Date: 2025-05-02Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2025/818 of 28 April 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence on the amendments to the Committee’s Rules of Procedure, with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement
## Policy Analysis Report: Council Decision (EU) 2025/818 Regarding Amendments to the Committee of Parties Rules of Procedure for the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes Council Decision (EU) 2025/818 of 28 April 2025, which concerns the European Union's position regarding amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The core purpose of this decision is to authorize the EU to not object to the adoption of revised amendments to the Committee's Rules of Procedure. The key finding is that the amendments primarily address the impact of the EU's accession to the Convention, specifically regarding voting rights within the Committee. The report outlines the rationale for the EU's position and the likely implications of these changes.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative overview of Council Decision (EU) 2025/818, focusing on its purpose, background, key provisions, stakeholders, and potential impacts based solely on the content of the provided policy text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Amendment:** This document concerns amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Parties of the Istanbul Convention.
* **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the core objective of this Council Decision is to establish the EU's position (not to object) regarding proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Parties in light of the EU's accession to the Istanbul Convention. The amendments themselves appear to aim to integrate the EU's membership without fundamentally altering the existing voting structure.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The provided text indicates that the EU acceded to the Istanbul Convention via Council Decisions (EU) 2023/1075 and 2023/1076. As a result, adjustments to the Committee of the Parties' Rules of Procedure were required, particularly concerning voting rights. Initial proposed amendments did not achieve consensus. This Council Decision addresses a revised proposal from the Committee's Chair that seeks to accommodate the EU's membership while maintaining existing voting practices through a "consensus clause" and introducing a "review clause" for future evaluation.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This Council Decision concerns *amendments* to the Rules of Procedure; therefore this section focuses on the *specific changes* and their effects:
* **What is being changed:** The amendments primarily address the impact of the EU's accession on the voting rules of the Committee of the Parties.
* **New Rule/Provision:** The revised proposal introduces two key clauses:
* **Consensus Clause:** This clause emphasizes the Committee's commitment to continuing its practice of taking decisions by consensus.
* **Review Clause:** This clause mandates a review of the application of the amended rules within three years of their adoption.
* **Deletion of obsolete reference:** Rule 2.2.b concerning participants who are not members of the Committee will be amended to remove the reference to the Union as it is no longer applicable.
* **Difference/Effect of the Changes:**
* The *Consensus Clause* codifies existing practices, suggesting a desire to minimize disruption from the EU's accession while still allowing the EU a voice in the Committee.
* The *Review Clause* provides a mechanism for reassessing the impact of the EU's membership and the amended rules after a period of implementation, potentially paving the way for further adjustments in the future.
* The removal of the reference to the Union in Rule 2.2.b simply removes obsolete text.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the text, the primary stakeholders are:
* The European Union (specifically, the Council)
* The Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
* The Parties to the Istanbul Convention, including the 22 EU Member States that are also parties.
* Any organizations or individuals impacted by the Istanbul Convention as they are indirectly affected by the smooth function of the Committee.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Committee of the Parties is responsible for adopting and implementing the amendments to its Rules of Procedure. The Secretariat of the Committee is involved in facilitating the process. The Council of the European Union makes the decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the Committee of Parties.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The Secretariat of the Committee invited the Parties to approve the envisaged act through a written procedure, with a deadline of 30 April 2025 for objections. The review clause mandates a reassessment of the Rules of Procedure no later than three years after the adoption of the amendments.
* **Implementation aspects specific to changes:** As the Union is simply agreeing not to object to the proposed amendments, the implementation impact is not something that is directly actioned by the EU. Rather, the Committee will implement the consensus and review clauses.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to smoothly integrate the EU into the Committee of the Parties without fundamentally altering the existing voting dynamic. The consensus clause reinforces established practices, while the review clause allows for a future assessment of the impact of the EU's membership and the amended rules. This avoids immediate conflict over voting rights while acknowledging the need for potential future adjustments.
**9. Conclusion:**
Council Decision (EU) 2025/818 is a procedural step to allow the EU to support revisions to the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Parties following the EU's accession to the Istanbul Convention. The key element of the revisions is the addition of a consensus clause and a review clause to the voting rules, which is intended to ease the integration of the EU into the existing structure. This decision is significant in that it allows the EU to participate in the committee which monitors the effectiveness of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe, referred to throughout the document as 'the Union'.
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: An international treaty also referred to as 'the Convention'. It is central to the subject matter of the Council Decision.
Committee of the Parties: A body of the monitoring mechanism of the Convention, responsible for adopting its own rules of procedure. Also referred to as 'the Committee'.
Rules of Procedure: The rules governing the operation of the Committee of the Parties. Amendments to these rules are the subject of the Council Decision.
Council Decision EU 2025/818: The main subject of the provided text; a Council Decision of the European Union regarding the position to be taken within the Committee of the Parties.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: A foundational treaty of the European Union, cited as the legal basis for the Council Decision.
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing the Council Decision.
Council Decision EU 2023/1075: Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to institutions and public administration of the Union.
Council Decision EU 2023/1076: Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and nonrefoulement.
Council Decision EU 2024/1669: Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence on amendments to the Committees Rules of Procedure, with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and nonrefoulement
Council Decision EU 2024/1680: Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence on amendments to the Committees Rules of Procedure, with regard to matters related to institutions and public administration of the Union
Secretariat of the Committee: The administrative body supporting the Committee of the Parties.
