Secretary General Marija Pejčinović-Burić met Carlo Monticelli on his first official visit as Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) to discuss the strategic partnership to promote social inclusion in Europe. The CEB was established in 1956 by eight member states of the Council of Europe on the basis of a partial agreement in order to bring solutions to the problems of refugees. It remains the only European financial institution with an exclusively social mandate and promotes the values and principles of the Council of Europe - human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - through its financial activities.
The promotion and protection of social rights throughout Europe, in line with the European Social Charter, has been fundamental to the Council of Europe’s work since the 1960s. Through its lending activities the CEB supports member countries in putting these rights into practice.
“The values of the Council of Europe are firmly built into the CEB’s mandate and they are reflected in every project that the CEB finances,” Governor Monticelli emphasised. “Our projects are focused on safeguarding the right to education, vocational training, decent work, and housing, especially for the most vulnerable. With the social sector currently under acute strain, our privileged partnership with the Council of Europe and our common goal of strengthening social cohesion across Europe has never been more important.”
“The Council of Europe Development Bank promotes our values and principles, as well as enhancing social cohesion through its lending activity. It is one of the priorities of my mandate to strengthen social rights through the reform of the Social Charter. The Bank plays an important role in improving the conditions of the most disadvantaged population groups, within the overall framework of our Organisation”, highlighted Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić..
