Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on 20 May 2022. This coincides with a time of turmoil and a series of challenges to multilateralism on our continent. In this context, reaffirming the relevance of what President Higgins has called ‘‘the conscience of Europe’’ will be a focus both for Ireland and the Council of Europe’s Secretariat. In this address to the IIEA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and incoming Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney TD, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić discuss the Council of Europe’s role in responding to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and offer a preview of Ireland’s Presidency.

About the Speakers

Marija Pejčinović Burić is the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia. In that capacity, Ms Pejčinović Burić chaired the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe during the Croatian Presidency from May to November 2018.

Simon Coveney TD is Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence. From May-November 2022 he will chair the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as part of the Irish Presidency. Minister Coveney previously held the position of Tánaiste from 2017-2020 and a number of other senior Ministries; and is a former MEP for Ireland South. He is a TD for Cork South-Central.