On 24 February 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies marked the third anniversary of the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine with a meeting focused on Ukrainian civilians held prisoner by the authorities of the Russian Federation. In a series of decisions, the Deputies committed to continuing efforts to secure the release of Ukrainian civilians held captive and called for their immediate and unconditional release [more information …].
 
On 26 February, the Deputies heard an intervention, by videoconference, from Mr Denys Chystikov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, on the occasion of the Day of Resistance to Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, which began 11 years ago.
 
The Deputies held exchanges of views with:

• Ms Elisabeth Margue, Minister of Justice of Luxembourg on the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency on legal issues; and
• Ms Leonie Reynolds, Chair of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE).

 They also adopted the following texts:

• Guidelines, prepared by the Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), on strategies for the prosecution of violent extremism conducive to terrorism [more information …];
• a recommendation to member States, prepared by the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), regarding the promotion of the mental health of prisoners and probationers and the management of their mental disorders [more information …];
• a recommendation to member States, prepared by the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP), on the implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention – Landscape and Health, which emphasises the importance of integrating landscape quality into public health strategies and encourages governments to adopt guidelines that link landscape and health policies, promote sustainable practices, and foster community well-being through better landscape planning and management.

In addition, the Deputies conferred the Landscape Award for the 8^th Session (2022-2023) and took note of:

• the adoption by the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI) of the Methodology for the Risk and Impact Assessment of Artificial Intelligence Systems from the point of view of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (HUDERIA Methodology);
• Opinion No. 27 (2024) of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) on the disciplinary liability of judges [more information …];
• Opinion No. 19 (2024) of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) on managing prosecution services to ensure their independence and impartiality [more information …];
• a report, prepared by the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), on the need for and feasibility of a possible new Council of Europe instrument on smuggling of migrants;
• a study, prepared by the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), on the need for and feasibility of a further instrument or instruments in the field of human rights and the environment.

 The other items examined by the Deputies at their 1520^th meeting appear in the Agenda and the decisions adopted are available in the meeting file.