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Council of Europe Presidency

PRESIDENCY OF ICELAND: PRIORITIES

Strengthening the core values of the Council of Europe - human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Other priorities will be the environment, equality and children and youth.

PROGRAMME CULTUREL

Consulter le programme culturel de Présidence de l´Islande.

FOURTH SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

We are at a critical juncture. As Member States we have a choice, and for Iceland, that choice is clear. We must unite around the Council's core principles and the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe will be an opportunity for our leaders to reaffirm their common commitment to the values that have proven to be such a blessing for the people of the world.

We look forward to welcoming the Council’s Member States to the 4th Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government to “unite around our values” in Reykjavik next spring.

The Summit will be held in Harpa, one of Reykjavík’s most striking landmarks and a center of cultural and social life in the very heart of the city.

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COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND ICELAND

Iceland takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the third time since it became a member on 7th March 1950.

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PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland.

ROAD TO REYKJAVIK

Download the timeline leading up to the Summit.

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Iceland became a member of the Council of Europe on 7th March 1950. The Council of Europe has 46 member states reaching from Iceland in the west to Azerbaijan in the east. In addition, six observer states participate in various aspects of the work of the Council.

Each of the Member States is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – guaranteeing all citizens of the Council the same human rights – and the Organization is host to over 200 treaties strengthening democratic principles and the rule of law in Europe.

The Council of Europe has its headquarters in Strasbourg, France and employs 2 200 people. The Council maintains external and liaison offices to other international organisations around the world. The European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest offer training for young people in democracy and human rights.