- Published: 21.11.2018.
Croatia hands over Committee of Ministers presidency to Finland
The outgoing Chair, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, 21 November 2018 attended a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
The outgoing Chair, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, 21 November 2018 attended a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Pejčinović Burić gave an overview of Croatia’s achievements during its presidency. Croatia was included in all activities concerning current political challenges within the Council of Europe and advocated a tighter cooperation between the Committee of Ministers and other principal Council of Europe bodies.
During its six-month presidency, Croatia organized 28 events, including meetings on presidency priorities, parliamentary meetings and professional conferences. The country showcased itself in Strasbourg via cultural programme as an attractive tourist destination as well.
In her address, Pejčinović Burić underlined combating corruption as one of the priorities of Croatia’s presidency. The central event was the ministerial conference in Šibenik on said topic. The result is a declaration on setting up a network of bodies for combating corruption, under the auspices of the relevant Croatian, French and Italian institutions.
The meeting ended with Pejčinović Burić’s symbolically handing over the presidency keys to Finnish foreign minister, wishing Finland success in chairing the Committee of Ministers.
While at the Council of Europe headquarters, Pejčinović Burić held talks with Thorbjørn Secretary General Jagland and Finnish FM Timo Soini about future activities of the Committee of Ministers and other current Council of Europe matters.
As part of the handover ceremony, Croatian flag was lowered, while Finnish was raised. Pejčinović Burić thanked representatives of the City of Strasbourg for successful cooperation during the past six months.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Pejčinović Burić and Soini attended a closing event on women’s rights of the World Forum for Democracy, held 19-21 November in Strasbourg.