Unlike the
EU, the Council of Europe cannot make binding
law, but it does have the power to adopt treaties
and agreements and monitor their enforcement.
Among the most important of its agreements are:
• 1950 European Convention on Human
Rights;
• 1954 European Cultural Convention;
• 1961 European Social Charter;
• 1987 European Convention on the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment and Punishment;
• 1995 Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities;
• 1997 Convention on Human Rights and
Biomedicine.