Chairmanship of Belgium - News
Transfer of Chairmanship
The 125th session of the Committee of Ministers brought together, on 19 May 2015 in Brussels, Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 47 member states of the organisation. At the close of the session, Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken over from Belgium the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers...
The « Brussels Document » on the future of the protection of social rights in Europe
Belgium was holding the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, which ends today 19 May 2015. Focus on one of the deliverables of the Chairmanship: the “Brussels Document” on the future of the protection of social rights. On 12 and 13 February 2015, the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of...
European ministers adopt new legal standards for tackling foreign terrorist fighters
Foreign ministers from across Europe have adopted the first set of legally-binding international standards to help tackle so-called "foreign terrorist fighters". The measures take the form of an additional protocol to the Council of Europe's convention on the prevention of terrorism, which has so...
6th Conference of Ministers Responsible for Cultural Heritage
Cultural Heritage in the 21st century for living better together: a common strategy for Europe
Didier Reynders: The cradle of our civilisation must not become the grave of those aspiring to be part of it
“It is totally contrary to our vision and our values that the cradle of our civilisation should become the grave of those aspiring to be part of it”, said Didier Reynders, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, today in his statement to the Parliamentary Assembly,...
The European Youth Work Convention 2015
The European Youth Work Convention 2015 is one of the flagship initiatives of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe. It took place in Brussels from 27 to 30 April 2015, five years after the 1st Convention organized in Ghent on 7-10 July 2010 in the framework of the Belgian EU...
Terrorist attack against 'Charlie Hebdo' magazine
Statement by Didier Reynders, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Belgium, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe "I am deeply shocked by the horrendous attack committed this morning in Paris against “Charlie Hebdo” magazine. On behalf of the Committee of...
The King of the Belgians: "let us build and preserve a decent society"
In his speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, the King of the Belgians called for the establishment and preservation of a decent society, expressing his regret at “too many situations in which men and women are not treated with...
Isabelle Weykmans: 'Developing democratic representation and local governance is one of the priorities of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe''
''The European Charter of Local Self-Government, which has now been ratified by all member States, is a treaty of key importance. By preparing national reports on the state of local and regional democracy in the member States and on the implementation of the Charter principles, the Congress...
Didier Reynders presents priorities Belgian Chairmanship of Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe to the OSCE
Didier Reynders presents priorities Belgian Chairmanship of Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe to the OSCE The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders, as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, visited the OSCE on 12 March. He held...
Interview - Koen Geens, Belgian Minister of Justice
On Monday March 2, the Belgian Minister of Justice was interviewed in the Council of Europe about the high-level conference entitled “Implementation of the European Convention, our shared responsibility” planned on 26 and 27 March 2015. This interview explains the importance and the purposes of...
Is social protection in Europe ready for the future?
Is social protection in Europe ready for the future? Since November 2014 and for a period of 6 months, Belgium is holding the presidency of the Council of Europe. The Council is a European Institution that plays a key role in the defense of human rights on European Union territory. Social rights,...
Council of Europe Conference of European Ministers responsible for Heritage
Council of Europe Conference of European Ministers responsible for Heritage At the initiative of Maxime PREVOT, Walloon Minister responsible for Heritage, and in the context of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, the 6th Council of Europe Conference of European Ministers...
European Convention on Human Rights
European justice ministers back new action plan for implementing human rights judgments
European Convention on Human Rights
Implementing the human rights convention: Justice Ministers gather in Brussels
Didier Reynders calls on Russia to release Nadia Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens
Didier Reynders calls on Russia to release Nadia Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders is concerned about Nadia Savchenko, who started a hunger strike eleven weeks ago to protest against her detention in Russia. The health...
Committee of Ministers: Action plan for Ukraine
Committee of Ministers President, Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reynders, welcomes Action Plan for Ukraine 2015-2017
Address by Committee of Ministers Chairman
Didier Reynders: “Proper tools to defend our societies against radicalism and terrorism”
European Cultural Convention celebrates its 60th anniversary
On 19 December 2014, the European Cultural Convention, source of all Council of Europe work on culture and education, will be 60 years old. To commemorate this founding instrument, the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe has placed on its agenda a high-level conference which will be the...
Making children the centre of concern
As part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Belgian authorities in collaboration with the Council of Europe Children’s Rights Division will organise a European conference focused on “the child’s best interests”. This will...