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Introduction

Madame la Présidente de l’Assemblée Parlementaire,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

· C’est pour moi un grand privilège et un plaisir d’être ici aujourd’hui. Permettez-moi, à cet instant, d’exprimer ma sincère gratitude aux membres de l’Assemblée Parlementaire, pour avoir fortement soutenu mon élection en tant que Secrétaire Générale.

· Comme vous le savez, j’étais membre de cette Assemblée il y a quelques années et j’ai le plus grand respect pour cette institution et le travail qu’elle accomplit.

· Je voudrais dire ma reconnaissance envers le Secrétaire Général sortant, Thorbjørn Jagland et exprimer mon admiration et ma gratitude pour toutes les réformes, le travail et les activités qu’il a menés au cours des 10 dernières années.

· Et aujourd’hui, je souhaiterais formuler un certain nombre de remarques générales sur mes priorités pour la période à venir – je commence en francais parceque je veux faire l’usage des deux langues officielles dans mes communications et discours au Conseil.

Le rôle de l’Organisation

· Je pense qu’au moment où nous marquons son 70e anniversaire, notre Organisation doit rester, pour ses membres, une plateforme paneuropéenne – unique – de dialogue et de coopération constructifs.

· Le Conseil de l’Europe doit aussi demeurer la référence, s’agissant de la promotion et de la protection de la démocratie, des droits de l’homme et de l’Etat de droit sur notre continent. En réalité, ce rôle doit même être renforcé. C’est la voie que j’ai l’intention de poursuivre.

· Il ressort d’ailleurs clairement du Statut que le respect de ces valeurs fondamentales est une obligation pour tous les Etats membres, et j’ai l’intention d’insister sur la mise en œuvre pleine, inconditionnelle et crédible des engagements qui ont été pris par nos Etats.

· Les droits de même que les responsabilités doivent être observés.

· Nous savons tous que le débat sur la façon d’y parvenir s’est fait pressant au Conseil de l’Europe ces derniers mois et années et je n’ai aucun doute que ceci s’est inscrit dans vos esprits aujourd’hui; j’ai l’intention d’y revenir dans mes remarques finales après que vous aurez fait vos propres contributions.

Financement

· Concernant le financement de l’Organisation, permettez-moi tout d’abord d’exprimer ma satisfaction que la crise financière causée par la suspension prolongée du versement par un Etat membre de sa contribution financière ait pris fin. Dans ces conditions, je débute mon mandat avec une « ardoise quasiment effacée », si je puis dire, s’agissant de nos ressources financières. Toutefois, à la fois cette crise que nous avons derrière nous et les restrictions budgétaires auxquelles l’Organisation a dû faire face au cours des dernières années m’amènent à conclure que nous devons trouver une façon de stabiliser et pérenniser davantage le financement à long terme du Conseil de l’Europe.

· Il est impératif de trouver une façon d’assurer que tous les Etats membres coopèrent pleinement avec, et prennent part au travail des organes statutaires de notre Organisation, mais aussi qu’ils s’acquittent de leurs obligations financières. Le Statut définit très clairement les droits et obligations de tous les Etats membres. Je serai attentive à cette question.

· A plus long terme, le CM devra convenir de nouvelles mesures pour assurer la stabilité financière et la pérennité de l’Organisation, y inclus par un éventuel recours à un certain nombre de sources et modalités innovantes de financement. L’expertise de notre Organisation est largement considérée comme constituant sa valeur ajoutée et la nécessité de la préserver, pour garantir une pertinence et un impact continus du Conseil de l’Europe, est dès lors évidente.

· Enfin, je suis persuadée que ce n’est qu’en retournant à la croissance réelle zéro que nous pourrons exercer pleinement notre mandat et nos activités les plus importantes – celles sur lesquelles reposent la stature, le rôle et la pertinence du Conseil de l’Europe.

· Je coopérerai activement avec les Etats membres sur cette question et je présenterai en temps utile des propositions concrètes et tangibles.

Reforms

· When it comes to reforms, let me express my sincere appreciation for the significant measures that the Council of Europe has already undertaken over the last ten years. This provides a proper basis on which to build. I am committed to continuing with these reforms, including those aimed at further streamlining the Secretariat structures and the way we work.

· In this process, I might also make recourse to external evaluation.

· But of course, the reason for undertaking institutional reform is to ensure our capacity to act – and there are plenty of substantial challenges ahead, both ongoing and new.

· Let me put these in context.

Substantial challenges

· Member states and Council of Europe bodies must demonstrate complete and unconditional respect for legal standards and obligations under international law, including the European Convention on Human Rights. This will be crucial to safeguard our common area of shared values and restore the full credibility and relevance of our Organisation.

