What is happening
On 29 May, the European Commission proposed that the Council set the EU position for the Istanbul ConventionThe Council of Europe convention establishing rules to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence.’s Committee of the PartiesThe Convention body made up of representatives of its parties. It adopts recommendations and follow-up conclusions and elects GREVIO members. at its 20th meeting on 2 June 2026. The proposed position would have the EU not object to nine draft conclusions concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Romania and Switzerland, and abstain when five GREVIOAn independent group of 15 experts that monitors how parties implement the Istanbul Convention on a country-by-country basis. members are elected. The document is a Commission proposal for a Council decision.21
The EU signed the Convention in June 2017, completed its accession by depositing two approval documents on 28 June 2023 and became a party on 1 October 2023. This proposal covers the field where the EU alone can accept Convention obligations concerning its institutions and public administration.2
The Convention’s monitoring system combines GREVIO, an independent expert body, with the Committee of the Parties. Following a GREVIO assessment, the committee can make recommendations and require a report after three years on measures identified for prompt action. It then adopts follow-up conclusions. The nine drafts include points on shelters in Georgia, coordination among relevant actors in Germany and funding for specialist support organisations in Switzerland.2
Why it matters
The Commission says the nine drafts align with EU policies and objectives and raise no concerns under EU law; it therefore proposed that the EU not object. The Commission also treats the conclusions and the proposed election abstention as acts having legal effects because they may affect how relevant Convention provisions are interpreted in future EU law.2
GREVIO has 15 members who monitor implementation country by country. Five members were due to be elected for terms running from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030. There were 15 candidates nominated by 13 parties, including 11 EU member states. The EU was due to have five votes in the first round, but the Commission proposed abstention.2
What happens next
The Commission asked the Council to adopt the EU position using Article 218(9) TFEUA treaty provision used to establish the EU’s position in a body created by an international agreement when that body is due to adopt acts having legal effects., a treaty route for setting EU positions in international bodies when they are due to adopt acts having legal effects. The committee meeting and votes were scheduled for 2 June 2026. The available official record does not establish whether the Council adopted the position or what the committee decided.21