126th Session of the Committee of Ministers - Sofia, 18 May 2016

Item 2b

Democratic security for all in Europe in challenging times

b.         Tackling violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism

Decisions

The Committee of Ministers

1.         welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan on the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism (cf. CM(2016)64);

2.         called for the swift signature and for the ratification of the Council of Europe’s conventions in the field of terrorism and their protocols by those member States which have not yet done so and by the European Union;

3.         called for the expeditious designation of the 24/7 contact points to facilitate the timely exchange of information, as provided for by the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 217), pending its entry into force;

4.         welcomed the launch by the Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education of the Council of Europe Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture and of the rollout of a large scale pilot project, with a view to the Framework’s full use in member States;

5.         invited member States to ensure the dissemination of the Guidelines on the protection and promotion of human rights in culturally diverse societies and of the Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalisation and violent extremism among competent authorities and stakeholders and take appropriate account of the principles set out in these guidelines when reviewing relevant legislation and practice;

6.         invited member States to ensure the dissemination of General Policy Recommendation No. 15 of  the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) on combating hate speech among the competent authorities and stakeholders and take appropriate account of the principles set out in this recommendation when reviewing relevant legislation and practice;

7.         underlined the necessity to reinforce the protection of victims of terrorist acts and called for updating the relevant Council of Europe guidelines;

8.         invited the Ministers’ Deputies and Secretary General to expedite work on the ongoing actions in the framework of the Action Plan on the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism.