A delegation of the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is visiting Helsinki and Inari from 18-22 March 2019 to evaluate progress made in the monitoring of the protection of national minorities in Finland.

This is the fifth visit made by the Advisory Committee to Finland. The Advisory Committee will have meetings with representatives of the government as well as civil society and national minorities to discuss the implementation of the Framework Convention with relevant stakeholders.

The delegation includes Mr Bob Deen, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of the Netherlands, Ms Melina Grizo, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of North Macedonia, Mr Detlev Rein, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of Germany, and Ms Agnes von Maravić, Administrator, Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Following this visit, the Advisory Committee will draw up its fifth opinion on the implementation of the Framework Convention in Finland containing specific findings and recommendations for follow-up. The fifth opinion is expected to be adopted in June 2019