A 'Kind of United States of Europe'? From the Treaty of London to the European Court of Human Rights: Council of Europe in Focus

26/02/2013

Event report

On 20 February the School presented a roundtable "A 'Kind of United States of Europe'? From the Treaty of London to the European Court of Human Rights: the Council of Europe in Focus." The event was organised by School’s European Governance, Identity and Public Policy Research Unit and was chaired by Professor Kenneth Dyson, Cardiff University. The purpose of the seminar was to explore the institutional role of the Council of Europe in the context of European politics and politics of Europeanisation since WWII, and to highlight an apparent neglect of this important body in academic research and media coverage.

Murad Gassanly, PhD candidate at the School, provided an introductory overview of the history of the Council of Europe and current issues facing it. Paul Flynn MP, member of the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe, offered a critical appraisal of the Parliamentary Assembly and raised issues around lobbying and growth of special interests' representation. Rebecca Vincent, a freelance human rights consultant, with extensive experience of engagement with the Council of Europe on human rights campaigns and freedom of expression issues, provided a practitioner's perspective on the role and functions of the Council. Presentations were followed by a question an answer session.