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 democratic values, judicial independence, support for Ukraine, new technological realities, youth involvement, and Portugal’s international role.
The Deputies welcomed the progress made in the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the fact that, thanks to a voluntary contribution to be provided by the European Union, the Advance Team is ready to carry out its tasks since 1 January 2026.
The Deputies adopted a new Strategy for Roma and Traveller[Note] The term “Roma and Travellers” is used at the Council of Europe to encompass the wide diversity of the groups covered by the work of the Council of Europe in this field: on the one hand a) Roma, Sinti/Manush, Calé, Kaale, Romanichals, Boyash/Rudari; b) Balkan Egyptians (Egyptians and Ashkali); c) Eastern groups (Dom, Lom and Abdal); and, on the other hand, groups such as Travellers, Yenish, and the populations designated under the administrative term “Gens du voyage”, as well as persons who identify themselves as Gypsies. The present is an explanatory footnote, not a definition of Roma and/or Travellers. Inclusion (2026–30), prepared by the Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI), and took note of the Final evaluation report on the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020-2025). [More information...]
Concerning the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth (8-9 October 2025, Valletta, Malta), the Deputies took note of the Secretary General’s report and of the documents adopted at the Conference and took a series of decisions on the follow-up to be given to the Conference.
In addition, the Deputies took note of the following documents :
- Guidance for the development of positive narratives to deflect anti-gender rhetoric: : A practical guide for values-based communication to advance gender equality, prepared by the Gender Equality Commission (GEC) ;
- a progress report and an updated Action Plan on the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment, both prepared by the Ad hoc Multidisciplinary Group on the Environment (GME).
The Deputies also considered the communication by Ms Despina Chatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, on the preparation of the 1st part of the 2026 Session (Strasbourg, 26-30 January 2026) and other Assembly activities. Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, outgoing President of the Parliamentary Assembly, gave his farewell address to the Deputies, who thanked him for his work and commitment over the last two years and wished him all the best for the future.
The other items examined by the Deputies appear in the Agenda and the decisions adopted are available in the meeting file.