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MINISTERS’ DEPUTIES |
Information documents |
CM/Inf(2023)26 |
15 November 2023 |
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Priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency |
The values of the Council of Europe – human rights, democracy and the rule of law – face multiple threats, including democratic backsliding, growing nationalism, limitations to the freedom of expression, challenges to the authority of the European Court of Human Rights and disregard for the rules-based international order.
History has taught us tragically what can happen when these threats escalate.
In Reykjavík, we stood united against Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. Liechtenstein’s continued solidarity with Ukraine and its people remains unshakable and, during our presidency and beyond, we will continue to support the Register of Damage as a first step towards accountability.
This brutal war, however, also serves as a strong reminder of the importance of our common values and the urgent need to respect them. As a geographically small State, Liechtenstein relies on the effective functioning of the international rules-based order. Collectively, we must do our utmost to preserve multilateralism. After we recommitted to our values and to strengthening the Council of Europe at the 4th Summit in Reykjavík, Liechtenstein dedicates its presidency to continuing the important work started by our predecessor, Latvia, on the implementation of the decisions taken.
In times when our core values are being questioned, threatened and undermined, we are reminded that they require our full attention and commitment. The Council of Europe has faced numerous difficult challenges in the past and the future undoubtedly holds many more to come. Liechtenstein is well aware of the responsibility that lies ahead. Liechtenstein will do its part to show that we are “united by our values, towards a future for the needs of all”. At this crucial crossroads, let us all work together and choose the right path.
Priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency
“United by our values …”
· Strengthening the fundamental values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
· Following-up on the Reykjavík Summit, including accountability for the most serious crimes in the war of aggression against Ukraine
· Strengthening of the European Court of Human Rights, particularly improving execution of judgments
· Holding a Ministerial Session combined with celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe’
· Enhancing Freedom of expression and in particular safety of journalists
“… towards a better future …”
· Children, Youth and Education
· Youth event in connection with the Ministerial Session and celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe
· Environment
· Artificial intelligence
“… for the need of all.”
· Women and girls, with emphasis on the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
· Action against trafficking in human beings
United by our values… Human rights, democracy, and the rule of law
Liechtenstein’s Presidency will contribute to the implementation of the decisions taken at the Reykjavík Summit. On the one hand, we will especially focus on the implementation of the Register of Damage, which was an important step towards accountability for the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Liechtenstein will continue to contribute in outreach activities in order to enlarge the list of members of the Register. On the other hand, we will be faced by many other follow-up tasks during our presidency, identified by the rapporteur groups dealing with specific issues.
Strengthening of the European Court of Human Rights, in particular to ensure better execution of judgments has been a focus of our engagement in Strasbourg for many years and it was therefore obvious that this has to belong to Liechtenstein’s priorities as well. For the credibility of the Convention system, it is imperative that member States fulfill their obligation to ensure the full, effective and prompt execution of all judgments of the Court and to respect its case law.
In our presidency programme, Liechtenstein will, together with the Secretariat, organise a high-level conference on better implementation of judgments concerning cases on involuntary confinement and treatment of persons suffering from mental illness and incapacity.
Additionally, we look forward to combining the Ministerial Session with the important celebration of the anniversary of the Council of Europe in May 2024. It will give us the opportunity to take stock of 75 years of this Organisation and the implementation of the Reykjavík Summit decisions, as well as to include a youth perspective and therewith an outlook to the future.
Moreover, Liechtenstein gives priority to the issue of freedom of expression and in particular the safety of journalists. Liechtenstein is a member of the Strasbourg Group of Friends for the Safety of Journalists. We will continue to engage actively in this group and other initiatives with the aim of keeping the safety of journalists as a prerequisite for the freedom of expression high on the agenda. Liechtenstein continues to contribute financially to the platform as we have done since 2015.
…towards a better future…: Youth and education, environment and artificial intelligence
Liechtenstein will use its presidency to enhance the visibility of the Council of Europe and its significance at a national level. We want pupils to better understand the Council of Europe and recognise the added value of our membership and our common values. Liechtenstein teachers have been equipped with various teaching materials they can use with their classes. A competition for projects has also been announced and schools have already started to submit various projects to the Office for Education.
We will work further on youth participation and will especially ensure a youth perspective and therewith a future-looking element at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe.
Environment is very important within the framework of the Council of Europe as well. This is not only the case after Reykjavík but also due to pending cases at the Court which might be decided during our presidency and feed into the follow-up discussion of the Summit. In addition, we will host an expert meeting in Liechtenstein under the Bern Convention.
