The programme began with a joint meeting between COSCE representatives and the EU Heads of Mission to the Council of Europe, chaired by Ambassador Vesna Kos and COSCE Chair Ciara O’Brien, and opened by Ambassador Francesca Camilleri Vettiger, Permanent Representative of Malta and current Chair of the Committee of Ministers. The discussions highlighted the importance of coordinated EU-Council of Europe action.

During the afternoon of the first day, COSCE delegates held meetings with key Council of Europe officials, including Jörg Polakiewicz, Director of Legal Advice and Public International Law, and Zoltan Taubner, Secretary to the Committee of Ministers. These exchanges explored the legal frameworks and mechanisms necessary for enhanced cooperation between the two institutions.

The second day was devoted to intensive discussions with senior representatives from various Council of Europe bodies. Members of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, head of the Congress of local and regional authorities, Director and Secretary of the Venice Commission and directors responsible for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law contributed their perspectives on ongoing efforts to protectdemocratic governance and legal standards throughout Europe. Of particular note was the meeting with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Marko Bosnjak, along with the President-elect Mattias Guyomar and Abel Campos, Deputy Registrar , where issues of judicial independence and the implementation of Court judgments were addressed.

Conversations also took place with the Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General, Mr Stefano Piedimonte Bodini, focusing on operational cooperation. The visit concluded with closing remarks by Ambassador Vesna Kos, who emphasized the vital role of the EU-Council of Europe partnership in upholding shared values amid contemporary challenges such as regional conflicts and threats to democratic standards.