Merja Lahtinen, Desk Officer at the Unit for Human Rights Policy, worked as Team Leader for Finland’s Presidency of the Council of Europe. The Presidency of the Council required considerably more involvement than the every-day membership work at the Council. According to Lahtinen, the Presidency gave her unique expertise for her career.

Press points of Foreign Minister Timo Soini at the press conference of the Council of Europe

The Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe ended successfully. The member States unanimously adopted a Declaration, which emphasises the far-reaching significance of the Council of Europe for human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Address by Mr Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers The Council of Europe 70th Anniversary Ceremony, 16 May 2019, Finlandia-hall, Helsinki

Nina Nordström, Director of the Unit for Human Rights Policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, says that the Council of Europe plays an increasingly difficult role in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Nordström has piloted the Finnish Presidency of the Council of Europe together with team leader Merja Lahtinen throughout its six-month term.

The Session of the Committee of Ministers, to be held at Finlandia Hall on 17 May 2019, will mark the end of Finland’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. At the meeting, Finland will hand over the Presidency to France. More than 30 ministers from the member States of the Council of Europe will attend the meeting. The meeting will be chaired by Foreign Minister Timo Soini.

As the Presidency of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe, Finland organised a side event on sign language in Strasbourg, France, on 10 April. The side event was organised in connection with the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to publish a study on the rights of deaf people in the Council of Europe and its Member States.

The conference on the impacts of artificial intelligence on human rights, the rule of law and democracy, organised as part of Finland's Presidency of the Council of Europe, attracted a larger audience than was expected. Instead of the expected 300 participants, the conference brought together about 400 people.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Paris on 28 February to attend a joint meeting of the Presidential Committee and Bureau of the Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Foreign Minister Soini and Secretary General Jagland will discuss topical issues in the Council of Europe, such as Russia's right to vote and non-payment of its budget contributions.