· The Court remains a central pillar of the Convention system and its exclusive role as the guardian of the rights enshrined in the Convention must be preserved.

· The unique feature of the Convention system, the right of individual application, should be sustained too.

· But the effectiveness and credibility of the Convention system depends also on the execution of judgments by member states. Rest assured that I will engage with their national authorities, notably with those that have experienced some problems in the execution of judgments, to ensure steps towards their smooth execution.

· I will also not shy away from possible recourse to my powers under Article 52 of the Convention, seeking explanation of systemic and persistent problems related to the implementation of the ECHR.

· Equally, I intend to exercise my prerogatives related to other instruments of the Council of Europe, including asking for opinions by the Venice Commission, whenever the need arises.

· Similarly, there is the important question of what we can do to better protect and promote human rights and the rule of law in unresolved conflict areas and so-called grey zones. I know it is a difficult subject for some member states, but I hope that together we can find a constructive way forward.

· It is of utmost importance to find a way to enable access by human rights monitoring bodies to such areas: all citizens of our member states should be fully protected by the Convention, regardless of de facto control in those areas or their status.

· After all, it is a responsibility of the Secretary General to seek access for relevant Council of Europe bodies to those areas, in close contact with all parties involved – legal authorities of a member state and de facto authorities too – and with any member state that could facilitate unconditional monitoring.

· More widely, greater focus is needed on some long-term recurring negative trends in our member states. These include corruption, threats to the independent judiciary, and to journalists and the free media, restrictions on civil society and human rights defenders, persistent gender inequality and gender-based violence, and the surge in hate speech and populist rhetoric that aims to generate support by appealing to prejudice and fear, and which is often enhanced by new technologies.

· Persistent and sometimes increasing poverty and inequality mean that we should also consider how we can better promote the Social Charter and social rights in Europe.

· New challenges also arise of course - and we are witnessing this today with the rapid emergence of new technologies. Their influence poses important questions about the application of human rights.

· Artificial Intelligence has already made a significant impact on some sectors of employment, with a disproportionate impact on the female workforce.

· Immediate attention is therefore required to explore carefully how AI and other new technology can impact on human rights and what guidelines or other tools we should therefore develop. I am pleased that the CM has recently come to an agreement on the terms of reference for a new intergovernmental steering committee in this area. This is an important step forward.

· It is also an example of an area in which we can co-operate with other international organisations and avoid duplication.

· Working alongside the OSCE, the UN, the EU and others can often be the best way to progress and use resources efficiently.

· So, while the abolition of the death penalty in Europe, with the regrettable exception of Belarus, is among the Council of Europe’s greatest achievements, we must continue promoting this work in co-operation with the UN and other international organisations.

· More broadly, the European Union is the largest voluntary contributor to the budget of our Organisation. A good institutional framework for co-operation with the EU is in place, but we must deepen that co-operation.

· One of the highest priorities remains the accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights. This intention was stated in the Treaty of Lisbon, and it should happen as soon as possible.

Streamlining of monitoring mechanisms

· When it comes to existing monitoring mechanisms within the Organisation there is a clear need for further streamlining. This should also help to avoid overlaps and duplications both within our Organisation and with others: this is welcome given our limited financial resources.

· I intend to make concrete proposals in this regard, considering the respective competencies of the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly vis-a-vis political monitoring. At the same time, we must preserve the independence of expert monitoring mechanisms based on international legal instruments.

Visibility

· Regarding communications, the Council of Europe has some very good tools: for example, the annual report introduced by the outgoing Secretary General several years ago, which helps identify and highlight trends in Europe and enables the Organisation to establish priorities and activities. I intend to continue this practice.

· Nonetheless, public visibility remains one of the serious shortcomings of the Organisation. I am determined to remedy this, including through better presentation of our activities in our member states and to the public at large.

· This is not just a classic PR issue. The Organisation currently sends too many public messages that are neither coherent nor easily attributable. This practice, as well as diverging or even conflicting messages coming from the Organisation and its statutory and monitoring bodies should be avoided. It is my responsibility to come forward with relevant proposals and I will do so, while fully respecting the independence of this Assembly.

Final remarks

· There is more that I could say, but I want sufficient time to hear your views on the challenges we face as we reaffirm our position as Europe’s watchdog for human rights, democracy and the rule of law and reinforce the unique, standard-setting role that has served the Organisation so well over the past 70 years.

· Je prends mes fonctions à une période difficile pour le Conseil de l’Europe. Je n’ai pas d’illusions: exercer mon mandat ne sera pas facile - et je compte sur le soutien et la coopération de cette Assemblée et toutes les structures du Conseil de l’Europe. Merci.