Presidency of Finland - News
France takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
The Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe passed today from Finland to France, after a meeting attended by 30 foreign affairs ministers from the Organisation’s member countries. Addressing the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chairman, Timo Soini, Minister for...
Ministers for Foreign Affairs to discuss role of Council of Europe as the Organisation turns 70
The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe’s 47 member States will hold their annual meeting on 16 and 17 May 2019 in Helsinki (Finland). On this occasion, the Ministers will be invited to take key decisions for the future of the Organisation which is currently facing a number of...
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, on the use of sign languages in Europe
“I welcome the support expressed today by the Committee of Ministers to the promotion and protection of sign languages in Europe”, stated Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland on 14 May. In a reply to the Parliamentary...
70th Anniversary of the Council of Europe
Joint statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier and the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Timo Soini
2019 Theme: Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation
World Press Freedom Day – 3 May 2019
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers
Addressing the Council of Europe crisis requires constructiveness from all parties, says Timo Soini
“Finding a solution to the current political and institutional crisis would require close co-operation with all member States and both statutory bodies – the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers. It is time to start consolidating the different views into one,” said Timo Soini,...
International Roma Day (8 April 2019)
Statement by Timo Soini, President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
“Tackling Gender Stereotypes and Sexism”: international conference in Helsinki
Gender stereotypes and sexism represent a serious limit to the achievement of substantive gender equality: equal rights for women and men in all spheres of public and private life. Gender stereotypes and sexism contribute to different forms of hate speech (on line and off-line) and discrimination...
5th anniversary of annexation of Crimea
Statement by Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
March 19 - Day of Equality in Finland
Statement by the Chair of the Ministers' Deputies
International Women’s Day (8 March)
Statement by Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Artificial Intelligence: Helsinki conference conclusions
AI should be developed in a human-centric manner to produce benefits for individuals and for societies
Helsinki Conference on Artificial Intelligence
A two-day High-Level Conference “Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human rights, democracy and the rule of law” opened in Helsinki today. ”New technology, the collection of massive amounts of data, and the use of information, has already changed the...
Council of Europe Secretary General, Finnish Foreign Minister and French Justice Minister to open Helsinki AI Conference
Council of Europe's Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Timo Soini and the Minister of Justice of France Nicole Belloubet will open the High-Level Conference: “Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human...
Committee of Ministers Presidency of Finland boosts Education and Training Paths of Youth Workers
“When high-quality youth work supports young people, civil society grows stronger and active citizenship is promoted. An active civil society is essential in building democracy”, stated Sampo Terho, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sports of Finland. Snežana Samardžić-Marković, Council...
Human rights should be incorporated into the development of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be harnessed for good purposes as well as discrimination. There is still time to influence the direction of development.
Protecting Rule of Law in Europe
A Conference on “How can we protect the rule of law in Europe” was held at the University of Tampere on 5th February as a part of Finland’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The event gathered together hundreds of participants to discuss about the ways of...
Data Protection Day
New guidelines on artificial intelligence
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Statement by the Finnish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
"Peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights", says Sauli Niinistö
“Human rights, democracy and the rule of law – the values the Council of Europe stands for – can only thrive in a state of peace. Maintaining the absence of war must be our highest priority. At the end of the day, peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights. Everything...
