Armenia in the Council of Europe

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This coin was issued in Armenia to commemorate Armenia's accession to the Council in 2001.

Armenia has been a member of the Council of Europe, an international organization that focuses on strengthening democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across Europe, since 2001.[1][2]

Accession[edit]

Article 4 of the Council of Europe Statute specifies that membership in the Council of Europe is open to any European country, provided they meet specific democratic and human rights standards.[3] Armenia became the 42nd member state of the Council of Europe on 25 January 2001.[4] Armenia has been allotted 4 seats in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the parliamentary wing of the Council of Europe.

Armenia is also a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Group of States against Corruption, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Eurimages, and the Venice Commission; an advisory body of the Council of Europe.[5]

On 25 January 2021, Ara Ayvazyan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs stated, “By acceding to the Council of Europe, Armenia joined the family of European states, with whom it shares common history, values, and ideals, as well as a vision of a future Europe, where fundamental rights and freedoms are protected for all, without distinction or discrimination,” in a statement on the 20th anniversary of Armenia's membership to the Council of Europe.[6]

Objectives of membership[edit]

See also: Capital punishment in Armenia, Human rights in Armenia, LGBT rights in Armenia, and Social issues in Armenia

Since 2005, Armenia has benefited from co-operation programs of the Council of Europe's Action Plans.[7] Past and current programs, backed by the European Union, aim to enhance the independence and accountability of the justice system, ensure free and fair elections, protect minority rights and labour rights, promote gender equality and freedom of expression, strengthen child welfare, tackle domestic abuse, reform the penitentiary system, combat corruption, and contribute to the implementation of the goals set out in the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, which was finalized in 2017.[8][9]

As stated in the 2019–2022 Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia, "the Council of Europe and Armenia will continue co-operation to improve existing legislative frameworks, to ensure their effective implementation and to enhance the capacities of national institutions in bringing the country’s legislation and practices closer to European standards in order to promote human rights, strengthen the rule of law and ensure democratic principles of governance."[8][10] The 2019–2022 Action Plan budget was €18,9 million.[11]

On 27 January 2022, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, adopted a resolution praising Armenia's commitment to democratic reform. The Assembly welcomed the marked improvements made in electoral, judicial, and legislative reforms achieved since the 2018 Armenian revolution.[12]

Council of Europe treaties[edit]

As of January 2022, Armenia has signed 83 Council of Europe treaties, including:[13]

Implementation of leading cases from the last 10 years as of August 2021. No implementation is colored black while 100% implementation is white. Average implementation is 53%, with the lowest being Azerbaijan (4%) and Russia (10%) and the highest Luxembourg, Monaco, and Estonia (100%) and Czechia (96%). Armenia is at 56%.[14]

European Court of Human Rights[edit]

See also: Constitutional Court of Armenia

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) enforces the European Convention on Human Rights.[15] Armenia is a contracting party of the convention. The jurisdiction of the court has been recognized by all 47 members of the Council of Europe, including Armenia. An Armenian citizen, group of individuals, or the state itself, may lodge an application to the court. In 2015, Armen Harutyunyan was elected as a judge to serve in the ECHR.

Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe[edit]

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is the Council of Europe's decision making body. Armenia held the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, for the first time, between May – November 2013. The main goals of the Armenian chairmanship were to combat racism and xenophobia in Europe, promote European values through intercultural dialogue, and foster democratic societies.[16]

Financial contributions[edit]

The Council of Europe's budget, for 2022, is €477 million. The contribution of Armenia is €540,141.[4]

Representation of Armenia to the Council of Europe logo.

Representation[edit]

The Council of Europe maintains a representative office in Yerevan.[17][18] Armenia maintains a permanent mission in Strasbourg, France.[19] On 2 December 2021, Arman Khachatryan was appointed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as Armenia's permanent representative to the Council of Europe.[20][21] Following his inauguration, Khachatryan stated that, "The Armenian government highly appreciates the support provided by the Council of Europe in the field of democratic reforms, ensuring the rule of law and protection of human rights". Khachatryan reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Armenia to deepen the agenda of cooperation with the Council of Europe.[22]

Recent developments[edit]

Following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, the Council of Europe called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately stop the renewed escalation of hostilities. The Council of Europe released a statement supporting both sides to seek a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group.[23]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Caucasus: Armenia And Azerbaijan Join Council Of Europe". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  2. ^ "COUNCIL OF EUROPE". www.mfa.am.
  3. ^ "Full list". Council of Europe. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Armenia - Member state". www.coe.int.
  5. ^ "Venice Commission :: Council of Europe". www.venice.coe.int.
  6. ^ "Armenia committed to principles and aims of the Council of Europe – FM". January 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Council of Europe launches Action Plan of 15 million Euros in Armenia". armenpress.am.
  8. ^ a b https://rm.coe.int/action-plan-armenia-2019-2022-en-web-version/168092014b
  9. ^ ""Armenia is a shining star of democracy in the region" - PACE Co-Rapporteurs to PM Pashinyan". Hetq.am.
  10. ^ "National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia | Official Web Site | parliament.am". www.parliament.am.
  11. ^ "Armenia". coe.int.
  12. ^ "The functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia". January 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "By member States of the Council of Europe". Treaty Office.
  14. ^ "Country Map". European Implementation Network. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  15. ^ "BBC News - Profile: The Council of Europe". news.bbc.co.uk.
  16. ^ "Armenia at the Council of Europe". coe.int.
  17. ^ "International Organizations". www.mfa.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  18. ^ "Council of Europe Office in Yerevan". Council of Europe Office in Yerevan.
  19. ^ "In International Organizations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Arman Khachatryan Appointed Armenia's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe". Hetq.am.
  21. ^ "Arman Khachatryan appointed Armenia's permanent representative to Council of Europe". arka.am.
  22. ^ "Armenia interested in deepening the agenda of cooperation with Council of Europe".
  23. ^ "Council of Europe Secretary General calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately calm tensions".

External links[edit]

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