Credit: Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

On Wednesday 13 November 2024, Luxembourg assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.

Luxembourg took over from Lithuania at a meeting of representatives from the organisation's 46 member states in Strasbourg, France.

Addressing the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chairperson, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, provided an overview of his country's achievements.

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, then outlined the priorities of his country's presidency for the next six months.

He noted that Luxembourg will ensure that the Council of Europe continues to place its expertise at the disposal of Ukraine and the millions of people affected by the conflict, focusing primarily on the rejection of impunity for crimes committed in Ukraine.

The presidency's programme will also focus on the following priorities:

  • Rule of law and democracy - championing joint standards and policies as key levers against democratic backsliding and increasing threats in Europe;
  • Living together - fostering mutual respect and understanding in our diverse societies;
  • Culture, sport and heritage - vectors for promoting human rights.

The Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers will run until 14 May 2025.

In addition to the handover ceremony on 13 November, upcoming programme highlights include: the International forum "Bridges of Solidarity - Humanitarian and Social Initiatives from Cities to Cities" in Luxembourg on 13 November; the 26th plenary meeting of the Gender Equality Commission in Strasbourg on 20 November; the 25th anniversary of the office of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights "Facing the future with confidence, building on a quarter century of experience" (with a keynote speech by Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg) in Strasbourg on 21 November; lunch hosted by the Luxembourg Presidency on the occasion of the meeting between government agents before the European Court of Human Rights and the Registry of the Court in Strasbourg on 25 November; Session of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 November.