Framework Convention
Council of Europe Convention on AI, human rights, democracy, rule of law.
How the laws define this
Both characterizations present the agreement as an international treaty that establishes foundational obligations and general principles for artificial intelligence governance. They align in viewing the treaty as a binding standard for participating parties, requiring structured oversight for AI systems. However, the instruments differ significantly in how they describe the structure, scope, and execution of these commitments. Council Decision (EU) 2024/2218 focuses on formal milestones—citing adoption by the Committee of Ministers on 17 May 2024 and opening for signature on 5 September 2024—while detailing specific substantive obligations regarding fundamental-rights protections, transparency, accountability, and international cooperation. In contrast, the text of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI, Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law highlights domestic implementation, emphasizing that signatory states put these general principles into effect through national legislation adapted to local contexts, offering a flexible framework rather than detailed prescriptive rules.
Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
Definitions (2)
The Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 17 May 2024 and opened for signature on 5 September 2024, which establishes baseline obligations for Parties on AI governance, fundamental-rights protections, transparency, accountability and international cooperation.
An international treaty establishing general principles and obligations that signatory states implement through domestic legislation adapted to national contexts, providing a flexible framework rather than detailed prescriptive rules for AI governance.
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