1206bis meeting of the Ministers' Deputies

16 September 2014

Speech Herwig van Staa, President of the Congress

Dear Chair,

Distinguished Ambassadors,

Dear Secretary General,

Let me first extend my warmest congratulations to Thorbjørn Jagland on his re-election.

Mr Secretary General, the Congress looks forward to continuing its work with you. During your first mandate, you actively backed the reform undertaken by the Congress and accompanied its activities not least through your active presence at each of our sessions. Our exchanges with you have enabled Congress members to be regularly informed of relevant developments within the Organisation. We have particularly appreciated your willingness to reply to spontaneous questions from our members. We trust that our future exchanges shall remain marked by this trust, spontaneity and frankness.

It is the dialogue that helps us move forward. With you, Ambassadors, the quality of the dialogue and the relationship has continued to grow over the course of our meetings.

As you know my term as president of the Congress comes to an end in October. I have no doubt that my successor will further develop the dialogue with the Committee of Ministers as well as with other entities within the Organisation. I can assure you that the Congress will continue to focus its activities on the common priorities of the Council of Europe: high-quality monitoring of local and regional democracy and election observation as well as support to member States in the follow up of recommendations through post-monitoring dialogue.

The Congress will also cover the local and regional dimension of thematic priorities such as the fight against corruption, respect for human rights of Roma, enhanced participation of citizens and youth in democratic processes and so on. Furthermore, the Congress is now engaged in increased participation in the co-operation programmes and action plans.

Let me conclude that the Congress is, and will remain, a strong partner in contributing to the coherence and relevance of the activities of the Council of Europe and supporting the work of its Secretary General.

Thank you.