ICCP2024/12 prov: A document containing a revised proposal for amendments to the Rules of Procedure.
consensus clause: A clause providing that every effort is to be made by the Committee to continue its practice of taking decisions by consensus.
review clause: A clause providing that the Committee is to examine the application of the rules within three years after adoption of the amendments
ICCP2025/1 prov: Revised Proposal of the Chair of the Committee of the Parties for the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention.
Protocol No 21: Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Protocol No 22: Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Brussels: The location where the Council Decision was done.
A. SZAPKA: The President of the Council
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/818 2.5.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/818
of 28 April 2025
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee of the Parties of
the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and
domestic violence on the amendments to the Committee’s Rules of Procedure, with regard to
matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 78(2), Article 82(2) and
Article 84, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
(the ‘Convention’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2023/1075(1), with regard to
institutions and public administration of the Union, and by means of Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076(2), with
regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement, and entered into
force for the Union on 1 October 2023. To date, there are 39 parties to the Convention (the ‘Parties’), including the
Union and 22 Member States.
(2) The Committee of the Parties (the ‘Committee’) is a body of the monitoring mechanism of the Convention. Pursuant
to Article 67(3) of the Convention, the Committee has adopted its own rules of procedure (the ‘Rules of Procedure’).
The Rules of Procedure provide that each Party has one vote. The accession of the Union to the Convention requires
certain adjustments to the Rules of Procedure, in particular as regards voting rights.
(3) In August 2023, the Secretariat of the Committee proposed certain amendments to the Rules of Procedure to reflect
the impact of the Union’s accession to the Convention on the functioning of the Committee (the ‘proposed
amendments’) and asked the Parties to submit drafting suggestions.
(4) On 22 April 2024, by means of Council Decisions (EU) 2024/1669(3) and (EU) 2024/1680(4), the Union
established its position on the proposed amendments and proposed alternative amendments.
(5) On 31 May 2024, during the 16th meeting of the Committee, it was not possible to reach an agreement on the
proposed amendments and the Committee decided that its Chair would conduct informal consultations to seek
a solution agreeable to all members of the Committee.
(1) Council Decision (EU) 2023/1075 of 1 June 2023 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe
Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to institutions and public
administration of the Union (OJ L 143 I, 2.6.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1075/oj).
(2) Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076 of 1 June 2023 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe
Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial
cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement (OJ L 143 I, 2.6.2023, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/
1076/oj).
(3) Council Decision (EU) 2024/1669 of 22 April 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the
Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic
violence on amendments to the Committee’s Rules of Procedure, with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal
matters, asylum and non-refoulement (OJ L, 2024/1669, 12.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1669/oj).
(4) Council Decision (EU) 2024/1680 of 22 April 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the
Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic
violence on amendments to the Committee’s Rules of Procedure, with regard to matters related to institutions and public
administration of the Union (OJ L, 2024/1680, 12.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1680/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/818/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 2.5.2025
(6) In November 2024, following informal consultations, the Chair of the Committee submitted to the Parties a revised
proposal for amendments set out in document IC-CP(2024)12 prov. According to that proposal, the current voting
rules should continue to apply but be supplemented by a clause providing that every effort is to be made by the
Committee to continue its practice of taking decisions by consensus (the ‘consensus clause’), and a clause providing
that the Committee is to examine the application of the rules within three years after adoption of the amendments
(the ‘review clause’). The consensus clause codifies the existing practice within the Committee and the review clause
clarifies the intention to reassess the Rules of Procedure no later than three years after the adoption of the
amendments thereto.
(7) On 13 February 2025, the Secretariat of the Committee shared with the Parties the ‘revised Proposal of the Chair of
the Committee of the Parties for the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Parties to the
Istanbul Convention’ set out in document IC-CP(2025)1 prov (the ‘envisaged act’). The Secretariat invited the Parties
to approve the envisaged act through a written procedure and further communicated that, unless objections were
submitted in writing to the Secretariat by 30 April 2025, the envisaged act would be deemed adopted.
(8) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf, as the amendments to the Rules of
Procedure will be legally binding on the Union.
(9) The adoption of the envisaged act would result in the current voting rules essentially continuing to apply, with the
Union having one vote in addition to the votes of those Member States which are Parties. The addition of the
consensus clause and the review clause should be acceptable to the Union.
(10) As regards Rule 2.2.b., listing the participants which are not members of the Committee, the reference to the Union
should be deleted because it has become obsolete.
(11) The Union’s position should therefore be to not object to the adoption of the envisaged act.
(12) The position of the Union on the envisaged act should be without prejudice to future positions concerning rules of
procedure in relation to other Council of Europe conventions or Union agreements with third countries or
international organisations.
(13) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect
of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and without prejudice to Article 4 of that Protocol, Ireland is not taking part in
the adoption of this Council Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.
(14) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on
European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the
adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Committee of the Parties established under Article 67 of the
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the
‘Committee’), with regard to the adoption of amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, shall be to not object
to the adoption of the revised Proposal of the Chair of the Committee for the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the
Committee set out in document IC-CP(2025)1 prov.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 28 April 2025.
For the Council
The President
A. SZŁAPKA
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/818/oj