In a communication to the Parliamentary Assembly, the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, presented an initial review of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and emphasised the challenges facing Europe.
He began by deploring the calling into question of the relationship of "partnership, co-operation, alliance and friendship" between the United States and Europe.
Nevertheless, the crisis could also be an opportunity for Europeans, who needed to unite.
Mr Bettel also mentioned the need to continue dialogue with Georgia, Türkiye and Kosovo (*), along with the importance of defending the European Convention on Human Rights and ensuring that Court's judgments were implemented.
In addition, he reaffirmed the unwavering support to Ukraine, welcomed the completion of the technical work on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the appointment of the Secretary General's Special Envoy on the situation of the children of Ukraine, Thórdís Gylfadóttir.
Returning to the highlights of the Luxembourg Presidency, Mr Bettel welcomed the adoption of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, stating that it was a major step forward in protecting those who embodied and defended the rule of law. The convention will be opened for signature in Luxembourg on 13 May during the forthcoming session of the Committee of Ministers.
(*) All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
