News
The Olympic torch comes to the Council of Europe on 26 June
On Wednesday 26 June, the Council of Europe, in the presence of its Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, will have the honour of welcoming the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch to its Assembly Chamber. For the first time ever, the torch will enter the premises of a parliament, and will be doing so...
World Refugee Day: Upholding refugee rights shows shared values and humanity
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked World Refugee Day by paying tribute to the support given by Council of Europe member states to millions of refugees. “Our continued commitment to upholding the rights of refugees is a testament to our shared values. Over the last decade, Europe...
Secretary General marks 75th anniversary in Vilnius and opens EuroDig conference
“Lithuania has embarked on a positive and ambitious agenda for its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. One that respects the legacy and ongoing aims of our Organisation. But also addresses some of the more recent and defining challenges of our times. This really is the story of the Council...
Secretary General at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine
“Since the outset of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Council of Europe has been clear about its determination to do whatever we can to support the Ukrainian Government and people. President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula is equally clear about the way out of this brutal,...
Secretary General at Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin
“Since the beginning of Russia’s brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council of Europe has been actively supporting Ukraine in its judiciary reforms, even more so after Ukraine was granted EU candidate status last June. As part of the Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery, and...
Secretary General at Privacy Symposium 2024 Conference in Venice
“How do we ensure that legal systems across our Continent and beyond are able to protect the personal data of citizens in the digital age? The Council of Europe has developed specific treaties to help governments achieve this. Convention 108 was opened for signature 43 years ago and it has been...
Launching Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029; ten years since Istanbul Convention entered into force
A conference entitled “United around gender equality: making space for women and girls” will launch the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 and mark ten years since the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also...
Secretary General marks 10 years of the Istanbul Convention launching the Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029
“Throughout my mandate, I have returned over and over to the importance of the Istanbul Convention. Marking its 10 years in force here today, I am very happy to speak about it once again. The Istanbul Convention is a landmark treaty in the battle to end violence against women and domestic...
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I strongly deplore today’s decision by the Parliament of Georgia to overrule the President’s veto and proceed with the final endorsement of the law “on transparency of foreign influence” in its...
Secretary General meets Prime Minister of Lithuania
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė. The meeting focused on the priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. The relevance of the follow up of the Reykjavik agenda was highlighted, with a particular...