Summaries of the meetings of the Ministers' Deputies
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 3 June 2026
At their 1562nd meeting on 3 June, the Ministers’ Deputies held a thematic debate on the protection of women’s rights, children’s rights, and the fight against domestic violence, with the participation of: Mr Christophe Robino, Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Monaco; Ms Maria-Andriani...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 28 May 2026
At their 1561st meeting on 28 May, the Ministers’ Deputies held their regular exchange of views with Secretary General Alain Berset, as well as exchanges of views with: Ms Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee at the United Nations (CCT), which included amongst...
Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies on 20 May 2026
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Monaco, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, chaired the 1560th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 20 May 2026, following the transfer of the presidency of the Committee of Ministers from the Republic of Moldova to Monaco on 15 May.
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 6 May 2026
At their 1559th meeting, on 6 May, the Ministers’ Deputies finalised their preparation of the 135th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Chişinău, 14-15 May 2026). In a series of decisions on the conflict in Georgia, the Deputies reiterated their strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 29 April 2026
At their 1558th meeting, on 29 April, the Ministers’ Deputies decided to submit two candidatures to the Parliamentary Assembly for appointment to the post of Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Assembly will proceed with the election on 23 June during its summer part-Session...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 15 April 2026
At their 1557th meeting, on 15 April, the Ministers’ Deputies continued their preparation of the 135th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Chişinău, 14-15 May 2026). They held an exchange of views with Mr Alan Mitchell, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 8 April 2026
At their 1556th meeting, on 8 April, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the following texts: Recommendation CM/Rec(2026)4 on online safety and empowerment of users and content creators. The Recommendation calls for greater transparency, democratic accountability and enhanced oversight by independent...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 25 March 2026
At their 1555th meeting, on 25 March, the Ministers’ Deputies conducted their six-monthly review of the situation regarding abolition of the death penalty. They took a series of decisions on this matter, including an expression of deep concern over the legislative proposals, currently being...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 12 March 2026
At their 1554th meeting, on 12 March, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted a Recommendation to member States on the European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life and took note of its Explanatory Memorandum. The charter sets out standards and mechanisms for young...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 4 March 2026
At their 1552nd meeting, on 4 March, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted two new recommendations to member States addressing the problems posed to gender equality and non-discrimination, and the increase in violence against women and girls, by the structure of new technologies: Recommendation...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 24-25 February 2026
At a special commemoration session on 24 February to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the Ministers’ Deputies reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine and its people. They reiterated that the Russian Federation bears full responsibility for...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 11 February 2026
At their 1550th meeting, on 11 February, the Ministers’ Deputies decided to waive the immunity of former Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland following a request from the Norwegian authorities to pursue proceedings relating to allegations of aggravated corruption. The decision follows media...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 4 and 5 February 2026
On the first day of their 1549th meeting, on 4 February, the Ministers’ Deputies held their regular exchange with Secretary General Alain Berset, as well as exchanges of views with: the newly elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Ms Petra Bayr, on the results of the Assembly’s 1st...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 21 January 2026
At their 1548th meeting, on 21 January, the Ministers’ Deputies held their regular exchange with Secretary General Alain Berset, which included an exchange of views with Mr Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, covering topics such as the defence of multilateralism and...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 14 January 2026
At the start of their first meeting in 2026, on 14 January, the Deputies observed a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine and also the victims of the terrible fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The Deputies then held their regular exchange...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 10 December 2025
At their 1546th meeting, on 10 December, the Ministers’ Deputies examined the follow-up to be given to the Informal Ministerial Conference held in Strasbourg the same morning, focusing on contemporary migration challenges and the protection of human rights across member states. Concerning the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 26 November 2025
At their 1544th meeting, on 26 November, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the final text of the Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series – the first international legal framework specifically dedicated to the independent co-production of series for television and...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 18 November 2025
On 18 November, at their first meeting since the transfer of the Presidency to the Republic of Moldova, the Ministers’ Deputies approved the revised Programme and Budget for 2026-2027, the second biennium of the Programme and Budget 2024-2027. In doing so, member States demonstrated their support...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 7 November 2025
At their 1542nd meeting, on 7 November, the Ministers’ Deputies held an exchange of views with Ms Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the situation of children of Ukraine, about her activities since her nomination in early...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 22 October 2025
At their 1541st meeting, on 22 October, the Ministers’ Deputies approved a draft convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The claims commission will be the second part of a comprehensive compensation mechanism outlined in the Reykjavik Declaration of 2023, alongside...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 15 October 2025
At their 1540th meeting, on 15 October, the Ministers’ Deputies held their regular exchange with Secretary General Alain Berset, following his participation at the 10th Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth (Valletta, Malta, 8-9 October) and the 35th anniversary of the Venice Commission...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 7 October 2025
The Ministers’ Deputies held their 1539th meeting at the Verdala Palace in Siġġiewi (Malta), on 7 October 2025, at the invitation of the Maltese Presidency. The meeting was opened by the President of the Committee of Ministers, Mr Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 24 September 2025
At their 1538th meeting, on 24 September 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies held their six-monthly review of the situation with respect to the death penalty and adopted a series of decisions which will be published on 9 October, on the occasion of the European and World day against the death penalty....
