The Council of Europe is to be held in Reykjavík in May of next year. The meeting is to be the fourth-ever meeting in the organisation’s 73-year history, taking place 16-17 May, 2023.
The Council of Europe, a distinct organisation from the European Union, is an international body tasked with upholding human rights and rule of law in Europe. Founded after the Second World War, its best-known body is the European Court of Human Rights.
Faced with new crises in Europe, from the war in Ukraine and the accompanying energy crisis to the economic disruptions of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has announced that it is time to redouble efforts to promote democracy and justice in Europe.
Some 46 nations are party to the Council of Europe
#Breaking @coe Committee of Ministers just adopted decision to hold 4th Summit of Heads of State/Gov in 🇮🇸Reykjavik in May 2023.
— Iceland at CoE 🇮🇸 (@IcelandCoE) November 7, 2022
Opportunity for leaders of 46 Council of Europe Member States to unite & recommit to the core principles – human rights, democracy & rule of law. pic.twitter.com/wp2CuASGMf
In a press release from the Council of Europe, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir stated: “It is a great honour for Iceland to be the host of the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government. Iceland is convinced that the Council of Europe – the continent’s oldest and leading pan-European organization – has a critical role to play as the region’s guardian of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Together, we must continue to ensure that the Council of Europe is fit for purpose to meet current and future challenges as well as the expectations of future generations. We applaud the Irish presidency for their in-depth work on the role of the Council and look forward to working with all the Council’s Member States to reaffirm our common commitment to the Council’s core principles.”
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić also stated: “The decision to hold a Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Governments is timely and right. I congratulate the Committee of Ministers on taking it. The Summit will be an opportunity for all our member states to recommit to the values that underpin democratic security in our fast-changing continent.”
