At a challenging time both for the continent and the Council of Europe, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Egils Levits, the President of Latvia, for an exchange on the upcoming Latvian Presidency. She welcomed Latvia’s determination to reinforce democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe, including the implementation of the Court’s judgments, and underlined the important role the Latvian Presidency will have in implementing the outcome of the Heads of State and Government Summit in May.
The Council’s support to Ukraine through the new action plan, an effective system of accountability and an international register of damage was also at the centre of the meeting; the Secretary General acknowledged Latvia’s significant role in hosting and assisting Ukrainian refugees. In addition, the Secretary General and the President discussed the work of the Belarus-Council of Europe contact group, the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
