On 14-18 October 2024, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities held its 84th plenary meeting in Strasbourg.

The Advisory Committee adopted its final opinions on the implementation of the Convention by Ireland and Lithuania. These opinions will become public early next year once the authorities' comments, if any, received.

The Advisory Committee also approved its draft opinions on the implementation of the Framework Convention by Finland and Serbia, both of which will now undergo a confidential dialogue phase with the states parties concerned before being examined again and adopted at a forthcoming plenary session.

The launch of the new Thematic Commentary on Education under the Framework Convention, revising and replacing the Thematic Commentary No. 1 (2006), was held during this plenary meeting, with the participation of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, experts in minority rights, representatives of the Council of Europe member states and representatives of Council of Europe bodies.

Finally, the Advisory Committee elected its new bureau, for a two-year term of office, composed of:

• Petra Roter (Slovenia), President,
• Besarion Bokhashvili (Georgia), First Vice-President,
• David Smith (United Kingdom), Second Vice-President.