COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The safety and security of Council of Europe Secretariat members, premises and assets is a priority for the Organisation and a precondition for ensuring the continuity of its activities.

The Council of Europe is committed to ensuring the best possible protection of Secretariat members and other persons present inside its premises.

The current challenging security environment enhances the need to establish a formal security management system responding to the Council of Europe’s requirements in terms of security.

For this purpose the Council of Europe complements and reinforces where necessary arrangements put in place by the respective Host Governments with a view to fulfilling their obligation to provide for the protection of the Organisation’s Headquarters and, where applicable, its external duty stations.  

The Council of Europe shall provide adequate and sustainable financial and human resources to set up a security management system that allows the Organisation to prevent, to the extent possible, security incidents and to prepare for and respond to security threats.

Purpose

The goal of the Council of Europe Security Management System is to provide appropriate management structures, rules and procedures allowing the Organisation to carry out its activities while ensuring the security and safety of Secretariat members and the Council of Europe’s premises and assets.

The Council of Europe Security Management System comprises:

• an efficient security governance structure;
• a framework of accountability setting out the responsibilities of all stakeholders involved;
• clear and accessible internal rules, guidelines, practices and procedures.

The Security Management System also provides for measures and instruments aimed at handling emergency situations.

Security Governance

A Security Management Team (SMT) shall be established and manage crisis events affecting the Council of Europe Headquarters, its external duty stations or the undertaking of official journeys by Secretariat members and advise the Secretary General on the measures to be implemented in response.

The SMT may also provide advice to the Secretary General on the adoption and review of security policies, rules and procedures as well as on major initiatives and the resource commitments of the Organisation in connection with security matters.

The SMT will be chaired by the Director General of Administration and comprise as further members the Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General, the Director of General Services, the Director of Legal Advice and Public International Law and the Head of the Safety and Security Department within the Directorate of General Services or their respective representatives. The SMT may further invite representatives of other concerned Council of Europe administrative entities to participate in its meetings as appropriate.

The regulatory framework

The Council of Europe shall draw up and regularly update internal security rules, guidelines, practices and procedures applicable to the Organisation’s activities at the Headquarters, external duty stations and official journeys. The related documents are accessible through a dedicated site on the Council of Europe Intranet webpage.

The Council of Europe shall take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the regulatory

framework.

The Council of Europe framework of accountability in matters of security

A rule on the framework of accountability in matters of security adopted by the Secretary General defines the responsibilities of all stakeholders involved.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe is ultimately responsible for ensuring the overall security and safety of Council of Europe Secretariat members, premises and assets.

The Secretary General may delegate authority for security management and for developing security and safety rules, guidelines, practices and procedures to the Director General of Administration. This delegation of authority also includes chairmanship of the SMT.

The Council of Europe has a Safety and Security Department which shall be responsible for the safety and security of the Headquarters and all external duty stations and shall provide security advice to Secretariat members on official journeys.

Council of Europe managers shall ensure that security considerations are taken into account when planning and carrying out the activities for which they are responsible. Secretariat members shall familiarise themselves and comply with the applicable rules, guidelines, practices and procedures.

Strasbourg, 21 February 2017

Thorbjørn JAGLAND

Secretary General