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MINISTERS’ DEPUTIES |
Information documents |
CM/Inf(2024)8 |
17 May 2024 |
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Stocktaking of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (15 November 2023 – 17 May 2024) |
Introduction
Liechtenstein assumed the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 15 November 2023, for the third time since its accession. The term began at a critical time in the history of the Organisation, with war raging in Ukraine and the Council of Europe's core values being questioned, threatened or undermined across Europe.
Against this backdrop, and in view of the recommitment to the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe at the 4th Summit of Heads of State in Reykjavík, Liechtenstein implemented its initiatives under the heading “United by our values towards a better future for the needs of all”.
Liechtenstein’s Presidency programme encompassed events mainly in Liechtenstein and Strasbourg, including one meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies in Schaan, Liechtenstein. Whilst numerous events taking place in Liechtenstein fostered the visibility of the institution, several cultural events were organised in Strasbourg in order to bring Liechtenstein closer not only to the Council of Europe, but also to the people living in Strasbourg. Showing a high level of activity in the role of presidency, Liechtenstein’s priorities were presented in Berlin, Berne, Brussels, Vienna and Washington, thus creating outreach for the work of the Council of Europe. The President of the Committee of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport, Dominique Hasler, also participated in a Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), side event in New York.
Liechtenstein’s full commitment to its presidency role was further underlined by several high-level visits, with H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Minister for Foreign Affairs visiting the Council of Europe four times in her role as President and opening the Satellite Office of the Register of Damage in Kyiv, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister addressing respectively the PACE and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. In addition, the Justice Minister participated in the “Restoring Justice for Ukraine Conference” in The Hague.
The Liechtenstein Presidency was marked by several anniversaries. Liechtenstein celebrated its 45-year membership of the Council of Europe at the very beginning of its term, and handed over the presidency during the Council of Europe's 75th anniversary celebrations. The 30th anniversary of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities was celebrated in the middle of its term.
In addition to pursuing and implementing its presidency priorities, Liechtenstein made a decisive contribution to the institutional functioning of the Council of Europe when, under its presidency, a new Commissioner for Human Rights was elected and a list for the election of a new Secretary General was adopted.
The Liechtenstein Presidency enjoyed exceptional support from the Council of Europe Secretariat, the PACE, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the European Court of Human Rights, the former and the new Commissioner for Human Rights and Protocol and is grateful to all those who contributed to a successful Liechtenstein Presidency.
This report outlines the initiatives taken under the Liechtenstein Presidency in each of the thematic areas of the presidency programme.
“United by our values…”: Human rights, democracy and the rule of law
Liechtenstein dedicated its presidency to the implementation of the decisions taken at the Reykjavík Summit, with a special focus on support to Ukraine. Liechtenstein's continued and unwavering support for Ukraine and its people has resulted in several substantial achievements and events.
To mark the commemoration of two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Liechtenstein Presidency organised a special ceremony and an extraordinary meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies
on 23 February 2024 broadcasted live, followed by the art exhibition “Guernica: Ukraine”. On the tragic occasion of this day, a trilateral statement “Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine: Two years on” was issued.
An important step towards accountability for the Russian aggression against Ukraine has been taken during the Liechtenstein Presidency with the opening of the Register of Damage for Ukraine for the submission of claims on 2 April 2024, and the inauguration of its Kyiv Office on 23 March 2024, attended by the President of the Committee of Ministers, Dominique Hasler, and Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić.
A seminar on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the role for regional organisations such as the Council of Europe was organised by the Liechtenstein Presidency in co-operation with the Permanent Representation of Ukraine in the margins of the 66th CAHDI meeting on 10 April 2024 in Strasbourg.
On 30 April 2024, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision enabling the Secretary General to provide the Core Group - an informal group discussing possible venues for the establishment of a Special Tribunal - with necessary information in order to elaborate further on the possibility of establishing a Special Tribunal through a bilateral agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine.
Strengthening the European Court of Human Rights, in particular to ensure better execution of judgments, has been a focus of Liechtenstein’s engagement in Strasbourg for many years. In order to pursue this objective, the Liechtenstein Presidency organised a high-level conference entitled “’Of Unsound Mind’: Convention-compliant approaches to the execution of judgments concerning involuntary detention and treatment on mental health grounds” aimed to clarify relevant legal standards on rule of law safeguards and conditions in institutions, and to provide inspiring examples of practices that are in line with the European Convention on Human Rights.
In line with the importance that Liechtenstein has always attached to the implementation of judgments, the Liechtenstein Presidency was committed to persuade Türkiye to implement the legally binding judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on the release of Osman Kavala. In the course of this, the Liechtenstein Presidency succeeded in adopting a consensual decision in the Committee of Ministers, which supported the high-level technical mission to be held in February 2024. Mr Kavala must be released immediately.
