Enhancing Collaboration: Proposal for Expanding the Community's Ties with Central and Eastern European Nations
Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik Reaffirms Core Values in Response to Ukraine Crisis
The Council of Europe held a historic summit in Reykjavik, Iceland from May 16 to 17, 2023, attended by the heads of state and government of 46 member europe countries, as well as observers from the United Nations, European Union, and five additional countries - Vatican, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Norway.
The summit was the fourth such meeting at the level of heads of state and government in the 74-year history of the Council of Europe, following previous summits in Vienna in 1993, Strasbourg in 1997, and Warsaw in 2005.
The focus of the Reykjavik summit was the reaffirmation of the Council of Europe's core values - human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Russia's subsequent expulsion. The event was a response to Russia's attack on a neighboring europe country, which is seen as an attack on europe's peace and values order, largely established by the Council of Europe after World War II.
During the summit, the Council of Europe established a registry in Reykjavik to document damages, losses, and injuries caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The establishment of the registry is a significant contribution to international efforts to ensure accountability for the crimes committed by Russia.
Germany, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is supporting the work of the Council of Europe and the damage registry with additional voluntary contributions beyond its mandatory contributions. German State Minister for Europe and Climate Anna Lührmann served as deputy head of the German delegation at the summit.
The Reykjavik summit sent a strong signal of solidarity and support for Ukraine. The gathering marked a significant moment in the Council of Europe's history, as it reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the principles that have underpinned europe's peace and stability for over seven decades.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
