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 part-Session 2026 and upcoming activities [more information …] ;
- Ms Kerli Veski, President of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI), on CAHDI’s activities during the past year and planned future activities.
The Deputies approved Neighbourhood Partnerships for the period 2026-2029 with Tunisia and Morocco, and reiterated their call on the Tunisian authorities to respect and guarantee democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law in the country.
Having adopted the Council of Europe Convention on the Co-Production of Audiovisual Works in the form of Series in November 2025, the Deputies decided to open it for signature on the occasion of the Series Mania Festival, in Lille, on 26 March 2026.
In addition, the Deputies took note of the following reports:
- second report on the implementation of the Road map on Civil Society engagement with the Council of Europe 2024-2027;
- report on the Council of Europe's co-operation activities in Kosovo* * All reference to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.;
- second report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027).
On 5 February, the 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 morning session was dedicated to an exchange of views with Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, President of the United Nations Human Rights Council. A thematic discussion on the subject of “Human rights and the Children of Ukraine” was held in the afternoon, including presentations by the following personalities : Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine ; Sheema Sen Gupta, UNICEF Director of Child Protection and Migration ; Danielle Bell, Head of the OHCHR Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine ; and Erik Møse, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
The other items examined by the Deputies appear in the Agenda and the decisions adopted are available in the meeting file.