The safety of journalists is a matter of great importance to Liechtenstein, engaging actively in the Strasbourg Group of Friends for the Safety of Journalists and other initiatives. Under its presidency, the Committee of Ministers issued a recommendation aimed at countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
“…towards a better future…”: Youth and education, environment and artificial intelligence
This second pillar of priorities focused on future-oriented topics and comprised several events in Liechtenstein with the aim of increasing the visibility of the Council of Europe.
Young people - from primary school to vocational secondary school - worked with their teachers to familiarise themselves with the Council of Europe, its tasks and objectives, as well as Liechtenstein's role in the Council of Europe. The projects covered a wide range of activities, such as producing podcasts, conducting interviews with people from all 46 member States, artistic endeavours and a project competition awarded with a visit to the Council of Europe.
The two classes who won the competition met with Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the meeting room of the Committee of Ministers, one during the PACE week where they could grasp the feeling of such a meeting, and the other attended the celebrations of 75 years of the Council of Europe at the Strasbourg Opera. Many more classes from Liechtenstein’s primary schools, upper secondary schools, as well as the University of Liechtenstein, travelled to Strasbourg to visit the Council of Europe and to learn more about its values and work.
A breakfast seminar marking the 15th anniversary of the European Wergeland Centre and the International Day of Education was jointly organised by Liechtenstein’s Permanent Delegation to the Council of Europe, Norway’s Permanent Delegation to the Council of Europe and the European Wergeland Centre, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler, in Strasbourg on 24 January 2024.
The concert “Stolen Childhoods“, organised by “Support Action Ukraine” and supported by the Liechtenstein Presidency, acted as a stark reminder of the imperative need to defend the founding principles of the Organisation, namely democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The concert given by the Youth Symphony Orchestra Ukraine on Thursday 28 March 2024 at Strasbourg’s Palais de la Musique et des Congrès was also one of the highlights in connection with the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe. The primary focus of this event was to raise funds to help the non-profit association Support Action Ukraine purchase a mobile operating theatre for the Zaporizhzhia region and to offer psychological support to displaced children affected by the war.
Ensuring a youth perspective and thus a future-oriented element at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe was of particular importance to the Liechtenstein Presidency. The Youth Event ‘Confidence in Tomorrow’ took place in Strasbourg from 14-16 May 2024 and aimed to renew and strengthen the close relationship between the Council of Europe's mission and the present and future generations of young people. The dialogue session on 16 May 2024 also provided the opportunity for Foreign Ministers to discuss with young people the revitalisation of democracy and the strengthening of human rights in Europe and the role of young people in this context in the follow-up to the Reykjavík Declaration. Young people could share their aspirations and commitment to a democratic Europe and work on exploring the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy, their meaning for young people and the challenges of complying with or implementing them. Moreover, ideas and proposals to strengthen democracy based on the values and principles of the Council of Europe have been developed and presented at the commemorative ceremony on the occasion of the 75th anniversary.
For the first time, Liechtenstein hosted the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) biennial Diversity Conference “Inclusion of Child Migrants and Refugees in and through Sport” on 29 November 2023 in Schaan, Liechtenstein, with the participation of the Minister of Sport, Dominique Hasler. The conference aimed to assess the present landscape and propose a drive for change in integrating child migrants and refugees in and through sports.
In the context of prioritising the environment during its presidency, Liechtenstein hosted the 14th meeting of the Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Berne Convention) with the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Environment, Sabine Monauni, in Vaduz and Ruggell on 17 and 18 April 2024.
Artificial intelligence, as one of the key topics when talking about the future, offers both opportunities and challenges. Safeguarding the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law is of utmost importance. During the Liechtenstein Presidency, the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence has been finalised and was adopted at the Ministerial Session on 17 May 2024. It underlines the Council of Europe’s role in developing standards to safeguard human rights, also in the digital era and attracts the attention of many States far beyond the territory of the Council of Europe member States.
“… for the needs 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 protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls is a long-standing priority of Liechtenstein’s foreign policy. This includes domestic violence. On the international day for the elimination of violence against women on 24 November 2024, a joint statement on “How the Istanbul Convention is saving lives” was issued.
A side event to the 68th session of the CSW, organised by the Council of Europe within the framework of the Liechtenstein Presidency co-organised with the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to the United Nations, dedicated to the topic “Catalysts for Change: Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Media and Advertising”, took place at the UN Headquarters in New York on 11 March 2024, with the participation of Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler. The event has looked at promising practices, initiatives and concrete measures in the public and private sectors, highlighting their benefits for all, in line with the Council of Europe’s 2023 Guidelines on men and boys in gender equality policies.
