What is Council of Europe (CoE)?

Why in News?

• The agreement was the first international legally binding treaty on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.
• The CoE originally adopted this International AI treaty in May 2023.
• Prepared against the backdrop of fast-evolving AI technology and growing concerns about their misuse, such as deep fakes, the treaty sets out a legal framework to govern the entire lifecycle of AI systems and address the risks they may pose while promoting responsible innovation.
• It is open to even non-European members.
• It governs the use of AI systems for the public and private sectors with different models of complying with its principles and obligations when regulating the private sector. 

About Council of Europe (CoE):

• It is an international organization of European countries that seeks to protect democracy and human rights and to promote European unity by fostering cooperation on legal, cultural, and social issues.
• It is Europe’s oldest and largest intergovernmental organisation.
• Founded in 1949, it includes 47 member states, 27 of which are members of the European Union (EU).
• It is headquartered inStrasbourg, France.
• Its working languages are English and French.
• CoE should not be confused with the European Council, which is a policy-making body of the EU.
• The CoE addresses issues of common concern to its members, including human rights, crime prevention, drug abuse, environmental protection, bioethical issues, and migration. 
• To manage these affairs, the council has devised more than 160 international agreements, treaties and conventions that have replaced literally tens of thousands of bilateral treaties between various European states. 
• Among the most important of its agreements are the European Convention on Human Rights (1950), the European Cultural Convention (1954), the European Social Charter (1961), the European Convention on the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (1987), the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995) and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (1997).
• It is composed of four principal bodies: the Committee of Ministers (decision-making body), the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, and the Secretariat. 

How is the CoE different from the European Union?

• CoE is not a supranational institution like the European Community.
  • It does not have legislative power.
  • Its member states are cooperating on a voluntary basis. 
  • The CoE cannot impose any rule on its member states. 
• Unlike the EU, the CoE is not an economic organization.