Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – Visit to Strasbourg by Ms Montchalin (30 September 2019)

On 30 September, Ms Amélie de Montchalin, the Minister of State for European Affairs attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg as part of France’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (from 17 May to 27 November 2019).

The Minister of State addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). She also spoke with the new Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić; the PACE President, Ms Liliane Maury Pasquier; and several PACE members from France and elsewhere.

During this trip, the Minister of State discussed the situation of the Council of Europe, which is celebrating its 70ᵗʰ anniversary this year and plays an essential role in defending human rights and the rule of law across the continent. She called for ongoing efforts to strengthen the unity, effectiveness and credibility of the organization, in particular through the implementation of a “joint reaction procedure” to allow the Committee of Ministers and PACE to respond when a member State violates its obligations.

She also reported on the first part of France’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers and reiterated its main initiatives, including the creation of an observatory on history teaching and the universalization of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women.

This trip took place the day before the French President’s PACE address on 1 October.