# Council of Europe AI Framework Convention (CETS 225)

**Type:** International treaty  
**Status:** In force (November 1, 2025)  
**Formal title:** Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law  
**Scope:** Civil AI applications (excludes national security, defense, and makes private sector obligations optional)  

## Overview

The first legally binding international AI treaty, adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on May 17, 2024, and entered into force on November 1, 2025, after five ratifications including three CoE member states.

## Key Provisions

**Scope exclusions:**
- National security activities: Complete exemption — parties not required to apply treaty provisions
- National defense: Explicitly excluded
- Research and development: Excluded except when testing may interfere with human rights, democracy, or rule of law
- Private sector: Opt-in obligations — parties may choose direct obligations or alternative measures

**Signatories:**
- EU Commission (signed)
- United States (signed September 2024 under Biden, ratification unlikely under Trump)
- UK, France, Norway (among ratifying states)
- China: Did not participate in negotiations

## Timeline

- **2024-05-17** — Adopted by Committee of Ministers
- **2024-09-05** — Opened for signature in Vilnius
- **2024-09** — United States signed under Biden administration
- **2025-11-01** — Entered into force after five ratifications
- **2026-03** — GPPi policy brief acknowledges challenges of building on treaty given structural scope limitations

## Civil Society Response

Organizations warned that failing to address private companies while providing broad national security exemptions would provide 'little meaningful protection to individuals who are increasingly subject to powerful AI systems prone to bias, human manipulation, and the destabilisation of democratic institutions.'

## Governance Architecture

Creates two-tier international AI governance:
- **Tier 1:** Civil AI applications (bound by treaty, minimal enforcement)
- **Tier 2:** Military, national security, frontier development, private sector (ungoverned internationally)

## Sources

- Council of Europe official documentation
- CETaS Turing Institute analysis
- GPPi policy brief (March 2026): "Anchoring Global AI Governance"
- Civil society critiques