Addressing the 56th Joint Meeting of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić underlined the CEB's actions and their positive impact across its member states.
Speaking at the event in Athens, the Secretary General welcomed the decision made last year at the 55th Joint Meeting in Dublin, for Ukraine to accede to the CEB at zero cost and highlighted the grants provided by the Bank to refugees from Ukraine and the strategic framework that will facilitate the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Ukraine's socio-economic sectors, in line with the Council of Europe's national Action Plan.
Secretary General Pejčinović Burić referenced the explicit mention of the CEB's role to focus on the social dimensions of climate change and environmental degradation stated in the outcome document "Reykjavik Declaration - United around our values" of the Fourth Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government. "When the unforeseen occurs, it is right to respond. But, equally, some issues are predictable," she said, referring to the "ongoing environmental harm and climate change that will lead to an increased demand on the resources of governments, international organisations and the Council of Europe Development Bank."
Speech by the Secretary General
