The Week Ahead: Key Events and Meetings

On 1 June, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), will publish its new annual report. It outlines, inter alia, key trends and challenges in the fight against racism and intolerance in Council of Europe’s member states in 2022, such as those related to consequences of the war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons, antigypsyism and discrimination against Roma and Travellers as well as the shrinking space for the civil society.

The report also includes an overview of the outcome of ECRI’s fifth monitoring-cycle interim follow-up process.

On 31 May (11 am) Chair of ECRI Maria Daniella Marouda and Executive Secretary of ECRI Johan Friestedt will present the annual report and respond to questions from journalists during a press briefing held in a hybrid mode (Room 16 of the Palais de l’Europe, and online). To participate in the press briefing (under embargo until 1 June at 9 am), journalists are invited to register in advance. The link to the online briefing will be provided upon request.

Contact: Tatiana Baeva, tel. +33 3 88 41 21 41

The Lanzarote Committee (Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse) and the Permanent Representation of France to the Council of Europe will hold a public seminar on the national approaches of Council of Europe member states to the statutes of limitations in respect of sexual offences against children and the legal age for sexual activities, commonly known as the “age of consent”.

Representatives of the Parties to the Lanzarote Convention, experts in the protection of children from sexual violence, and other stakeholders will discuss main challenges and emerging trends in these two critical fields.

The event will also foster the exchange of good practices among States and will strive to identify innovative ways of enhancing existing policies to safeguard children’s well-being.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe, Marie Fontanel and Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity at the Council of Europe, Marja Ruotanen, will deliver opening remarks.

The seminar will start at 9.30 am and will be livestreamed in English and French.

Programme – More information - Contact: Tatiana Baeva, tel. +33 3 88 41 21 41

26-29 May, Türkiye

A Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) delegation led by Frank Schwabe, alongside other international observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and ODIHR, will observe the second round of the presidential election on 28 May.

They will deliver their preliminary conclusions at a joint press conference in Ankara on Monday 29 May at 3 pm (place to be confirmed).

More information - Contact: PACE Communication Division, tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93

29-30 May, Bratislava

Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will participate in the GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum. She will take part in the Panel “The Long Arm of the Law: Making Russia Accountable” and will give a lecture at the University of Bratislava.

Contact: Giuseppe Zaffuto, tel. +33 6 86 32 10 24

30 May, Strasbourg

The European Court of Human Rights will notify in writing six judgments concerning Bulgaria, Croatia, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia and Türkiye.

More information – ECHR Website, tel. +33 3 90 21 42 08

30 May, Strasbourg

The European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) will mark its 60th anniversary at its 100th plenary meeting which will look back at the Committee’s achievements in public and private law and at ways to strengthen legal co-operation to meet challenges ahead.

Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge will participate in the meeting.

More information - Contact: Estelle Steiner, tel. +33 6 08 46 01 57

31 May, Strasbourg 

Latvia took up the Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers from Iceland on 17th May for the next six months.

As per tradition for all countries acceding to the Chair, the Latvian flag will be raised in the city centre of Strasbourg (at 4.30 p.m., Place de la République). Before, at 4 p.m., a tram in the colours of Latvia will be inaugurated at the station “Droits de l’Homme”.

Contact: Estelle Steiner, tel. +33 6 08 46 01 57

31 May, Skopje (Hilton Hotel)

A conference “Society without hatred: a joint effort and common goal” will be organised to promote Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)16 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on combating hate speech. Organised in the framework of the EU/CoE Joint Programme “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Türkiye”, it will gather key beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders from North Macedonia.

The Recommendation will be presented, and discussions will be structured around questions of legislation, media and civil society and their role in combating hate speech.

Contact: Dušan Vojnović, tel. +33 3 90 21 56 99

31 May-1 June, Budapest (European Youth Centre) 

The EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership will organise a symposium “Visible Value: Growing youth work in Europe” to  take stock of the progress on youth work development, on the implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda and the Council of Europe Recommendation on youth work.

The symposium will also offer an opportunity to discuss about what action and support are needed for a strengthened and better structured and recognised youth work throughout Europe, and to reflect on emerging trends and issues.

Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge will deliver a speech by video message.

More information - Contact: Panos Kakaviatos, tel. +33 6 98 37 64 04

1 June, Strasbourg

The European Court of Human Rights will notify in writing 28 judgments and/or decisions concerning Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine.

More information – ECHR Website, tel. +33 3 90 21 42 08

1 June, Strasbourg

The European Court of Human Rights will be ruling in the cases of FU QUAN, s.r.o. v. the Czech Republic and Grosam v. the Czech Republic (no. 19750/13) at a public hearing (2.30 pm).

FU Quan concerns the seizure of the applicant company’s property in criminal proceedings, while Grosam relates to disciplinary proceedings against an enforcement officer. No Grand Chamber hearing was held in either of the cases.

More information – ECHR Website, tel. +33 3 90 21 42 08

1 June, London

PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media is to hold two public hearings, one focusing on violence in sport as part of a report on “Protecting human rights in and through sport: obligations and shared responsibilities”, with the participation of leading sports personalities and officials from sporting bodies such as FIFA and the IOC, and a second hearing on “The risks and opportunities of the Metaverse”.

Contact: PACE Communication Division, tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93

2 June, Arnhem (The Netherlands, 9 am)

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will organise together with the Province of Gelderland the Conference “Governance Talks: Conference digital empowerment for European municipalities and region”. Dutch Minister for Digitalisation Alexandra van Huffelen will open the conference.

The aim of the event is to bring together experts and stakeholders from the Council of Europe, other international organisations, academia, and the private sector to share best practices and provide recommendations for effective digital policies at the local and regional levels.

The participants will discuss the impact of digitalisation on democratic processes, human rights, and the environment, as well as the role of cities and regions in promoting inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities.

Registration - Programme

More information - Contact: Andrew Cutting, tel. +32 485 217 202

All times are CEST unless indicated otherwise.