In his address to the parliamentarians, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg praised the work of the Council of Europe, which has transformed Europe into a continent of law and peace and has succeeded in establishing a unique form of co-operation between the various countries. He also underlined the need for its activities to be promoted, implemented and respected by its member states.
Against a background of democratic backsliding, geopolitical tensions and cases of failure to abide by the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, "now, more than ever, we need this institution, which is a key element of multilateralism and in building peace in Europe," he added.
HRH the Grand Duke of Luxembourg also underlined the mobilisation of the member states for Ukraine and its people: "in particular, by establishing the Register of Damage for Ukraine, the Council of Europe has shown the way towards accountability and the rejection of impunity."
In his view, the work of the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Istanbul Convention and the efforts to combat sexual violence against women in conflict zones, as well those to promote social harmony, culture and environmental protection were particularly important.
Lastly, he pointed out that the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik in May 2023 had revitalised the organisation and adapted it to the new challenges.
"The values which the Council of Europe has been championing for over 75 years are sources of inspiration for all those who take on political or institutional responsibilities. These valuable references have certainly guided me throughout all these years," was the conclusion of the Grand Duke, who is preparing to pass the throne on to the next generation after a 25-year reign.
