Council of Europe Presidency Transfer Occurs on May 21 After Six Months; Focus Remains on Three Key Priorities (German Presidency)
The third European Youth Work Congress, held under the German presidency, marked a significant milestone as the largest online event to strengthen youth work. This digital gathering was just one of many initiatives taken by Germany during its six-month chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which comes to an end on 21 May.
Germany's focus during its presidency has been threefold: strengthening the Council of Europe as a central pillar of multilateral cooperation, shaping the future by protecting and developing human rights in the face of internet hate speech and AI developments, and focusing on Europe and its citizens.
Foreign Minister Maas emphasized the importance of open dialogue in preserving the long-term goal of a Europe of peace, cooperation, and human rights. He reiterated this during a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly, stating that the Council of Europe has always stood for exchange across ideological boundaries, including expressing and enduring criticism.
One of the key areas of focus has been the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). A multi-stakeholder conference co-organized with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation examined the cross-border phenomenon of online hate speech and its growing threat. In addition, negotiations on the accession of the European Union to the ECHR were resumed during Germany's 'double presidency'.
The German presidency has also placed a strong emphasis on the use of AI to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. A conference co-organized by the Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Council of Europe explored this topic.
In line with its commitment to human rights, Germany will contribute an additional one million euros to enable the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to handle the increasing number of cases more efficiently. This could further deepen the important cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Union in protecting law and human rights in Europe.
The shared values and convictions of 800 million citizens in the countries of the Council of Europe are enshrined in a total of 220 conventions. Both presidencies, that of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Council of the European Union, shared a common goal of strengthening the rule of law and human rights in Europe.
The German presidency aims to involve young people more strongly in their work to engage them for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This is in line with the presidency's focus on the European Convention on Human Rights as a key framework for cooperation and rule of law in Europe.
As Germany's presidency comes to an end, it leaves a lasting legacy of commitment to upholding and strengthening human rights and the rule of law in Europe. This commitment will continue to be a priority for the Council of Europe, ensuring a Europe of peace, cooperation, and human rights for all its citizens.
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