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News 1173rd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (11-12 June 2013) [12/06/2013] On 11-12 June 2013, at their 1173rd meeting, the Ministers' Deputies held a thematic debate on “The role of human rights defenders and the Council of Europe's interaction with civil society”. During this meeting, they also adopted a Declaration on risks to fundamental rights stemming from digital tracking and other surveillance technologies. In this text, the Committee recalls in particular that tracking and surveillance measures by law enforcement authorities must comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and strictly respect the limits, requirements and safeguards set out in the Data Protection Convention 108 of the Council of Europe. In the field of the fight against corruption, the Committee took note of the general activity report for 2012 of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and held an exchange of views with Mr Marin Mrčela, President of GRECO. Regarding prevention of torture, the Committee elected members of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) in respect of Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Serbia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. These decisions as well as all decisions adopted by the Committee of Ministers during their 1173rd meeting are available in the meeting file. |
Presentation of the priorities of the Armenian chairmanship before the Permanent Council of the OSCE
[06/06/2013] Today, at the invitation of the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the OSCE, Mr Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, presented the priorities of the Armenian chairmanship before the Permanent Council of the OSCE.
Those priorities include promoting European values through intercultural dialogue; strengthening European standards on human rights and the rule of law; combating racism and xenophobia in Europe, fostering democratic societies; as well as reinforcing co-ordination and promoting synergies between pan-European organisations.
- Speech
- Chairmanship website
1171st meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (29 May 2013)
[30/05/2013] On the occasion of the Ministers' Deputies' 1171st meeting, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights presented his annual activity report for 2012 together with his 1st quarterly activity report for 2013.
The Deputies also examined the Secretary General’s 7th consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia, with the participation of Mr Davit Zalkaliani, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia.
The Deputies agreed to the request by the Kingdom of Morocco for observer status with the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), as well as to the request of the Republic of Colombia to be invited to accede to the Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185).
Finally, the Deputies held an exchange of views with Ms Liesbeth Lijnzaad, the Chair of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI).
- Meeting file
Ministerial
Session: democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Europe - strenghthening
the Council of Europe's impact[16/05/2013] The 123rd session of the Committee of Ministers was held today in Strasbourg with Gilbert Saboya Sunyé, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Andorra, in the Chair. At the end of the meeting, the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers was passed by Andorra to Armenia.
The Ministers’ discussions chiefly revolved around a report by the Secretary General on strengthening the impact of the actions undertaken by the Council of Europe concerning democracy, human rights and rule of law. They encouraged the Secretary General to continue his efforts to optimise the functioning and co-ordination of the Organisation’s monitoring mechanisms while taking care that better use was made of the conclusions drawn from the monitoring actions. For that purpose, the Ministers invited the Secretary General to present them regularly with a situation report on democracy, human rights and rule of law in Europe founded on the conclusions of the monitoring mechanisms, accompanied by definite proposals for action.
Co-operation with the European Union and Council of Europe policy towards neighbouring regions were also on the meeting agenda.
During the session, the Committee of Ministers also adopted Protocol No. 15 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Protocol will be opened for signature by member states on 24 June 2013.
Armenia will chair the Committee of Ministers for the next six months.
- Stocktaking of the Andorran Chairmanship
- Priorities of the Armenian Chairmanship
- Documentation
- Event file
- Photo gallery
1170th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies
[10/05/2013] At their 1170th meeting, the Ministers' Deputies continued to prepare the 123rd Ministerial Session that will take place in Strasbourg next week (16 May 2013). They also examined reports on the state of implementation of the commitments entered into by Armenia and Azerbaijan, prepared following the recent visits of a delegation of Ambassadors to those countries. The Deputies adopted two sets of decisions in this respect.
Concerning the long-standing issue of the obligation of Bosnia-Herzegovina to abide by the judgment of the Court in the case of Sejdić and Finci, the Deputies stressed that failure to reach a consensus and to amend the necessary legislation would not only amount to a manifest breach of obligations under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Convention but would also seriously undermine the legitimacy and the credibility of the country’s future elected bodies. They therefore strongly urged the authorities and political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach a consensus and to amend the Constitution and the electoral legislation to bring them in conformity with the Convention requirements with no further delay.
Amongst other decisions, the Deputies adopted a declaration welcoming the abolition of the death penalty in Maryland (USA).
- Meeting file
Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the abolition of the death penalty in Maryland (United States of America)
[07/05/2013] The Committee of Ministers congratulates the State of Maryland on its recent decision passing legislation abolishing the death penalty.
The Committee of Ministers encourages other US States to follow the positive example of the State of Maryland and to reinforce the growing trend in international law and national practices towards the abolition of the death penalty.
- The Council of Europe, a death penalty free area
Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the recent executions in Japan and in the United States of America
[30/04/2013] The Committee of Ministers deplores the executions which have recently taken place in Japan and in the United States of America, observer States to the Council of Europe.
These executions run counter to the growing trend against the death penalty at the international level as shown by the latest resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty adopted at the United Nations.
When granted the observer status to the Council of Europe, States have committed themselves to share Council of Europe values and to make a positive contribution to the work of the Organisation. The Committee of Ministers calls again on the Japanese and American authorities to put an end to this inhumane practice and to respect our values and principles.
The Committee of Ministers reiterates its unequivocal opposition to capital punishment in all places and in all circumstances. It remains determined to continue its efforts towards global abolition of this inhumane practice.
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Current Chairmanship Armenia 16 May-13 November 2013 |
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| The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe's decision-making body. It is composed of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 47 member states or their permanent representatives in Strasbourg (more...). | |||||||||
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Report
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Overview
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1. Who sits on the Committee of Ministers?
The Foreign Minister of each Council of Europe member state. List
of Foreign MinistersMember
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2. Who currently chairs the Committee
of Ministers (16 May-13 November 2013)? Armenia - Mr Edward Nalbandian, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chairmanship
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3. Who are the Ministers' Deputies? The Deputies, acting on behalf of the Ministers, conduct most of the day-to-day business of the Committee of Ministers. List
of Permanent Representatives |
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4. Who currently chairs the Ministers'
Deputies (16 May-13 November 2013)? Mr Armen Papikyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia |
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5. What are the Deputies' subsidiary groups? These working groups help to prepare the meetings of the Deputies. List
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6. Who are the Observer states? Holy See, United States of America, Canada, Japan, Mexico |
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