As delivered

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you all.

And, in particular, to welcome the individuals who make the Council  of Europe Administrative Tribunal such a success:

Christos Rozakis, the Chair, and Giorgio Malinverni, his Deputy – I would like to congratulate both on their reappointment at the end of the month.

The Tribunal’s judges: Jean Waline and Rocco Antonio Cangelosi. I should also thank Judge Waline ahead of his departure, and Judge Cangelosi who will continue to provide his services to the Tribunal as a deputy judge.

I welcome newly appointed judges Mrs Mireille Heers and Mr Omer Faruk Ates, as well as Mrs Lenia Samuel, a deputy judge appointed just yesterday.

I want to praise the contribution of the Deputy Judges, the Registrar Mr Sergio Sansotta, and the support staff.

And, finally, I would like to commend the Tribunal more broadly for the recent agreement signed with the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine.

Now the Tribunal will not only work with Europe’s oldest intergovernmental organisation, the Council of Europe but also the world’s oldest international organisation still in existence, founded in the aftermath of the Napoloenic Wars, to protect European Trade by guaranteeing safe passage through the Rhine.

It seems the Tribunal has reached 50 and decided to branch out – and we wish it every success.

Fifty years ago the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe had the foresight to abolish the arbitration system and establish a new scheme for reviewing administrative decisions.

The Tribunal was born.

Nowadays bodies of this kind are the norm for international organisations, and an essential part of the legal landscape.

Administrative Tribunals provide justice in disputes between international civil servants and their very special employers.

They are often referred to as “guardians of the rule of law” – which makes this one particularly special.

Because if the Council of Europe is here to defend the rule of law throughout Europe, then you are the watchdog’s watchdog!

And rightly so.

The Council of Europe, with our European Court of Human Rights and our European Social Charter protects rights across the Continent.

We are the last point of appeal for 800 million people.

How can we do that if we do not treat our own staff with the utmost respect?

How can I travel around Europe – around the world – calling on others to behave decently to one and other, including in the workplace, if we do not lead by example?

And all at a time of shrinking budgets.

As our member States continue to rein in national spending.

And we are expected to reform our Organisation, to show better value for money, while still being a leading employer.

It is a challenge, but we do our best.

We endeavour to follow fair and clear procedures in all decisions relating to staff…

While meeting the expectations of our member States and the strategic needs of our Organisation.

I am grateful to the Tribunal for keeping these various pressures in mind as it prepares its decisions.

We are not immune to developments in European and global employment; the new realities of career progression; changing contractual situations.

Sometimes we make mistakes but we set very high standards and we appreciate very much the input of the Tribunal in ensuring that the rules and procedures have been fully-followed.

We have a highly-qualified and highly-motivated workforce, supported by an active and vigilant Staff Committee.

Coming from Norway, where robust yet constructive dialogue with trade unions has long been the norm, I welcome this energetic exchange.

Long may it continue – and long may the Tribunal conduct its duties with such professionalism and success.

Thank you very much.