Portugal - May 2005 to November 2005 - Council of Europe

Portugal chairs the Committee of Ministers - May 2005 - November 2005
 

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Council of Europe member states hold the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers on a rotating basis, each for a six-month term. Alphabetical order in the English language is followed.

The official handing over of office was held at the end of the Summit, which took place on 16 and 17 May, in Warsaw. Portugal will hold the Presidency until 14 November 2005.

Adressing the Heads of State and Government in Warsaw, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated ''Our first priority will be the reinforcement of those values that have constituted the main basis of the activity of the Council of Europe for more than 50 years and that were reiterated in the Declaration and in the Plan of Action that we have adopted''.

On 25 May 2005, Fernando Neves, Portugal's Secretary of State for European Affairs, presented in Strasbourg the programme of the Portuguese chairmanships. He underlined his country's responsibility for the implementation of decisions taken at the Warsaw Summit.

Portugal joined the Council of Europe in September 1976

• Priorities of the Portuguese chairmanship

Diogo Freitas do Amaral: ''The political decisions of the Warsaw Summit must be rapidly translated into tangible results''
Speech

Eduardo Cabrita, secretary of state for local administration ''Portugal will be looking forward to lead efforts in favour of the enrichment of the quality of democracy''
Speech