Following the military coup in 1967 that installed the ‘Greek colonels’ regime’, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe decides to recommend to the Committee of Ministers, at the latest in the spring of 1969, that Greece should be suspended or expelled from the Council of Europe if, by then, an acceptable parliamentary democracy has not been restored in that country.

In this text, adopted on 30 January 1969, the Consultative Assembly, bearing in mind that the present Greek regime is in serious breach of the conditions for membership of the Council of Europe set out in Article 3 of the Statute, declares that Greece should consider its withdrawal in accordance with Article 7 and recommends that the Committee of Ministers take the appropriate measures laid down in Article 8 of the Statute.

Having had interstate applications from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands against Greece lodged with it in September 1967, the European Commission for Human Rights transmits in November 1969 a report to the Committee of Ministers on the violation by the Greek Government of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Agreeing with the opinion of the Commission, and despite the denunciation of the Convention by Greece, the Committee of Ministers decides on 15 April 1970 that the respondent Government has violated the Convention.

Resolution (70) 34 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, dated 27 November 1970, on the legal and financial consequences of the withdrawal of Greece from the organisation. The Government of Greece having notified the withdrawal on 12 December 1969, it takes effect on 31 December 1970.

In this memorandum dated 14 October 1974, the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, having regard to the readmission of Greece to the organisation, recalls the stages of the procedure of admission to be followed by the organs of the Council of Europe, and examines the legal consequences of such an admission, in particular Greece's position in respect of the conventions and agreements concluded before its withdrawal.

In 1974, following the decision of the Greek Government to hold free elections by universal suffrage after the fall of the ‘Greek colonels’ regime’, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe envisages inviting Greece to resume its place in the organisation and instructs the Secretary-General to submit a report that includes a draft invitation.

On 28 November 1974, given the favourable opinion delivered by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers resolves to invite Greece to rejoin the organisation.