The issue of artificial intelligence is included in our list of priorities as the work of the Council of Europe on a Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law might be finalised during our presidency. We view the work on this convention also as particularly important as this standard-setting exercise is of relevance and attracts the attention of many States far beyond the territory of the Council of Europe member States.
… for the need of all: Women and Girls, in particular the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence as well as trafficking in human beings
The issue of the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls is a long-standing priority of Liechtenstein’s foreign policy. This includes domestic violence. The Istanbul Convention was ratified in June 2021 and the first Baseline Evaluation Report will be published in December 2023.
Given this priority, we will both contribute to a side event in New York at the beginning of March regarding the Guidelines on men and boys in gender equality policies and in policies to combat violence against women at the CSW as well as to host the second meeting of the Article 10 co-ordination bodies in Liechtenstein in April 2024.
Lastly, since May 2016, Liechtenstein has also been a Party to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS No. 197). We remain committed to fighting such practices. One of the lighthouse projects of Liechtenstein's foreign policy is the project "Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST)", which also involves the Liechtenstein financial sector.
Presidency Programme
- 15 November 2023, Strasbourg: Handover of the presidency from Latvia to Liechtenstein, including a concert with Isa-Sophie Zünd (on piano and a Latvian saxophonist) and inauguration of the “Liechtenstein tram”; participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- 27-28 November 2023, in Schaan/LI: Meeting of the Standing Committee of the PACE; participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- 28-29 November 2023 in Schaan/LI: Expert conference on “Inclusion of child migrants and refugees in and through sport”; participation of the Minister of Sport, Dominique Hasler.
- 22-26 January 2024, in Strasbourg: PACE plenary session with the Liechtenstein PACE delegation and addresses by Prime Minister Daniel Risch and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- 31 January/1 February 2024, in Vienna: Presentation of the priorities of the presidency to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- March 2024, New York: Side event to UN Commission on the Status of Women on the Guidelines on men and boys in gender equality policies and in policies to combat violence against women; participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- 26-28 March 2024, in Strasbourg: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Plenary session (with Liechtenstein representatives and a planned address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Sabine Monauni).
- 27 March 2024, in Strasbourg: High-level Conference on improving the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments, particularly those regarding the involuntary confinement and treatment of persons suffering from mental illness and incapacity.
- 4-5 April 2024, in Liechtenstein: Ordinary meeting of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, including to prepare the Ministerial Session; participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler and reception given by H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein.
- 15-19 April 2024, in Strasbourg: PACE plenary session with the Liechtenstein PACE delegation and addresses by H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- 17-18 April 2024, in Ruggell/LI: Meeting of experts of the Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats), Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks; participation of the Minister of the Environment, Sabine Monauni.
- 29 April 2024, in Liechtenstein: Meeting of experts of national co-ordinating bodies established under the Istanbul Convention (Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence); participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
- 15-17 May 2024, in Strasbourg: Youth event, Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary celebrations, including a concert by the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra and Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe with handover of the Presidency to Lithuania; participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
Cultural Programme
24 January 2024: Rheinberger concert with aerial acrobatics by Tamara Kaufmann, Église Saint-Guillaume, Strasbourg.
22 February: Film performance 1818 - die Liechtenstein-Saga "Vom Bauer zum Banker" (“How farmers turned into bankers”), Star Saint-Exupéry cinema.
13-21 April: “House of Liechtenstein” in Strasbourg: This freight container-sized reproduction of the Liechtenstein State Parliament building will be positioned/installed on Place Kléber. Visit Liechtenstein on Place Kléber and find out more about this country and the priorities of its presidency.
13 April: Magic for children and grown-ups by “Zauberfuzzi” alias Albi Büchel, House of Liechtenstein, Place Kléber.
15-16 April: Literary journey through the Council of Europe, through the favourite books of the ambassadors of the Council of Europe’s member States, giving an insight into the different cultures, histories, languages and traditions of the Council’s member countries, House of Liechtenstein, Place Kléber.
15-19 April: Meeting with representatives of Liechtenstein and the Council of Europe, upon request for groups of at least 10 persons in the House of Liechtenstein, Place Kléber.
17 April: Cooking the Liechtenstein speciality dish "Käsknöpfle" with Martha Bühler, House of Liechtenstein, Place Kléber.
20 April: Musical interlude with "Mayvie", House of Liechtenstein, Place Kléber, Strasbourg.
21 April: Europapark prize draw, Fill in our quiz with questions on Liechtenstein and the Council of Europe when you visit the “House of Liechtenstein” to take part in our prize draw, House of Liechtenstein, Place Kléber.