24/05/2019 Standing Committee
“Despite the difficulties it is facing, the Council of Europe remains the best example of what effective and ambitious multilateralism can achieve,” said Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs at France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
She recalled the importance of creating a new joint procedure to react more effectively when a member State fails to fulfil its statutory obligations and the wish of the Committee of Ministers that delegations from all member States participate in the June session of PACE. “Both bodies have now shown their willingness to move forward and swiftly overcome the current crisis. A window of opportunity opens up for the PACE meeting in June. We cannot let it pass,” she said.
If we can overcome the crisis, we will be able to focus on what is important: strengthening the Council of Europe. That is the objective of our Presidency. We want to both defend the Organisation's achievements and help it look to the future,” she said.