Council of Europe urges respect for peaceful assembly amid European protests

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on member states to respect the right to peaceful assembly and prioritize de-escalation when maintaining public order. This intervention comes as major protests are expected in France, Albania, Italy, and Spain, driven by youth mobilization, concerns over purchasing power, and anti-government sentiment.

In France, authorities have imposed traffic bans and prohibited several scheduled demonstrations, planning a massive security deployment that includes soldiers. Italy has also deployed troops, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni approving a security decree that relaxes rules regarding the detention of minors.

O’Flaherty emphasized that while police intervention is legal to prevent looting and ensure safety, the use of force and deprivation of liberty must be governed by strict rules. He warned that force should be strictly necessary and that allegations of rights violations must be subject to rapid investigation, stating that deprivation of liberty must never be used to intimidate or deter peaceful protesters.