzel, respectively President and Vice-President of the High Authority.

Dans un article paru le 10 octobre 1957 dans l'hebdomadaire allemand Die Zeit, Curt Christoph von Pfuel, rapporteur auprès du secrétariat général du Conseil de l'Europe, envisage une possible rationalisation des différentes institutions des organisations européennes. Il voit notamment dans l'interaction entre l'assemblée consultative du Conseil de l'Europe et la future assemblée des Communautés européennes un moyen d'arriver à terme à l’unification du continent européen.

Note from the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, dated 24 November 1958, on establishing relations between the organisation and the two new European communities (EEC and EAEC). The note reviews the contacts made with the institutions of the European communities since the conclusion of the 1953 ‘gentlemen's agreement’ between Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority, and Lord Layton, first vice-President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

On 18 August 1959, the arrangement between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) takes the form of an exchange of letters. This letter is from Lodovico Benvenuti, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, to Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the EEC.

On 18 August 1959, the arrangement between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) takes the form of an exchange of letters. This letter is from Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the EEC to Lodovico Benvenuti, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

On 18 August 1959, the arrangement between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) takes the form of an exchange of letters. This letter is from Lodovico Benvenuti, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, to Etienne Hirsch, President of the Commission of the EAEC.

On 18 August 1959, the arrangement between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) takes the form of an exchange of letters. This is the letter from Etienne Hirsch, President of the Commission of the EAEC, to Lodovico Benvenuti, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

Le 11 mars 1965, Polys Modinos, Secrétaire général adjoint du Conseil de l'Europe, écrit une lettre adressée en premier lieu à Peter Smithers, Secrétaire général de l'organisation, sur les matières qui peuvent faire l'objet d'une coordination ou d'une harmonisation entre le Conseil de l'Europe et la Communauté économique européenne (CEE).

In an address delivered in 1980, Franz Karasek, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe from 1979 to 1984, emphasises the need for complementarity between the Council of Europe and the European Communities. The member states of the Council of Europe, whether or not they are Member States of the European Communities, remain united by the principles of democracy and human rights.

In an address delivered in 1980, Franz Karasek, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe from 1979 to 1984, emphasises the influence of the main organisations established in Europe after the Second World War as part of the process of European unification: the Council of Europe as a symbol of the defence of democracy and human rights and the European Communities as the basis for economic integration in Europe.

On 16 June 1987, the arrangement between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Communities, intended to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations, takes the form of an exchange of letters. This is the letter from Marcelino Oreja, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, to Jacques Delors, President of the Commission of the European Communities.

On 16 June 1987, the arrangement between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Communities, intended to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations, takes the form of an exchange of letters. This is the letter from Jacques Delors, President of the Commission of the European Communities, to Marcelino Oreja, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

On the occasion of the formal sitting of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on 31 January 2002, Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, gives an address which highlights the special relationship that has developed over the years between the two European Courts.

On 26 March 2003, Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, makes a statement on the role of the Council of Europe in the ‘One Europe’ and its relationship with the European Union (EU).

In an address given on 26 June 2003, Walter Schwimmer, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, tries to reassure those who fear that the organisation may lose its importance following major developments in the European Union, such as its enlargement to include ten new Member States or the presentation of a draft Constitution.

On 4 March 2005, three days after the meeting in Brussels between Terry Davis, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, the French daily newspaper Le Monde echoes the concerns of the Council of Europe that the European Union is encroaching on its main area of activity, the protection of human rights, by establishing institutions which would carry out the same task.

On 16 May 2005, at the Third Council of Europe Summit in Warsaw, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the European Council (European Union), delivers an address on the importance of the Council of Europe, both historically and today, and emphasises the complementarity of the two organisations.

Following the Third Council of Europe Summit, held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May 2005, Ferdinando Riccardi, Editor-in-Chief and leader writer for the Europe Daily Bulletin, backs the opinion of Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, regarding the absurd rivalry between the Council of Europe and the European Union and the need for a redefinition of the principles for permanent cooperation between the two organisations.

On 11 April 2006, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister, submits to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe a report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union. The report, drawn up in a personal capacity at the request of the Heads of State or Government of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe, meeting at the Warsaw Summit on 16 and 17 May 2005, sets out recommendations for the improvement of cooperation and coordination between the two organisations.

On 11 April 2006, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister, presents to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe his report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union.

On 11 April 2006, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister, presents his report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Published on 10 May 2007 at the 117th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union establishes the new framework for enhanced cooperation between the two organisations called for in May 2005 by the Heads of State or Government at the Warsaw Summit. The Memorandum is the first major step in the follow-up to the report submitted in April 2006 by the Luxembourg Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker.

In an article published in the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique on 28 February 2008, on the 50th anniversary of the constituent meeting of the European Parliamentary Assembly, Paul Collowald, former correspondent for the French daily newspaper Le Monde in Strasbourg and former official of the Community institutions, describes the first steps of the Assemblies of the Council of Europe and the European Communities.

In support of a conference on European security and co-operation, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe recommends, on 25 January 1972, that the Committee of Ministers invite member governments to harmonise their policies to a greater extent, particularly with regard to preparations for the conference, and to consider the possibility of using the meetings of the Committee for this purpose.

Since the nineteen Member States of the Council of Europe are signatories of the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considers, in this Resolution of 29 April 1977, that they must all follow up the several provisions of the Final Act, individually and collectively, fully using the opportunities offered by the competent international organisations.

On 28 September 1990, in view of the Council of Europe’s first participation in a summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) from 19 to 21 November 1990, the Parliamentary Assembly of the organisation gives its support for an autonomous role for the Council of Europe in the CSCE process, particularly in the field of human rights, and puts itself forward as the basis for a new Assembly, remedying the missing ‘parliamentary dimension’ in the process.

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, describes the cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) following the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the democratisation of the former countries of the Communist bloc.

In this Recommendation of 6 May 1992, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe sincerely hopes that the fields of cooperation between the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and the Council of Europe will be clearly marked out and, in particular, that those areas where the Council of Europe has specific competence be recognised and respected as such.

The reply to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1381 (1998), made by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 22 October 1998, outlines the arrangements for cooperation with the OSCE and its institutions and welcomes their development.

On 12 April 2000, in Vienna, the Secretaries-General of the OSCE and the Council of Europe sign a ‘Common Catalogue of Co-operation Modalities’ with a view to securing the continuity and aiding the further development of the good practices adopted by the two organisations.