Warsaw is making its final preparations for the Council of Europe’s summit of heads of state and of government, planned for 16-17 May. The meeting, the third of this kind in the history of the Council of Europe, has various objectives. The first is to “verify that the activities of the Council of Europe respond to the needs of the 800 million citizens who live in its 46 member states and concentrates its own action on the challenges presented by the 21st century”. Another objective is to “confirm and reinforce the fundamental role and mission of the Council in safeguarding and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law at the European level”. At Warsaw attempts will also be made to “develop a pan-European political dialogue at the intergovernmental, interparliamentary and regional level”. Key points on the agenda also include the reform of the European Court of Human Rights and the European strategy to fight international terrorism. Another major event is simultaneously planned in the Polish capital: the “International Youth Summit” on 15-16 May, promoted by the Youth Forum. “We will discuss exactly the same issues as those tackled by the summit of heads of state and government and in particular the role of the Council of Europe and the need to consolidate action in favour of cultural diversity and mutual understanding in a multicultural Europe”. The Lithuanian Renaldas Vaisbrodas, chairman of the Forum, further explains that the young delegates “will also debate political and social integration, protection of rights, and promotion of culture and opportunities for youth in an open Europe”. The hope is that the Warsaw youth summit will give rise to “a new European campaign against any form of intolerance”.
