Gianluca Esposito - Speeches
Committee of Experts on Smuggling of Migrants (PC-TM)
Council of Europe Committee on Crime Problems Committee of Experts on Smuggling of Migrants (PC-TM) Closing remarks by Gianluca Esposito, Director of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe Greet participants of the first meeting of the Committee of Experts on combating the...
First Meeting of the Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV)
Welcome participants to the first meeting of the new Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV). The Reykjavík Declaration, adopted in May 2023 by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. Its Appendix V on the environment provides the Organisation with a strong political...
59th Joint Meeting of the CEB
SPEAKING POINTS OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL “CEB: DELIVERING SOCIAL IMPACT LOCALLY” Dear Minister, dear Governor, dear Chairpersons, Distinguished Members of the Governing Board and Administrative Council, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my great honour, on behalf of the Secretary General of the...
United Nations – Exchange of views: Human rights and the children of Ukraine
Speaking elements for Gianluca Esposito United Nations – Exchange of views: Human rights and the children of Ukraine 5 February 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (Palais de l’Europe) Children do not choose war, yet they suffer some of its most profound and lasting harms. Scale and nature of harm to...
Committee of Experts on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (PC-FIMI)
1st Meeting, 27 – 29 January 2026, Strasbourg OPENING REMARKS by Director General Gianluca Esposito Members, Participants and Observers, Dear partners, It is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you to the Council of Europe and to the first meeting of the Committee of Experts on Foreign...
19th Ministerial Conference of the Pompidou Group
Madam President, Ministers and State Secretaries, Ambassadors, Permanent Correspondents, distinguished guests, colleagues— On behalf of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, I am pleased to welcome you to the 19th Ministerial Conference of the Pompidou Group. Today, we...
Opening of the Conference on inclusive and Sustainable Care for Older Persons
It is a pleasure to open this conference, and to welcome you – Excellencies, CM Presidency, ladies and gentlemen, both in person and online, all sharing a common purpose: ensuring Inclusive and Sustainable Care for Older Persons. We meet at a decisive moment as Europe demographic landscape is...
Official presentation of the Strategy on the Environment and the opening for signature of the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law
Opening remarks for Mr Gianluca Esposito Acknowledge the President of the Deputies, Ambassador Cujba; the GME Chair, Ambassador Diamantopoulou; the Chair of the PC-ENV, Mr Pepřík; Council of Europe authorities; ambassadors; members of the GME; and Permanent Representatives present. Warmly welcome...
UN Business and Human Rights Forum
Panel “The critical role of human rights defenders in seeking solutions to environmental and social harms in the context of business activities.” Keynote Speech by Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe Dear Moderator, Ladies and Gentlemen,...
Opening of the Multilateral Meeting on “Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Prison Policies and Practices in Council of Europe Member States”
Speaking elements for Gianluca Esposito’s speech 12 November 2025, 9:30 am (meeting room 7, Palais Building) Welcome, distinguished guests and colleagues, to the Multilateral Meeting on “Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Prison Policies and Practices in Council of Europe Member States.” I would like...
Workshop: Transparency and privacy in democratic societies – two sides of the same coin
Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe, Room 2 Bullet points for opening of the workshop by General Director Gianluca Esposito Welcome members of the Council of Europe Access Info Group, the Committee of Convention 108 and GRECO, as well as independent experts. Welcome the initiative of this workshop as...
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime: Signing Ceremony
Statement by Mr Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe Excellencies, Distinguished participants, It is an honour for me to speak today on behalf of the Council of Europe. At the outset, I wish to commend Ambassador Mebarki, her team, the...
Conference on the Protection of Health
Closing Remarks – Director General for Human Rights and Rule of Law Palais de l’Europe, Room 1 Dear participants, As we come to the close of this conference, I want to thank you all for your active participation and for the quality of our exchanges. These discussions have made one thing clear:...
Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice – “Cross-Border Co-operation and Mutual Assistance: The Strengthening of Co-operation to Counter Transnational Crimes”
Speaking elements for Gianluca Esposito’s closing remarks Congratulate the States having signed the Third Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters - the Valletta Protocol. Warmly thank the Maltese Presidency for hosting the Conference and...
2025 Underground Economy Conference
Opening session (2 September, 09:00, Hemicycle) opening speech by Gianluca Esposito, Director General Distinguished guests, Dear participants, Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the 2025 edition of the Underground Economy Conference, I am very happy to open this important event, hosted for the...
HELP Annual Network Conference 2025
Opening Remarks Gianluca ESPOSITO, Director General – DGI Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe Strasbourg, 3 July 2025 Madame President of the Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Kos, Members and Partners of the Council of Europe HELP Network, Dear Participants, I am pleased to...
Photo-exhibition: (UN)CORNERED (НЕ)ЗАГНАНІ У КУТ by Ukrainian photographer Julia Wimmerlin
Opening remarks by DGI Director General Gianluca Esposito Ladies and gentlemen, Permanent Representatives, Members of the Council of Europe’s Network of Focal Points on Migration, Dear author of the exhibition, Julia Wimmerlin, Distinguished guests, dear colleagues It is an honour and a...
Joint FATF/MONEYVAL Plenary meeting
Speaking elements for Gianluca Esposito’s speech during the joint Third Plenary Meeting of FATF – XXXIV / 69th MONEYVAL Plenary Welcome Ministers, Excellencies, FATF and MONEYVAL Chairs, distinguished guests, and colleagues to the joint FATF-MONEYVAL Plenary. Express appreciation for the...
Social Rights – Building Social Justice and Democratic Stability
Opening Address by Mr. Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe Event: Social Rights – Building Social Justice and Democratic Stability Brussels, 5 June 2025 Venue: EESC, Room JDE 52, 5th floor, Jacques Delors building, Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040...
44th plenary meeting of the CEPEJ
Speaking points for the opening of the 44th plenary meeting of the CEPEJ by Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law Wednesday, 4 June 9:30 Room 9, Palais de l’Europe Dear Minister, dear President of the CEPEJ, dear members and observers, Allow me to begin by...
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