site.bta 126th Session of CoE Committee of Ministers in Sofia Marks End of Bulgarian Chairmanship

126th Session of  CoE Committee of Ministers  in Sofia Marks End of Bulgarian Chairmanship

Sofia, May 18 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev Wednesday opened the 126th Session of the  Council of Europe  (CoE) Committee of Ministers in Sofia, which marks the end of the six-month Bulgarian Chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers and its handover to Estonia. The meeting is chaired by Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov.

Plevneliev said that the crises we face today are global and go beyond the borders. He noted the conflicts and the growing extremism, racism, radicalization, discrimination, religious and ethnic intolerance.

Bulgaria assumed the chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers in a hard moment of growing confrontation in Europe and an ever more insecure and unpredictable international environment, he said.

In his words, it is important to continue working on the convocation  of a summit of the CoE heads of state or government, where the member countries can reconfirm at the highest state level the principles and values of united, democratic and peaceful Europe.

Plevneliev described the Bulgarian Chairmanship as successful and beneficial for Europe and added that the priorities set in its programme in the sphere of the protection of the rights of the child and vulnerable groups and a wider access to culture for young people, have been achieved. He also noted that considerable efforts were made in the sphere of upholding the rule of law.