Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers


United Kingdom passes Chairmanship to Albania

23 May 2012 - The 122nd Session of the Committee of Ministers was held in Strasbourg under the chairmanship of William Hague, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom. The meeting concluded the six months of UK Chairmanship of the Committee, centred chiefly on seeking means to guarantee the continued effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights system.

At the close of the meeting, after having presented a stocktaking of his Chairmanship, Mr Hague handed the Chairman's office over to Edmond Haxhinasto, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania, who then presented the priorities for his country's six months in the Chair. (more...

Back 25.01.2012 - UK's Cameron makes case for human rights Court reform

British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliamentarians today that the 47 countries of the Council of Europe had a "once in a generation" chance to improve the cause of human rights, freedom and dignity.

"For the sake of the 800 million people the Court serves, we need to reform it so that it is true to its original purpose," Mr Cameron told the Parliamentary Assembly.

"Already 47 members are agreed on this, and great work has been done. Now we would like to use our Chairmanship to help progress that work. This is the right moment for reform – reforms that are practical, sensible and that enhance the reputation of the Court."

Speech
Council of Europe blog - more information