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 10 September 2025
At the start of their 1536th meeting, on 10 September 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies held a minute of silence in memory of the innocent civilian victims of the dire humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in Gaza. The President, Ambassador Francesca Camilleri Vettiger, welcomed the new gender...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 3 September 2025
At the start of their 1535th meeting, on 3 September 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies held a minute of silence in memory of the numerous victims of Russia's increasing strikes against Ukraine during the summer. The Deputies held an exchange with Secretary General Alain Berset [more information …]...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 9 July 2025
At their 1534th meeting, on 9 July 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies held an exchange of views with Ms Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, on the consequences of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. They also continued their examination of the Secretary...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 3 July 2025
At their 1533rd meeting, on 3 July 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies examined the Secretary General's report on the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation. They will continue their discussion next week. The Deputies held their...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 18 and 24 June 2025
At their 1532nd meeting, on 18 June 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies discussed current political affairs and particularly the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. They also held an exchange of views with Ms Shabana Mahmood, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice of the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 4 June 2025
At their 1530th meeting, on 4 June 2025, the Deputies took a series of decisions on the follow-up to the 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Luxembourg, 13-14 May 2025), in particular on the Council of Europe action in support of Ukraine, where they took note of a road map prepared by...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 28 May 2025
The beginning of the first Ministers’ Deputies' meeting under the Presidency of Malta, on 28 May, was chaired by H.E. Mr Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta and President of the Committee of Ministers. The communication by the Committee of Ministers’...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 7 May 2025
At their 1528th meeting on 7 May, the Ministers’ Deputies continued their preparation of the 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Luxembourg, 13-14 May 2025). On 14 May, the opening and closing of the Session, the handover of the presidency and the press conference will be livestreamed on...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 30 April 2025
At their 1527th meeting on 30 April, the Ministers’ Deputies continued their preparation of the 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Luxembourg, 13-14 May 2025). They approved a draft Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law and invited the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 23 April 2025
At the start of their 1526th meeting on 23 April, the Chair paid tribute to Pope Francis and the Ministers’ Deputies observed a minute of silence in his memory. The Deputies held their last exchange of views with Mr Marko Bošnjak, President of the European Court of Human Rights, and thanked him...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 16 April 2025
At their 1525th meeting on 16 April, the Ministers’ Deputies continued the preparation of the 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Luxembourg, 13-14 May 2025) and approved its draft agenda. In addition, the Deputies held an exchange of views with Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 2 April 2025
At their 1524th meeting on 2 April, the Ministers’ Deputies discussed current political affairs. They also began their preparation of the 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Luxembourg, 13-14 May 2025) and held a first exchange of views on a comprehensive draft report, presented by the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 19 March 2025
At their meeting on 19 March, the Ministers’ Deputies held an exchange of views with Ms Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). President Spoljaric provided an update on the trends being seen in conflict zones globally and the impact on...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 11-12 March 2025
On 11 March, the Ministers’ Deputies held an exchange of views with Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian opposition, on the current political and humanitarian situation in Belarus, the ongoing efforts of the Belarusian Democratic Forces to achieve democratic reforms, and...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 24 and 26 February 2025
On 24 February 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies marked the third anniversary of the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine with a meeting focused on Ukrainian civilians held prisoner by the authorities of the Russian Federation. In a series of decisions, the Deputies...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 12-13 February 2025
At their 1519th meeting, on 13 February 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies held their annual exchange of views on relations with the United Nations on human rights questions, with the participation of experts from capitals. The Deputies held an initial exchange with Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 5 February 2025
At their 1518th meeting, on 5 February 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies discussed current political affairs. They welcomed Secretary General Alain Berset’s decision to nominate Ms Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir as Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 22 January 2025
At the start of their 1517th meeting, on 22 January 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies observed a minute of silence in memory of His Excellency Mr Didier Guillaume, Minister of State of Monaco, who passed away on 17 January 2025. The Deputies heard a communication from the Secretary General of the...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 15 January 2025
At their 1516th meeting, on 15 January 2025, the Ministers’ Deputies discussed current political affairs, including following the Secretary General’s recent visit to Georgia. The Deputies adopted a Declaration on the protection of judges of the European Court of Human Rights from threats and...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 11 December 2024
At their 1515th meeting on 11 December, the Ministers’ Deputies discussed current political affairs. They held exchanges of views with: Mr Francesco Depasquale, President of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), on current and future activities of the CEPEJ, as well as...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 27 November 2024
At their 1513th meeting on 27 November, the Ministers’ Deputies approved the adjustments to the budget for 2025 for the second year of the Programme and Budget 2024-2027 and as a means to continue implementing the Reykjavik Declaration from the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government. They...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 19 November 2024
On the occasion of the 1000th day of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the Ministers’ Deputies observed a minute of silence, at their meeting on 19 November 2024, in memory of the victims of the war pursued by Russia in flagrant violation of international law. They adopted a...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 6 November 2024
At the start of their 1511th meeting on 6 November 2024, the Ministers’ Deputies observed a minute of silence in memory of the numerous victims of the terrorist attack in Türkiye on 23 October, the floods in Spain on 29/30 October and the railway station collapse in Serbia on 1 November. The...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 23 October 2024
At their 1510th meeting, on 23 October, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted a Recommendation to member States on young people and climate action, which underlines young people’s freedom of expression and the importance of judicial review in environmental matters [more information …]. The Deputies...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 9 October 2024
At their 1509th meeting, on 9 October, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted a Recommendation to member States aimed at ensuring that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and related digital technologies by prison and probation services respects the human rights and dignity of detainees,...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 25 September 2024
At their 1508th meeting, on 25 September, the Ministers’ Deputies held a thematic discussion on abolition of the death penalty focused on the situation in Belarus, with the participation of: Alexander Shlyk, designated by the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces; Marharyta Vorykhava,...
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 11 September 2024
At their 1506th meeting, on 11 September, the Ministers’ Deputies held an exchange of views, with the participation of Mr Alan Mitchell, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), on the CPT’s public statement on...