Together with the Permanent Representations of Portugal and Poland to the Council of Europe, the Liechtenstein Presidency organised a panel discussion on “Women’s Leadership in the Council of Europe – 75 years perspective” to mark the International Day of Women in Multilateralism and the role of women in diplomacy on 25 January 2024 in Strasbourg. On that day, five out of the six top positions of the Council of Europe were held by women: Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Síofra O'Leary, President of the European Court of Human Rights, Ms Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sports of the Principality of Liechtenstein, in her role as the President of the Committee of Ministers.
Additionally, Liechtenstein hosted the second meeting of the Article 10 co-ordination bodies in Schaan, on 29 April 2024. The meeting explored the importance of national co-ordinating bodies responsible for policies on violence against women, emphasising the critical role they play in shaping effective responses. Guidance was shared on how to set up such bodies, as required by Article 10 of the Istanbul Convention, on the basis of insights drawn from a Council of Europe publication.
The issue of trafficking in human beings also belongs to the priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency. In this regard, the presidency was able to actively contribute to the GRETA event which was held on the occasion of the 50th plenary session of GRETA on 22 March 2024. The event included a panel discussion with former GRETA presidents on the impact of GRETA's work and its significance for other organisations. It also took stock of the third round of evaluation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, focusing on victims' access to justice and effective remedies. Moreover, the ‘Commentary on the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings’, which analyses and interprets the provisions of the Convention, was presented at that occasion.
Policy Programme
15 November 2023, Strasbourg: Beginning of Liechtenstein’s Presidency with handover from Latvia’s Parliamentary Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Reinis Brusbārdis, to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler. The handover of the presidency was accompanied by a concert with Isa-Sophie Zünd from Liechtenstein on piano and the Latvian saxophonist Aigars Raumanis.
21 November 2023, Brussels: Presentation of the priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the Political and Security Committee (PSC) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
27-28 November 2023, Vaduz: Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
29 November 2023, Schaan: EPAS (Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport) Expert conference on “inclusion of child migrants and refugees in and through sport” with the participation of the Minister of Sport, Dominique Hasler.
30 November 2023, Strasbourg: Opening of the 3rd annual conference of the Observatory on History Teaching of Europe “Teaching History, Teaching Peace?”
5 December 2023, Berlin: EBD (Europäische Bewegung Deutschland) Briefing on Liechtenstein's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe by the President of the Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Domenik Wanger.
5 December 2023, Brussels: (online) Presentation of the priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the EU-Co-ordinating Committee in the area of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters (CATS).
22-26 January 2024, Strasbourg: Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with addresses by Prime Minister, Daniel Risch, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
24 January 2024, Strasbourg: Breakfast seminar marking the 15th anniversary of the European Wergeland Centre and the International Day of Education jointly organised by Liechtenstein’s Permanent Delegation to the Council of Europe, Norway’s Permanent Delegation to the Council of Europe and the European Wergeland Centre, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
25 January 2024, Strasbourg: Panel discussion on “Women’s Leadership in the Council of Europe –
75 years perspective” to mark the International Day of Women in Multilateralism with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
31 January/1 February 2024, Vienna: Presentation of the priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
7 February 2024, Berne: Presentation of the priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the Heads of Mission meeting of the Ambassadors of the European Union by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
8 February 2024, Strasbourg: United Nations – Exchange of views (with Ambassador Omar Zniber, President of the United Nations Human Rights Council) on human rights questions with experts from capitals at the Committee of Ministers’ meeting on the issue of “Torture and ill-treatment”.
14 February 2024, Strasbourg: Exchange of views and thematic debate of the Committee of Ministers with Christophe Deloire, Secretary General of the Reporters Without Borders, and President of the Forum on Information and Democracy and Marko Milosavljević, Professor at the University of Ljubljana, Department of Journalism.
23 February 2024, Strasbourg: Extraordinary meeting of the Ministers' Deputies commemorating the tragic second anniversary of the full-scale war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
23 February-22 March 2024, Strasbourg: Exhibition of the Artwork entitled “Guernica: Ukraine” by French artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud in the Committee of Ministers’ lobby in connection with the commemoration of two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
11 March 2024, New York: Side event to the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on the topic “Catalysts for Change: Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Media and Advertising” with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
13 March 2024, Washington: Presentation of the priorities of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the Organisation of American States (OAS) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
22 March 2024, Strasbourg: Event on the occasion of the 50th plenary meeting of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and presentation of the first commentary on the Convention.
23 March 2024, Kyiv: Inauguration of the Kyiv Office (Satellite Office) of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
26-28 March 2024, Strasbourg: Plenary Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the celebrations of its 30th anniversary with addresses by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Sabine Monauni.
