On March 11, 2026, the European Parliament voted to approve the EU’s conclusion of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS 225), with 455 votes in favour, 101 against, and 74 abstentions. The Convention, adopted by the Committee of Ministers in May 2024 and opened for signature in Vilnius in September 2024, is the first-ever legally binding international treaty on AI. It requires signatory states to align their AI governance with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, to conduct risk assessments of AI systems, and to ensure transparency and accountability in AI deployment. The Convention enters into force after five signatories, including at least three Council of Europe member states, have ratified. Current signatories include the EU, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Canada, Israel, and the United States.
Who it affects: All Council of Europe member states that ratify the Convention must reform their domestic AI governance frameworks accordingly. Within the EU, implementation is delegated primarily to the AI Act and related legislation. For non-EU signatories — the UK, Canada, the US — the Convention creates international obligations independent of the EU framework.
What is notably missing: The Convention does not mandate AI literacy or workforce training for citizens or employees; it addresses state obligations in AI governance rather than individual rights to knowledge or training. Entry into force requires ratification by five parties; no ratifications beyond signatures are confirmed as of March 2026. The Convention’s application to private-sector actors is mediated through national legislation, meaning its practical reach depends on how each signatory state chooses to implement it.