Secretary General meets French Minister Delegate for Europe

Secretary GeneralMarija Pejčinović Burić has met the French Minister Delegate for Europe Jean-Noël Barrot. The meeting touched upon today's global challenges for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Marija Pejčinović Burić and Jean-Noël Barrot exchanged views mainly on the finalisation of the draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, in line with the follow up to the Reykjavik Summit, and on the importance of the implementation of the Register of Damage. The adoption of the Convention by the Committee of Ministers is expected for the Organisation's forthcoming 75th anniversary.

Ahead of the meeting, the French Minister Delegate for Europe signed a total voluntary contribution of 875,000 EUR, during a ceremony at the Palais de l'Europe in the presence of the Secretary General.

The voluntary contribution allocates funds for the following projects:

• Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" 2023-2026;
• Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026;
• Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2026;
• Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 and its successor Action Plan;
• World Forum for Democracy 2024;
• European Court of Human Rights' special account for follow-up to the Brighton Declaration;
• Observatory on History Teaching in Europe;
• Enhancing the visibility of the Council of Europe (75th anniversary);
• Preventing violence against women;
• tackle discrimination against LGBTI persons and promoting their rights.