The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ended on Friday 28 April, just over 2 weeks before the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik on 16-17 May. Meeting on 27 April, the Dutchman Tiny Kox (GUE), President of the Assembly, explained to Agence Europe what he expects from this crucial event for the future of the organisation. (Interview by Véronique Leblanc)
Agence Europe: Since Russia’s expulsion in March 2022 after the start of the war of aggression in Ukraine, the Council of Europe has 46 member states. How many heads of state and government will attend the Summit organised by the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers?
Tiny Kox: The participation of more than 40 of them was confirmed by Icelandic Foreign Minister Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir.
Some are still hesitating, but I am sure that they too will find the “Road to Reykjavik” (“RoadtoReykjavik#” is the title given by the Council of Europe to the preparations for this summit decided in November 2022. editor’s note).
The “family photo” will be politically important. Not to be so would be a question and a statement in itself.
There is talk of a “last chance summit” for the Council of Europe. What do you think of this expression?
I do not share it, because I am an optimist!
It is true, however, that this Summit comes at a crossroads for an organisation created in 1949, after the devastation of the Second World War.
It has defended multilateralism, undergone a historic enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and now, last February, one of its Member States, not least the Russian Federation, is launching a war of aggression against another Member State, Ukraine.
It is essential that all our Member States reaffirm in Reykjavik the commitments made since 1949.
If the Council of Europe did not exist, we would have to invent it.
It exists, we must not invent it, but restore it, strengthen it and, on certain topics, reinvent it.
What topics?
The right to a healthy environment as a fundamental right is on the agenda and I look forward to it.
Like the Parliamentary Assembly, which made this an important theme in its preparatory report to the Summit drafted by Fiona O'Loughlin (Ireland, ALDE), the Icelandic Foreign Minister is in favour of a Final Declaration that highlights this aspect and represents a concrete step towards a possible protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. This will require political courage, but it is very important, especially for young people.
Social rights and the dangers of artificial intelligence are two other important issues that the Council of Europe must continue to address.
However, the central theme of the Summit remains Ukraine...
As I said, we are at a crossroads. War has returned to Europe and there is talk of genocide.
I believe that the Summit will confirm the need to create a special tribunal against the crime of aggression - which will take time - and will decide to establish, under the responsibility of the Council of Europe, a “Register of Evidence” for the physical and material damage caused to Ukrainians in the course of the war.
This register will constitute a first step which will allow a second one, the establishment of the nature and amount of the compensations.
The third step will be the collection of funds to pay the compensation. Russia must pay, but it will take time and the Ukrainians must be compensated without delay.
The establishment of the Register must begin immediately and we hope that, in the wake of the Summit, a substantial number of not only Council of Europe member states, but also third states, will sign up as founders of this process.
I think this concrete action will be important for Ukrainians.
The case law of the European Court of Human Rights will provide essential experience in this context.
In this context, the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights by the Member States is another item on the agenda. Are states failing?
The European Convention on Human Rights is the ‘Constitution’ of the Council of Europe and the execution of the Court’s judgments is mandatory, which is respected by the majority of member states.
There are, however, problems and they concern important judgments such as Kavala and Demirtas versus Turkey.
It will be important for European leaders to be clear in Reykjavik, to reaffirm their commitment to comply with the judgments and, in doing so, to challenge those who do not.
What about a possible accession of the European Union to this Convention?
This accession to a Convention to which all EU Member States are party to is long overdue.
I am confident that we will come very close. If this were to happen, it would be a wonderful outcome of the Summit.
I do not expect a formal accession, but a political declaration in the presence of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who have announced that they are coming.
Who knows, maybe we'll get white smoke over Reykjavik!