Treaties and MoU's

Summary: This new landmark treaty of the Council of Europe opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. Signed: 11/09/2012 Sanctioned and promulgated: 29/11/2013 International ratification: 14/03/2016 Entry into force: 01/07/2016 pdf file1017_Akte in het Engels.pdf (268 KB) pdf file1017_Decreet.pdf (32 KB)

Summary: Framework convention of Faro on the value of cultural heritage for the society Signed: 25/06/2012 Sanctioned and promulgated: 14/02/2014 pdf file1001_Akte in het Engels.pdf (156 KB) pdf file1001_Decreet.pdf (34 KB)

Summary: This Optional Protocol allows for alleged violations of the rights of children to be communicated directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee is a group of 18 international children’s rights experts established under the UNCRC who report to the UN General Assembly Signed: 28/02/2012 Sanctioned and promulgated: 14/12/2012 International ratification: 30/05/2014 Entry into force: 30/08/2014 pdf file980_Akte in het Engels.pdf (1.07 MB) pdf file980_Decreet.pdf (37 KB)

Summary: This treaty allows the Parties to develop, on common foundations and respecting the basic rights of tax-payers, extensive administrative co-operation covering all compulsory taxes, with the exception of customs duty. Signed: 07/02/1992 Sanctioned and promulgated: 26/10/2012 Entry into force: 01/12/2000 pdf file967_Akte in het Engels.pdf (141 KB) pdf file967_Decreet.pdf (41 KB)

Summary: The Convention was amended to respond to the call of the G20 to align it to the international standard on exchange of information on request and to open it to all countries, in particular to ensure that developing countries could benefit from the new more transparent environment. Signed: 04/04/2011 Sanctioned and promulgated: 26/10/2012 International ratification: 08/12/2014 Entry into force: 01/04/2015 pdf file949_Akte in het Engels.pdf (161 KB) pdf file949_Decreet.pdf (41 KB)

Summary: The main purpose of the Convention is to reinforce and promote policies for the conservation and enhancement of Europe's heritage. Signed: 21/10/1985 International ratification: 17/09/1992 Entry into force: 01/01/1993 pdf file882_Agreement in English.pdf (124 KB)  

Summary: Protocol No. 3 to the Madrid Convention provides for the legal status, establishment and operation of “Euroregional Cooperation Groupings”. Composed of local authorities and other public bodies from the Contracting Parties, the aim of a grouping is for transfrontier and interterritorial co-operation to be put into practice for its members, within the scope of their competences and prerogatives. Signed: 16/11/2009 Sanctioned and promulgated: 04/05/2012 pdf file852_Agreement in English.pdf (247 KB) pdf file852_Decreet.pdf (41 KB)

Summary: The Additional Protocol adds a new dimension to the European Charter by providing an international legal guarantee of the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority. The right to participate in the affairs of a local authority denotes the right to seek to determine or to influence the exercise of a local authority's powers and responsibilities. Signed: 16/11/2009 Sanctioned and promulgated: 15/07/2011 pdf file851_Agreement in English.pdf (190 KB) pdf file851_Decreet.pdf (33 KB)

Summary: This Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities. Signed: 18/06/2009 Sanctioned and promulgated: 22/02/2013 pdf file840_Agreement in English.pdf (243 KB) pdf file840_Decreet.pdf (25 KB)  

Summary: The aim of the Convention is to take account of social and legal developments while keeping to the European Convention on Human Rights and bearing in mind that the child’s best interests must always take precedence over any other considerations. Signed: 01/12/2008 Sanctioned and promulgated: 14/03/2014 International ratification: 07/05/2015 Entry into force: 01/09/2015 pdf file816_Agreement in English.pdf (1.02 MB) pdf file816_Decreet.pdf (31 KB)

Summary:  This Convention is the first instrument to establish the various forms of sexual abuse of children as criminal offences, including such abuse committed in the home or family, with the use of force, coercion or threats. Signed: 25/10/2007 Sanctioned and promulgated: 12/02/2010 International ratification: 08/03/2013 Entry into force: 01/07/2013 pdf file781_Text of the agreement in English.pdf (186 KB) pdf file781_Agreement in English.pdf (1.82 MB) pdf file781_Decreet.pdf (98 KB)      

Summary: The Convention applies to all remains and objects, or any other traces of human existence, which bear witness to epochs and civilisations for which excavations and discoveries are the main source, or one of the main sources, of scientific information. Signed: 06/05/1969 International ratification: 02/12/1969 Entry into force: 20/11/1970 Denunciation: 08/10/2010 Termination: 09/04/2011 pdf file707_Agreement in English.pdf (180 KB)  

Summary: The Convention on aimed at 18-25 year olds wishing to perform voluntary service abroad for periods of 3 to 12 months. The text prepares the ground for providing young volunteers in Europe with a proper legal status. Signed: 25/08/2004 pdf file704_Agreement in English.pdf (132 KB)  

Summary: Protocol No. 7 extends the list of rights protected under the Convention and its Protocols Nos. 1, 4 and 6: Signed: 11/05/2005 Sanctioned and promulgated: 21/12/2007 International ratification: 13/04/2012 Entry into force: 01/07/2012 pdf file653_Agreement in English.pdf (95 KB) pdf file653_Decreet.pdf (71 KB)  

Summary: The Convention is a comprehensive treaty mainly focused on the protection of victims of trafficking and the safeguard of their rights. It also aims at preventing trafficking as well as prosecuting traffickers. Signed: 17/11/2005 Sanctioned and promulgated: 16/05/2008 International ratification: 27/04/2009 Entry into force: 01/08/2009 pdf file651_Agreement in English.pdf (196 KB) pdf file651_Decreet.pdf (71 KB)    

Summary: The Convention stipulates that degrees and periods of study must be recognised unless substantial differences can be proved by the institution that is charged with recognition. (Lisbon Recognition Convention LRC) Signed: 07/03/2005 Sanctioned and promulgated: 15/12/2006 International ratification: 22/07/2009 Entry into force: 01/09/2009 pdf file642_Agreement in English.pdf (163 KB) pdf file642_Decreet.pdf (75 KB)    

Summary: The Convention is intended to encourage and facilitate the conclusion of cross-border agreements between local and regional authorities within the scope of their respective powers.

Summary: The Protocol aims to strengthen interterritorial cooperation between European countries. It follows the Council of Europe's declaration at the Vienna 1993 summit to build a tolerant and prosperous Europe through transfrontier cooperation. Signed: 02/03/2004 Sanctioned and promulgated: 21/12/2007 International ratification: 12/06/2009 Entry into force: 13/09/2009 pdf file598_Agreement in English.pdf (484 KB) pdf file598_Decreet.pdf (80 KB)    

Summary:  It is the first legally binding multilateral instrument devoted to the protection of national minorities worldwide. Signed: 31/07/2001 pdf file508_Agreement in English.pdf (409 KB)

Summary: The new text makes the conservation and enhancement of the archaeological heritage one of the goals of urban and regional planning policies. It is concerned in particular with arrangements to be made for co-operation among archaeologists and town and regional planners in order to ensure optimum conservation of archaeological heritage. Signed: 30/01/2002 Sanctioned and promulgated: 11/06/2010 International ratification: 08/10/2010 Entry into force: 09/04/2011 pdf file471_Agreement in English.pdf (144 KB) pdf file471_Decreet.pdf (97 KB)