An open lecture on the role of the Council of Europe as the guardian of human rights and fundamental freedoms was organised today in the premises of the Institute for European Studies - University of Tirana. The event, marking the end of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe which was handed over to Ireland today, was attended by the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, Jutta Gützkow, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Italian Embassy, Luigi Mattirolo.

Mr Mattirolo spoke about the aims and achievements of the Italian Presidency and focused on the recommitment of member States to the shared principles and values; the empowerment of women, the rights of children and youth policies; and the building of a people-centered future.

Students asked a lot of questions on topical issues, such as  the war in Ukraine, the exclusion of Russia as a member of the Council of Europe, the advancement of social rights and minority rights, the fight against human trafficking and the contribution of Council of Europe cooperation activities for assisting Albania to meeting the conditions for opening accession negotiations with the European Union. In this respect, the importance of the joint programmes of the Council of Europe and the European Union (Horizontal Facility and ROMACTED) were highlighted.

The Director of the Institute of European Studies, Aljula Jubani, announced that the series of open lectures with representatives of the international community, organised in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, would resume in the Autumn.