27 March 2024, Strasbourg: High-Level Conference entitled “Of Unsound Mind: Convention-compliant approaches to the execution of judgments concerning involuntary detention and treatment on mental health grounds,” opened by the Chair of the Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Domenik Wanger.
4-5 April 2024, Vaduz and Schaan: 1494th meeting of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, including a reception given by H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, a dinner hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler, and a guided tour at the Landtag and the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein (State Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art).
10 April, Strasbourg: Seminar in the margins of the meeting of the Committee of Legal Advisors on Public International Law (CAHDI) entitled “Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine: What role for regional organisations such as the Council of Europe?”
10 April 2024, Strasbourg: Thematic discussion on the abolition of the death penalty and the Council of Europe's contribution to universal abolition, with the participation of Firmin Yangambi, former death row prisoner in the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently a lawyer at the International Criminal Court and President of “Paix sur terre”; Matthew Goldberg, President of the World Coalition against the Death Penalty; and Aminata Niakaté, President of “Ensemble contre la peine de mort” (ECPM). The Deputies also heard a video message from Renate Wohlwend, former Parliamentary Assembly General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty.
15-19 April 2024, Strasbourg: Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with addresses by H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
17-18 April 2024, Vaduz and Ruggell: 14th meeting of the Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Berne Convention) with the participation of the Minister of the Environment, Sabine Monauni.
26 April 2024, Strasbourg: 38th meeting of the Co-ordination Group between the Council of Europe and the OSCE chaired by the President of the Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Domenik Wanger.
29 April 2024, Schaan: 2nd meeting of experts of national co-ordinating bodies established under the Istanbul Convention (Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence).
13 May 2024, Strasbourg: First meeting of the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) opened by the Chair of the Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Domenik Wanger.
14 May 2024, Berlin: Conference on “How can interreligious engagement help to re-invigorate the European democracies?” held at the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, including an opening statement of the Chair of the Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Domenik Wanger.
14-16 May 2024, Strasbourg: Youth conference at the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe entitled “Confidence in tomorrow, shaping democracy and human rights together with young people” with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
16 May 2024, Strasbourg: Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary celebrations with a concert by the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra in the Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg.
17 May 2024, Strasbourg: Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe with handover of the presidency of the Committee of Ministers from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler to Lithuania, represented by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
Cultural Programme in Strasbourg
15 November 2023, Place de la République, Strasbourg: Inauguration of the Liechtenstein Tram and flag raising ceremony followed by a reception at Strasbourg City Hall with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
25 November-10 December 2023, online: Orange Days Campaign organised in co-operation with the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands and implemented together with various Permanent Representations on the Social Media Platform X to raise awareness of the importance to combat violence against women and domestic violence.
As of January 2024, Strasbourg: Start of the weekly running group “Walk the Talk”.
24 January 2024, Église Saint-Guillaume, Strasbourg: Rheinberger concert with aerial acrobatics by Tamara Kaufmann, attended by Prime Minister, Daniel Risch, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler.
22 February 2024, Star Saint-Exupéry Cinema, Strasbourg: Film performance: 1818 - Die Liechtenstein-Saga "Vom Bauer zum Banker" (“How farmers turned into bankers”).
13-21 April 2024, Place Kléber, Strasbourg: “House of Liechtenstein”. The freight container-sized reproduction of the Liechtenstein State Parliament building was installed on Place Kléber for 9 days which offered the population of Strasbourg, colleagues of the Council of Europe, as well as tourists, the possibility to find out more about Liechtenstein, its culture and the priorities of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
13 April 2024, “House of Liechtenstein”, Place Kléber, Strasbourg: Magic for children and grown-ups by “Zauberfuzzi” alias Albi Büchel.
15-16 April 2024, “House of Liechtenstein”, Place Kléber, Strasbourg: Literary journey through the Council of Europe through the favourite books of the Ambassadors of 44 of the Council of Europe’s member States and observer States, giving insight into the different cultures, histories, languages and traditions. During two evenings, Ambassadors presented their choice at the House of Liechtenstein on Place Kléber. This event moreover has underlined Strasbourg’s status as “Capitale Mondiale du Livre 2024”.
The complete book list can be found here.
17 April 2024, “House of Liechtenstein”, Place Kléber, Strasbourg: Tasting the Liechtenstein speciality dish "Käsknöpfle" with Martha Bühler. H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler as well as the Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, addressed the guests and joined the tasting.
20 April 2024, “House of Liechtenstein”, Place Kléber, Strasbourg: Musical interlude with “Mayvie”, alias Nadine Nigg.
21 April 2024, “House of Liechtenstein”, Place Kléber, Strasbourg: Europa-Park prize draw. Visitors at the House of Liechtenstein on Place Kléber had the possibility to fill in a quiz with questions on Liechtenstein and the Council of Europe and the chance to win tickets to Europa-Park.