Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Logo of the Council of Europe
Incumbent Alain Berset since 18 September 2024
Appointer	Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Term length	Five years
Inaugural holder	Jacques Camille Paris
Formation	1949
Deputy	Bjørn Berge
Website	coe.int/t/secretarygeneral

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Judiciary European Court of Human Rights President: Robert Spano Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
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The Secretary General of the Council of Europe (French: Secrétaire général du Conseil de l'Europe) is elected by the Parliamentary Assembly from a shortlist proposed by the Committee of Ministers for a term of five years.

The secretary general is entrusted with the responsibility of meeting the aim for which the Council of Europe was set up in London on 5 May 1949, namely to achieve greater unity between its Member States for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress.

Although the Secretary General's powers are not clearly defined, in practice the holder has overall responsibility for the strategic management of the Council of Europe's work programme and budget and oversees the day-to-day running of the Organisation and Secretariat.