The North-South Centre was the outcome of a process started in 1984, when the Portuguese Parliament hosted a conference held by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly on “North-South: Europe’s role”. The Lisbon Declaration adopted broached the idea of a European public campaign on North-South interdependence and solidarity. The Centre has a twofold task: to provide a framework for European cooperation designed to heighten public awareness of global interdependence issues, and to promote policies of solidarity complying with the Council of Europe’s aims and principles - respect for human rights, democracy and social cohesion.

In its policy line of actions, it gives priority to youth (particularly from Africa and the Mediterranean basin), education, intercultural dialogue and migrations.