Published on 21 April 1959 in the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir to mark the tenth anniversary of the Council of Europe, this article describes how the organisation was founded under the patronage of eminent European political figures. After emphasising the influence of the Consultative Assembly in promoting the European idea and the work of the Committee of Ministers in drafting conventions, the article’s author gives the European Convention on Human Rights a special mention as the most remarkable achievement of the Council of Europe.