It is the Grand Duchy’s turn to lead the Council of Europe for the coming six months, as Lithuania hands Luxembourg the presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the European human rights organisation.
Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis will pass the baton to his Luxembourg counterpart, Xavier Bettel, on Wednesday.
The Council of Europe comprises 46 countries dotted across the continent of Europe and aims to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
As Bettel outlined during a work visit of the council’s Secretary General Alain Berset to Luxembourg on 24 October, the Grand Duchy will focus its efforts on the defence of the rule of law, among others.
“The presidency will actively support work within the Council of Europe to finalise a Convention on the protection of lawyers and will organise conferences on journalists’ safety, bringing together national and international experts,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement at the time.
The country will also focus on improving social cohesion and inclusion “in a context marked by the rise of intolerance”, and use culture as a vehicle to promote the values at the heart of the Council of Europe.