The Council of Europe will decide on Wednesday whether to revoke the diplomatic immunity of Thorbjørn Jagland, former Secretary General from 2009 to 2019, in response to a request by Norway’s Økokrim for an investigation into potential corruption. This decision rests with the Committee of Ministers, composed of the permanent ambassadors from member states, who act under the instructions of their respective governments.

Økokrim has been unable to conduct an investigation against Jagland due to the protections afforded under international law, specifically the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe, which Norway is a party to. The agency's chief, Pål Lønseth, emphasized this limitation in his communications, indicating that without the lifting of Jagland's immunity, they cannot take any legal actions against him.

The situation places Jagland in a complex position as the statute of limitations for serious corruption is set at ten years. This implies that the window for potential prosecution is narrowing, increasing the urgency for Europarådet’s administrative bodies to deliberate responsibly and transparently on the matter of immunity, which could impact the integrity of their institution and set a precedent for accountability for former high-ranking officials.