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Supranational · Europe

AI regulation in the Council of Europe

Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026 · reviewed by Bhaskar Bhatt (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review or legal advice)
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— a named reviewer opened the official source and confirmed the record; the date and the reviewer are shown.
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— linked to the official source and in the queue for a reviewer to confirm.
Source-linked
— linked to the official source, not yet confirmed by a reviewer.
Verification policy and current standing · a factual check, not legal advice.
Download: JSON · Markdown2 instruments · 1 binding
On this page 9 sections

In brief

The Council of Europe has 2 recorded AI policy instruments, 1 of them binding. Framework Convention adopted and open for signature; entry into force depends on ratifications; HUDERIA methodology adopted. Regulators include Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI).

Type
Supranational
Region
Europe
Instruments recorded
2
Binding instruments
1
In force
0
Regulators
Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI)
Updates and RSS
AI policy updates for CoE
Verification
Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026

Overview

The Council of Europe adopted the first legally binding international treaty on AI, the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225), on 17 May 2024; it opened for signature in Vilnius on 5 September 2024 and has been signed by the EU, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Israel and others. It requires parties to adopt measures so that AI activities are consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law, using a risk- and impact-based approach, and is supplemented by the HUDERIA risk and impact assessment methodology (2024).

What is the current regulatory status?

Framework Convention adopted and open for signature; entry into force depends on ratifications; HUDERIA methodology adopted.

Binding rules versus guidance

Binding: Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225). Strategy or guidance: HUDERIA risk and impact assessment methodology.

Key policy instruments

Council of Europe Act / statute Adopted Binding

Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225)

Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225)

The first international treaty on AI. Parties must adopt or maintain measures so that activities within the lifecycle of AI systems are consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law, covering public authorities and actors on their behalf and, by choice of approach, private actors. It sets principles (human dignity and autonomy, transparency and oversight, accountability, equality and non-discrimination, privacy, reliability, safe innovation), requires remedies, procedural safeguards and risk and impact assessment, allows moratoria or bans for incompatible uses, and creates a Conference of the Parties for follow-up. National-security activities and defence are excluded.

Adopted 17 May 2024 Verified (reviewed by Bhaskar Bhatt; a factual check against the official source, not a legal review) Official source
Council of Europe Framework Guidance

HUDERIA risk and impact assessment methodology

Methodology for the Risk and Impact Assessment of Artificial Intelligence Systems from the Point of View of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (HUDERIA)

Adopted by the CAI in November 2024, HUDERIA is a structured methodology for assessing risks and impacts of AI systems on human rights, democracy and the rule of law across the lifecycle: context-based risk analysis, stakeholder engagement, risk and impact assessment, and mitigation planning with iterative review. It supports implementation of the Framework Convention and can be used by public and private organisations.

Adopted 28 Nov 2024 Verified (reviewed by Bhaskar Bhatt; a factual check against the official source, not a legal review) Official source

Instruments at a glance

Native-language names are shown where the record carries one; a blank means the source is in English or the name is not yet recorded.

AI policy instruments recorded for Council of Europe
InstrumentTypeStatusBindingKey dateSource
Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225) Act / statute Adopted Binding Official
HUDERIA risk and impact assessment methodology Framework Guidance Voluntary Official

Timeline

Every dated event on the recorded instruments: publication, adoption, entry into force, application and deadlines. Future dates are marked.

  1. · Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225) adopted
  2. · Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225) published
  3. · HUDERIA risk and impact assessment methodology adopted

No future deadlines are recorded for CoE; past milestones are listed on each policy page. New dates reach the calendar feed: CoE feed · how it works

Latest changes

All updates for CoE · RSS

All updates for CoE · RSS · Updates hub

Applicable sectors, use cases and obligation areas

Obligation areas

How to use this information

  1. Use the Convention to anticipate obligations that signatory states will implement through national law; it binds states, not companies directly.
  2. Open the treaty office page to check current signatures and ratifications before citing entry into force.
  3. Use HUDERIA as a reference methodology for human-rights impact assessment of AI systems.

Official government and regulator sources

  1. Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225)
    Council of Europe · 2024-05-17 · Tier 1 source
  2. The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence
    Council of Europe · Tier 1 source

Cite this record

AIPolicyTracker (2026). “AI regulation in Council of Europe”. https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/council-of-europe (accessed 27 October 2026). Data licensed CC BY 4.0.

BibTeX 
@misc{aipolicytracker2026_airegulationincouncilofe,
  author       = {{AIPolicyTracker}},
  title        = {{AI regulation in Council of Europe}},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/council-of-europe}},
  url          = {https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/council-of-europe},
  urldate      = {2026-10-27},
  note         = {Data licensed CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026}
}

Frequently asked questions

Is the Council of Europe AI Convention binding on companies?

It binds the states (and the EU) that ratify it; they must implement its principles through domestic measures. Companies feel it through national law, including the EU AI Act which the EU treats as its implementation.

Does the Council of Europe have an AI law?

Binding instruments are recorded but not yet in force: Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225).

Who regulates AI in the Council of Europe?

Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI) (Negotiated the Convention and follow-up instruments).

What is the status of AI regulation in the Council of Europe?

Framework Convention adopted and open for signature; entry into force depends on ratifications; HUDERIA methodology adopted.

What is binding and what is only guidance in the Council of Europe?

Binding: Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225). Strategy or guidance: HUDERIA risk and impact assessment methodology.

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Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.