Péter Szijjártó Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
To whom it may concern,
Hungary, which was the first of the former Eastern bloc countries to join the Council of Europe on 6 November 1990, we will take over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers for the second time between May-November 2021. On this occasion, our country is preparing a wide variety of expert-level and cultural programmes, cooperating with the Secretariat of the Council of Europe. During the presidency we will pay the utmost attention to the efficient protection of national minorities, the questions concerning future generations, interfaith dialogue, future challenges and the environment. We can respond to Europe’s present challenges accordingly through these topics, building on the expanded toolbox of the Council of Europe.
Furthermore, it is important that Hungary, as a firm believer in dialogue, strives to serve a bridging role during its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, so that this organisation with a great past can serve as the forum of mutual cooperation in the future as well.
dr. Péter Sztáray State Secretary for Security Policy
Dear Visitor!
Welcome to the website of the Hungarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The purpose of the website is to provide up-to-date information regarding the most important phases of the presidency, including the reports linked to the expert-level and cultural programmes. We eagerly await the next half a year, and our set purpose for this period is to contribute to the ongoing work of the Council of Europe, one of the most important forums for Pan-European dialogue. The presidency also provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness to the successes and globally significant human rights activities of this unique organisation, at home and abroad equally.
Moreover, I would like to bring your attention to the compiled material about Hungary’s more than thirty-year-old membership and its ongoing relations with the Council of Europe.
Zsolt Németh Chairman of the Hungarian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Dear Visitor!
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has more than 600 members from nearly 50 countries. In this context, the Hungarian Presidency will provide an opportunity to draw attention to all the issues that are most important for Hungary. The Council of Europe is an effective international forum for the protection of national, ethnic, linguistic and cultural minorities, which is a matter of the heart for us, Hungarians. As the head of the Hungarian delegation, during the presidency I consider my most important task to represent the five presidency priorities, to which the charmanship of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly will help me.
Harry Alex Rusz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe
Dear Visitor!
Hungary joined the Council of Europe on November 6, 1990. This is the second time in thirty years since accession that we have chaired the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Taking the opportunity provided by the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, Hungary wishes to contribute to the strengthening of the cultural community of a diverse, confident and open Europe to the world. In the spirit of the future-oriented approach of the Hungarian Presidency, it intends to place special emphasis on the future generation, children's rights and the challenges facing young people, building on the knowledge and experience of the Council of Europe in this field.
In the six months of the presidency, Hungary will focus on five priority areas: 1) promoting the effective protection of national minorities, 2) interfaith dialogue, 3) the "next generation", ie children's rights, youth challenges and Roma integration, 4) technological and 5) environmental challenges.
The chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe also provides an opportunity to present our common European heritage in the language of culture. Trusting that after the easing of epidemiological restrictions, the events can take place in Strasbourg with personal participation, we are preparing a rich cultural program, concerts, exhibitions and film screenings reflecting our presidency priorities.
Hajnalka Juhász Ministerial Commissioner for the Development of International Relations in the context of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from May to November 2021
To whom it may concern,
Since its accession to the Council of Europe, this is the second time Hungary has occupied the rotating presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It is both an honour and a great responsibility to have goals to present you with during our presidency that reflect fundamental values the preservation and further development of which the Council of Europe was founded to serve. Among these values is the protection of the rights of national minorities, and freedom of religion.
As a Christian Democratic politician, it is my belief that there is a growing need to foster the religious dimension of tolerance, particularly when it comes to the protection of Christian and other religious minorities persecuted for their religious beliefs in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
As a Ministerial Commissioner, my goal is to meet the objectives of the Hungarian presidency within the context of the organisation’s parliamentary relations, and to present the 47 countries extending from Lisbon to Vladivostok with Hungary’s efforts and achievements in preserving and promoting the above fundamental values.
Dr. Katalin Szili Prime Minister’s Special Appointy
Dear Visitor!
The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of Europe provides the perfect opportunity to discuss questions which not only have to provide answers to present challenges, but should lay the foundation for responsible decisions which will affect the life of the next generation as well.
The Council of Europe deserves praise for taking the lead in topics such as sustainable development, interfaith dialogue, or the protection of national minorities. Concerning this last question, in the past few decades decisions and reports of particular importance were produced, which not only hold up a mirror, but also provide direction for the European Union’s countries and its institutional system. We should consider moving forward, fine-tuning the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities established a quarter of a century ago, and integrating the principles accepted since then, in order to preserve Europe, stable in its diversity.
András Ferenc Kalmár Ministerial Commissioner for the Development of Hungary's Neighbourhood Policy
Dear Visitor!
The nations of Europe know from the historical lessons of the last century that national sovereignty rights are essential to ensure peace and stability on the European continent. Hungary has extensive experience in this field, also thanks to the high level of regulation designed to protect its nationalities. In addition to the nationalities in Hungary, there are a large number of Hungarian minority communities living in the South, and Hungary has therefore supported from the outset the objectives of the Council of Europe to develop high standards of national minority protection.
The Organization has developed a widely recognized set of normative standards through the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, as well as other non-binding standards of its institutions. The programmes of the Hungarian Presidency also aim to draw attention to the prominent role played by the Council of Europe in the field of the protection of national minorities, pointing out that the Council of Europe is a leading human rights organisation at the forefront of the challenges facing Europe. Our aim is to share good practices, to promote meaningful dialogue at bilateral and multilateral level in the field of minority protection and to preserve the identity of national communities, which is essential to ensure European diversity.