News - Presidency of Luxembourg
Committee of Ministers backs Special Tribunal for Ukraine, sets strategic priorities, opens convention to protect lawyers, and adopts environmental treaty
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today reaffirmed its steadfast support for Ukraine by initiating the process to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. Special Tribunal for Ukraine “Member states have chosen to establish the Special Tribunal...
Council of Europe steps up on the environmental front
In a landmark move for global environmental protection, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has adopted a new Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law providing the basis for a more coherent criminal justice response by states to environmental crime,...
Malta takes over Presidency of Committee of Ministers
Malta has taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Luxembourg at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers from the organisation’s 46 member states. Addressing the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chair, Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and...
Council of Europe convention on protecting lawyers opens for signature
The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer has been opened for signature on the occasion of the meeting of Council of Europe Foreign Ministers organised in Luxembourg on 13-14 May. This is the first-ever international treaty aimed at protecting the profession...
Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg: Ukraine and New Democratic Pact for Europe on the agenda
On 14 May in Luxembourg, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 46 Council of Europe member States will hold their annual session, to be preceded on 13 May by the opening for signature of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. Agenda items will include the role of the...
Council of Europe hosts European Dialogue on Internet Governance in Strasbourg
The Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, will host the European Dialogue on Internet Governance 2025 (EuroDIG) in Strasbourg from 12 to 14 May. Held under the theme “Safeguarding human rights by balancing...
European Platform Meeting for Quality Label Youth Centres and Friends in Luxembourg
This year’s event from 6-7 May was co-organised by the Council of Europe Youth Department and the National Youth Service of Luxembourg (SNJ) under the auspices of the Luxembourgish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. On 6 May the opening ceremony took place in the presence of H.R.H. the...
Living together in diversity: Ministers’ Deputies seek to promote inclusion of the most vulnerable
On 16 April the Ministers’ Deputies will discuss living together in diversity, at an informal meeting that will seek to give a voice to three groups which are particularly vulnerable to discrimination: older people, people with disabilities and Roma and Travellers*. The aim of the meeting is to...
HRH the Grand Duke of Luxembourg: “We have built this project of peace in Europe together”
In his address to the parliamentarians, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg praised the work of the Council of Europe, which has transformed Europe into a continent of law and peace and has succeeded in establishing a unique form of co-operation between the various countries. He also...
Xavier Bettel: Europe must stay united in a geographical context under pressure
In a communication to the Parliamentary Assembly, the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, presented an initial review of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and emphasised the challenges facing Europe. He began by deploring the calling...
Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child: mid-term review of achievements, challenges and next steps
The mid-term review conference of the 4th Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) has started in Strasbourg. Organised under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, the two-day event will reflect on the achievements, address emerging challenges and...
“Stand Speak Rise UP!” – H.R.H the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg advocates for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
On 25 March 2025, H.R.H. The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg addressed the Hemicycle at the 48th session of the Congress, highlighting the crucial work of Stand Speak Rise Up!, an association she founded in 2018 to support survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones. Accompanied by her advisor and...
Breaking barriers: persistent gender gaps in sport revealed
EU-CoE project calls for urgent action
Luc Frieden: “Europe is a necessity!”
In his speech before the Parliamentary Assembly, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, stressed the importance of an approach based on the rule of law and multilateral co-operation to promote peace, common development and respect for human rights. He also warned about the current threats...
Xavier Bettel: “The Council of Europe must be a platform for dialogue”
In a communication to the Parliamentary Assembly, the Luxembourg Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, presented the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. He reiterated Luxembourg’s commitment to continued support for Ukraine as one of the...
Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and for the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity
Declaration by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg
Honouring Jewish heritage across Europe through cultural routes
Under the auspices of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the European Association for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage (AEPJ) celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The event aimed at underscoring the commitment to protect and promote the...
Council of Europe highlights the role of women in multilateralism
Ahead of the International Day of Women in Multilateralism, the Council of Europe marked the occasion with an event organised by the Informal Network of Women Deputies of Permanent Representations and the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. The gathering tackled pressing issues...
Young people in the digital age: Ministers’ Deputies discuss challenges for democracy
The Ministers’ Deputies will discuss youth democratic participation in the digital age during an informal meeting on 22 January aimed at better understanding new trends. The challenges around digital influencing The digital age has radically transformed the way in which young people participate...
Luxembourg launches publication: “When posters speak out - Illustrating the Council of Europe’s mission”
The Luxembourgish Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has launched the publication “When posters speak out – Illustrating the Council of Europe’s mission”. A launch event at the National and University Library of Strasbourg, showcases a selection of posters aimed at raising...
