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.

Supranational · Europe

AI regulation in Council of Europe

Source-linked · checked 11 Sep 2026 2 instruments · 1 binding

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 Source-linked · checked 11 Sep 2026 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 Source-linked · checked 11 Sep 2026 Official source

Upcoming deadlines

No scheduled future dates recorded. Past milestones are listed on each policy page.

Latest changes

17 May 2024 Council of Europe High Adopted

Council of Europe adopts the first binding international treaty on AI

Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225) Framework Convention on AI (CETS No. 225) Source-linked

Applicable sectors, use cases and obligation areas

Use cases: AI in public services
Sectors: Cross-sector / all sectors Public services and government
Obligation areas

How to use this information

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

Official government and regulator sources

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
The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence
Council of Europe · Tier 1 source

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.

Informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult qualified counsel before acting.