The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Council of Europe member states hold the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the executive body of the Council of Europe, on a rotating basis in alphabetical order, for a six-month term.

As Slovenia has held the chairmanship of the European Union from January to June 2008, its chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers has been delayed in favour of Sweden, the next country on the list.

The Chairmanship was transferred from Slovakia to Sweden in Strasbourg on 7 May. Priorities for the Swedish Chairmanship Calendar of Major Events Report on the Swedish Chairmanship - Press release

FOCUS
Stockholm, 6-7 November - Human rights conference The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers Chair Sweden hosts a conference on 'Systematic Work for Human Rights Implementation,' on 6-7 November in Stockholm, to ensure that the reality within countries corresponds with regional and international human rights standards. Entitled 'Rights work!' the conference is organised in close cooperation with the Council of Europe. Conference speakers include: Ms Nyamko Sabuni, Swedish Minister of Integration and Gender Equality, Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation, Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights and Yavuz Mildon, President of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. (more ...) - Speech by Nyamko Sabuni - Speech by Rajeev Malhotra Strasbourg, 29-30 October - Conference on how to improve lives of people with disabilities Presidential elections in Azerbaijan: Statement by Carl Bildt Carl Bildt condemns the attacks in south-eastern Turkey on 3 October	Situation in Georgia The consequences of the conflict in Georgia On 19 November, the Committee of Ministers pursued its discussions on the consequences of the conflict in Georgia on the basis of the draft action plan proposed by the Swedish Chairmanship. It agreed to come back to this item on 24 November 2008. (more ...) [05.11.2008] Focus on conflict in Georgia [22.10.2008] Continued examination of the conflict in Georgia [15.10.2008] Committee of Ministers continue discussions on the conflict in Georgia [08.10.2008] Continued examination of the conflict in Georgia [24.09.2008] Council of Europe Ministers for Foreign Affairs discuss the conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia - Chairman's summing-up - Chairman's report [15.09.2008] Council of Europe and OSCE discuss situation in Georgia (more...) [11.09.2008] Discussions continue on conflict in Georgia [04.09.2008] Minister Carl Bildt invites his colleagues to an informal ministerial meeting [26.08.2008] Carl Bildt condemns Russia’s recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia (more ...) [13.08.2008] Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Secretary General meet with President Saakashvili [11.08.2008] Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Secretary General of the Council of Europe go to Georgia (more ...) [09.08.2008] Statement by Carl Bildt on the situation in Georgia (more ...)
Strasbourg, 29 Sept. - 3 Oct. - Parliamentary Assembly session - Fredrik Reinfeldt: ''Council of Europe has to act when international law has been violated'' ~ Speech - Nyamko Sabuni: ''Youth policy must stay high in the Council of Europe agenda'' ~ Speech - Frank Belfrage: ''We must not take peace for granted'' ~ Speech Third ''human rights'' special meeting Conference “Building a Europe for and with Children: towards a strategy for 2009-2011” - Conclusions by the Chair - Note to editors - More information - Conference website - File 'Children's rights' - Speech by Her Majesty Queen Silvia - Speech by Göran Hägglund - Speech by Beatrice Ask Kyiv, 4-5 September - 8th conference of Ministers responsible for migration affairs - Tobias Billström: ''To maximise the benefits of migration and minimise the difficulties sometimes engendered'' Carl Bildt satisfied with Court's decision Action against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation Children's rights in Europe should be enhanced through a strategy (more...) - File 'Protection of children' Stockholm, 9–10 June, Colloquy on the European Convention on Human Rights - Beatrice Ask ~ Speech - Terry Davis ~ Speech - Thomas Hammarberg ~ Speech - Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc ~ Text of presentation	Carl Bildt: ''A collective responsibility to make certain the Court works'' - Photo gallery - Press release Carl Bildt reacts to Parliamentary elections in ''the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' Strasbourg, 10-11 June, Closing conference of the Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, including Domestic Violence - Nyamko Sabuni ~ Speech representing the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers ~ Speech in national Swedish capacity - Britt-Marie Lövgren ~ Speech ''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' - Statement by Carl Bildt Elections in Georgia - Statement by Carl Bildt Wild Web Woods game: launch of ''virtual embassies'' Mats Odell: ''Importance of democracy is best known at its roots'' - Speech Cecilia Malmström meets the Assembly Standing Committee in Stockholm - Speech