Changing the name of the Council of Europe

By Mr Antti Kaikkonen and others

Having regard to the Statute of the Council of Europe and the current Council of Europe's political mandate, defined by the third Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Warsaw in May 2005.

A. Whereas the Council of Europe has had a genuine pan-European dimension in seeking to protect human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law since 1949

B. Whereas the Council of Europe has been enlarged into Central and Eastern Europe and has hence become a true Pan-European forum, where currently forty-seven Member States are committed to seek common solutions to the challenges facing European society

C. Whereas, since founding of the European Union in 1992, European citizens have had difficulties to distinguish between the Union’s highest political body, the European Council, and the Council of Europe due to their confusingly similar names.

The assembly,

Calls for the Committee of Ministers to consider the benefits of changing the name of the organization to better reflect the organization’s ethos, current composition and to better differentiate it from other European organizations.

Recommends that the organization’s name is changed from the Council of Europe to Pan European Council.

Asks the President of the Assembly to forward this resolution to the Committee of Ministers.