The Council of Europe is the continent's oldest political organisation and is based in Strasbourg, France. Founded in 1949, its creation was partly inspired by a historical speech by Winston Churchill, which called for greater co-operation amongst European countries. The UK is a founding member of the organisation. The Council groups together 47 countries, and has granted observer status to the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico and the Holy See. Belarus is the only European country not currently a member, although they have applied to join.

The Council was set up to defend human rights, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, develop continent-wide agreements to standardise member countries' social and legal practices and promote awareness of a European identity based on shared values and cutting across different cultures. Council of Europe membership expanded rapidly following the collapse of communism to take in the new democracies of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Much of the Council's work involves assisting these countries with legislative and political reforms, for example through the work of the Venice Commission, in order to build democratic stability and improve human rights' protection.