Thank you Domenique and Maria for bringing us together.
For 75 years, this Council has stood as a beacon of hope, unity
and progress.
Those who founded this venerable institution in 1949 had lived
through two world wars.
They were the pioneers of a new era of peace in Europe, founded
on the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Today we stand in their shoes. With the burning desire to live up
to their legacy of hope.
Yet, once again, war is raging in Europe. An appalling, unjust,
brutal war against Ukraine.
Together, we have united in standing up for Ukraine and its
people – swiftly suspending and expelling Russia…
… and using all the tools at our disposal to help our Ukrainian
friends, including the Register of Damage that will be a crucial
means of documenting and preserving evidence of the damage, loss,
and injury caused by Russia's invasion.
There are, of course, many other fine examples of our united
action to meet the challenges of today. To live up to the hopes
of those founding fathers.
From the leading role this Council played in abolishing the death
penalty …
to improving standards throughout the Continent to adopting our
Convention on Artificial Intelligence.
That Convention is a perfect example of this Council evolving to
tackle 21st century problems. But we must not rest on our
laurels. We must continue to evolve, to meet head-on the
challenges of today – and tomorrow.
Like the scourge of people smuggling – we must crush the business
model of the criminal gangs preying on vulnerable people.
And ensure that the ECHR system – which has protected so many
people over so many years – remains fit for purpose.
And we must welcome those who share our ideals to join us in our
mission.
The UK has long supported Kosovo's ambition to join this Council
– we continue to support that ambition – and I hope we will be
able to welcome them soon.
Because it is clear – the last seven-and-a-half decades have
shown us – that there is strength in unity.
As Winston Churchill put it at the founding of this Council: “Our
hopes and our work point to an era of peace, prosperity and
abundance.”
Yes – it is true – that remains a hope, not a reality right now.
But together, united in purpose and resolve, we can get there.
Thank you.
