Finland begins its six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s ministerial body from November 21, 2018 till May 17, 2019.
On the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), the PACE President and Speaker will launch a Europe-wide initiative to combat violence against women in parliaments.
“The parliamentarians will hold an exchange of views with Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Timo Soini, who will chair the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers for the next six months. Discussions will focus on Finland’s priorities during its chairmanship and other issues in the framework of the Assembly’s ongoing political dialogue with the ministerial body,” said the message.
Currently, Croatia chairs the ministerial body of the Council of Europe.
The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe’s statutory decision-making body. Its role and functions are broadly defined in Chapter IV of the Statute. It is made up of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of member States. The Committee meets at ministerial level once a year and at Deputies' level (Permanent Representatives to the Council of Europe) weekly. The conduct of meetings is governed by the Statute and Rules of Procedure. The Ministers’ Deputies are assisted by a Bureau, rapporteur groups, thematic coordinators and ad hoc working parties.
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