EU Ambassador Vesna Kos exchanged on the cooperation of EU-Council of Europe with students from the EU Diplomatic Academy (EUDA) and the EU Diplomatic Programme for the Enlargement Region (EUDP)
On 27 April, the EU Ambassador Vesna Kos exchanged on the cooperation of EU-Council of Europe with students from the EU Diplomatic Academy (EUDA) and the EU Diplomatic Programme for the Enlargement Region (EUDP). The exchange was organized by the Council of Europe’s Directorate of Political Affairs and External Relations, with the most recent session taking place last October. Other speakers included the Council of Europe’s Directorate of Political Affairs and External Relations Director Natalie Sabanadze, Head of Council of Europe’s External Relations division Myrtia Murgia and Director of the EU Diplomatic Academy (EUDA) Thomas Mayr-Harting.
Ambassador Kos outlined the EU’s political, substantial and financial support to the Council of Europe, with the EU remaining the largest single donor to the organization’s co-operation activities. She referred to the Council of Europe as a key like-minded and strategic partner in the defence of multilateralism based on our common values and shared priorities.
During their visit, students had an opportunity to engage directly with the speakers on the state of EU–Council of Europe cooperation, broader multilateral crises, and accountability for the crimes committed by Russia in the course of its war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, discussions highlighted the Convention establishing the International Claims Commission and the progress made toward creating a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. On EU enlargement, Ambassador Kos reiterated the important role played by the Council of Europe, noting that the organisation’s assessments provide essential insight into reform progress of the EU candidate countries and remain a key reference point in the EU’s overall enlargement process.
This exchange highlighted the strong and ongoing partnership between the EU and the Council of Europe, while offering EUDA and EUDP students valuable insight into the EU Delegation’s work within the Council of Europe framework.
