Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 47 member states will hold their annual session by videoconference on Friday 21 May 2021.
Chaired from Hamburg by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the meeting will provide an opportunity for ministers to take important decisions for the Organisation’s future based on several reports and work on the Strategic Framework of the Council of Europe in the coming four years, its work on human rights and artificial intelligence, the Organisation’s monitoring, including the European Social Charter, and co-operation with the European Union.
Other issues on the agenda include the annual report on the State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Organisation’s role in solving conflicts and crises in Europe, and securing the long-term effectiveness of the system of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the efficiency of the process of the supervision of the Court’s judgments.
The Federal President of Germany, Franck-Walter Steinmeier, will speak at the opening of the meeting. At the end of the ministerial session, Germany will hand over the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers to Hungary. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó will present the priorities of his country’s chairmanship. The opening and closing of the meeting can be followed live from 8.50 to 9.10 a.m. and from 12 to 12.30 p.m.: link to livestreaming.
Press release
Foreign ministers discuss the situation of democracy and human rights in Europe
Hamburg Ministerial Session Press Conference: Remarks by the Secretary General, Council of Europe
