The fifth phase of the South Programme “Protecting human rights, rule of law, and democracy through shared standards in the Southern Mediterranean” has been officially launched today in Lisbon, Portugal.  The South Programme V is a joint initiative between the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) for the period of 2022 – 2025. It is co-financed by the two organisations and will be implemented by the Council of Europe with a budget of over € 5.5 million (EU: 89.99%, CoE: 10.01%). The objective of the fifth phase is focusing on the progressive establishment of a common legal space between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean based on Council of Europe conventions, and in addition comes a number of cooperation programs and projects.

During his opening remarks, of the launching event (13-14 March 2023), the Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge pointed out that 5 countries in the South Mediterranean region have already made 19 ratifications of relevant Council of Europe conventions. “It brings a real difference to people’s lives. To build on this important work, the Council of Europe stands ready to help with its expertise where national authorities want to undertake democratic reforms in line with international standards”, he said.

“The fifth phase of the South Programme builds on the long-standing cooperation between the European Union and the Council of Europe,” stressed Henrike Trautmann, Acting Director of the Directorate Neighbourhood South and Türkiye of the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (EU DG NEAR).

The high-level event, attended by 4 Ministers from the two shores of the Mediterranean and over 70 representatives of Southern Mediterranean authorities, partner institutions, civil society and media, serves as a platform to discuss and share experiences, common challenges and perspectives to strengthen human rights, rule of law and co-operation in the region.

In the margins of the launching event, the Deputy Secretary General held a bilateral meeting Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho. Topics of discussion included the upcoming Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023, the work of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe and how best support democratic reforms in the region through the South Programme.

The Deputy Secretary General also met with the Minister of Justice of Morocco, Abdellatif Ouahbi. They discussed ways of strengthening the common legal space in the Mediterranean region.