Council of Europe
Organizations
in wich Poland participates or participated

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is the continent's oldest political organisation, founded in 1949. It groups together 46 countries, including 21 countries from Central and Eastern Europe. It has granted observer status to five countries (the Holy See, the United States, Canada, Japan and Mexico). It is distinct from the 25-nation European Union, but no country has ever joined the Union without first belonging to the Council of Europe. Its headquarters are in Strasbourg.

Members
Upon foundation on May 5, 1949 there were ten members: Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom. Members with later admission dates (sorted by year of admission):
1949   Greece, Turkey
1950   Iceland, Germany
1956   Austria 
1961   Cyprus
1963   Switzerland
1965   Malta
1976   Portugal
1977   Spain
1978   Liechtenstein
1988   San Marino
1989   Finland
1990   Hungary
1991   Poland
1992   Bulgaria
1993   Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia,
           Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania,
1994   Andorra
1995   Latvia, Albania, Moldova,
           Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine
1996   Russia, Croatia
1999   Georgia
2001   Armenia, Azerbaijan
2002   Bosnia and Herzegovina
2003   Serbia
2004   Monaco
2007   Montenegro
More information in English

Polonica stamps:
Albania 2009, 02 XI
France 2011, 09 IX
Ireland 1999, 29 IV
Switzerland 1999, 05 V