Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI

The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law is a Council of Europe treaty (CETS No. 225). It is the first binding multilateral AI treaty framed around those three pillars.

Article 1(1) states the Convention’s aim for activities within the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems.

The Treaty Office chart of signatures and ratifications, status as of 20 July 2026, records 20 signatures not followed by ratification and 1 ratification/accession: the European Union, which signed on 5 September 2024 and ratified on 15 May 2026. The Convention is therefore not yet in force.

As a treaty, domestic effect depends on signature, ratification and implementing measures. Aim language is not itself an entry-into-force finding.

Article 30(3) requires five consenting parties, including at least three Council of Europe member States, before the Convention enters into force on the first day of the month following three months after that threshold is met. With one ratification as of 20 July 2026, the five-party condition is unmet.

• Aim · AI lifecycle activities consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Art. 1(1)).
• Entry into force · five parties including ≥3 CoE member States, then three-month wait (Art. 30(3)).
• Treaty Office as of 20 July 2026 · 20 signatures without ratification; 1 ratification (EU, 15 May 2026); not in force.
• National implementing measures still required for many duties once in force among Parties.

Signature is not consent to be bound. Article 1(1) states the Convention’s aim; it does not place the treaty in force. Later Treaty Office updates may add ratifications; until five parties including at least three CoE member States consent to be bound, Article 30(3)’s entry-into-force rule remains unmet.

The following actors are linked to this vehicle in the graph. Their presence here records institutional role on the page, not an independent finding that each actor has completed a compliance duty.

• Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence (international-organisation): Council of Europe body that drafted the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (CETS No. 225).

Each block below is an explicit evidence row: a claim that points to one supporting passage. Read the quote and locator before treating the paraphrase as settled.

• CoE Framework Convention aims to keep AI consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The provision sets the treaty’s purpose. Domestic effect still depends on signature, ratification and implementing measures. Operational note: It is the first binding multilateral AI treaty framed around human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
• CoE Framework Convention sets a five-party entry-into-force rule. The clause defines when the treaty becomes binding among Parties. It does not by itself prove the threshold has been met. Operational note: It separates signature theatre from legal entry into force.

Dated events attached to this vehicle. Each entry is a graph event with its own update page when present.

• 2024-09-05 · publication · CoE Framework Convention on AI opened for signature. Opening for signature starts the accession path; entry into force still requires the Article 30 threshold. Consequence recorded: Created the first binding multilateral AI human-rights treaty text.

A vehicle is an instrument. Asks are the outcomes the instrument is treated as advancing in the AI Tribune graph.

• Sign and ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence Status: proposed. Express consent to be bound by CETS No. 225 so the Convention’s human-rights, democracy and rule-of-law duties apply to the Party.

These documents are the originals behind the evidence rows. Prefer the document text over secondary paraphrase when the two diverge.

• Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (CETS No. 225) (Treaty, 2024-09-05). Binding multilateral treaty text opened for signature in Vilnius on 5 September 2024.