Innlegg på ministermøte i Europarådet

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Madam Chair – chère Madame,

Je fécilite la Suisse et vous-même, Madame la Présidente, pour avoir si bien mené votre responsabilité à la tête de notre organisation. Je salue aussi notre nouveau Secrétaire Général, mon compatriote Monsieur Thorbjørn Jagland, pour avoir initié un plan de reformes à la fois detaillé et strategique.

Madam Chair,

I would like to congratulate you on the important results achieved during your chairmanship, for example in Interlaken. 

The Secretary General has been given a very clear mandate by the Assembly and by us to modernise and revitalise the organisation.  

Norway strongly supports the direction of the reform process, and the general priorities outlined to put this house in order, to use the Secretary General’s own words. Now we need to support the follow-up.

We all agree: The reforms must lead us towards a more political, focused and visible organisation. And we need more coherence in our efforts to support the norms, standards and mechanisms needed to make a real difference for European citizens.

Difficult economic times provide in themselves a clear mandate to the Secretary General to make the best of the available resources and to reform all parts of the organisation with this in mind.

The European Convention on Human Rights and the Court of Human Rights are unique instruments. As agreed in Interlaken, we need to overcome the serious difficulties faced by the whole human rights protection system. We welcome Russia’s acceptance of Protocol 14, and look forward to its entry into force in June.

We should regard Interlaken as a plan of action. It now needs decisive follow-up. We expect all Member States, the Court and the other institutions of the Council of Europe to implement the measures in the Action Plan swiftly and effectively. Member States must address structural human rights problems that lead to large numbers of applications to the Court.

In particular, Madam Chair, a new filtering mechanism is necessary. New procedural rules and practices are needed to reduce the flood of clearly inadmissible applications. The introduction of court fees could be an important step. And last but not least, within the Council of Europe’s budget, the Court needs additional resources in the short and medium term to cope with its case load.

Regarding our relationship with the EU I believe that now that the Lisbon Treaty and the Fundamental Rights Charter are in force, we have important new tools for achieving a strong and coherent system of human rights protection in Europe. The EU’s commitment to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights is a common project of historic proportions. Let us get this done. Norway believes that accession should be treated as a matter of urgency.

Madam Chair,

The conflict in Georgia is high on the Council’s agenda. We appreciate the active engagement of the Commissioner for Human Rights and welcome the Secretary General’s constructive proposals on the role of the Council in promoting and protecting human rights in the areas affected by the conflict. I hope all parties will respond to the urgent call for dialogue.

Madam Chair,

Norway pledges to support the Council of Europe. It has a proud history. It is up to us to determine the future. To this end all parts of our organisation need to pull together. I wish my colleague Antonio Miloshoski and his team success as incoming chair of our organisation.

Thank you