The President of CINGO, Gerhard Ermischer, attended the 134th Ministerial Session held in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 May. Highlights of the session included:
- discussion of next steps for the establishment of a Claims Commission for Ukraine, and a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine within the framework of the Council of Europe
- presentation of the Secretary General’s first Annual report 2025 (with a section on freedom of association) and Roadmap Towards a new Democratic Pact for Europe
- opening to signature of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer (which was thus signed by 17 countries) and adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law together with a strategy for the environment. CINGO has been very supportive of both conventions; the former is an important development in the current context, when civil society and the free media are under attack and lawyers defending them become themselves targets of repression.
- review of progress since the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government (May 2023) and key areas for future action, which include the rule of law, social rights, the rights of the child, digital rights and artificial intelligence, protection of journalists, equality, youth participation, and civil society.
In his address, President Ermischer stressed the need for a new pact for a liberal and participatory democracy and for empowering Civil Society, as well as for a robust mechanism to “defend the defenders.”
At the close of the 134th Session, Luxembourg handed over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers to Malta (13 May – 14 November 2025).
Link to information on the Session and decisions adopted
Link to speech of the CINGO President
