On 20 June 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, will attend the June session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, France. During the session, the Foreign Minister, in his capacity of Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), will report to PACE on the work of the CoE Committee of Ministers and answer questions from parliamentarians.
PACE is one of the key CoE bodies comprised of the delegations of members of national parliaments from 46 CoE member states and aimed at promoting dialogue in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
During his visit, the Minister will meet with the President of PACE, Martinus Josephus Maria (Tiny) Kox, the CoE Secretary-General, Maria Pejčinović Burić, and the President of the CoE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Leen Verbeek. Edgars Rinkēvičs will also deliver an address at the cultural event of the Latvian Presidency held during the PACE session and featuring a performance by a Latvian diaspora choir, “Staro”.
Latvia took over the presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers in this past May. Latvia is holding its second presidency since joining the organisation in 1995. The Latvian Presidency will last until November, during which time, the Latvian Foreign Minister will chair the Committee of Ministers of the CoE.
Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is the oldest political organisation in Europe bringing together 46 European countries. The aim of the organisation is to create a common democratic and legal space founded on respect for and protection of its core values – human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Further information about the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers