After its expulsion from the Council of Europe, Russia no longer pays membership fees to the body. Foreign Minister Baerbock therefore wants to increase the German payments – the work of the Council is more important than ever, she emphasizes.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for unity in Europe after Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe over the war of aggression in Ukraine. “Our strength is our unity. We demonstrated this when we jointly decided to exclude Russia from the Council of Europe,” said the Green politician in Berlin before leaving for the Council of Europe’s foreign ministers’ conference in Turin, Italy. There will be a discussion about what Russia’s departure means for the work of the Council of Europe.
Because the Council of Europe is needed more than ever, the federal government will pay an additional ten million euros, Baerbock announced. Together with other member states, Germany will make up for the lack of membership fees due to Russia’s departure and strengthen the Council of Europe. The fact that missing contributions have to be compensated should not result in the work of the Council of Europe being impaired.
With the European Convention on Human Rights, the Council of Europe has created a foundation for the right to peace and to a life in dignity and self-determination for the entire pan-European region, explained Baerbock. The European Court of Human Rights enforces these rights and principles. “A regime that raids its neighbors, that bombs hospitals and schools, that murders and starves civilians, that arbitrarily violates what is at the heart of the Council of Europe – such a country can no longer be a member of this organization. That would be a mockery.” , she added, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In mid-March, the Council of Europe expelled Russia from membership after 26 years because of the war in Ukraine. Russia joined the Council of Europe on February 28, 1996. The Council of Europe monitors compliance with human rights in its 46 member states following Russia’s departure and is not part of the EU.
On September 16, Russia will also withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights as a contracting party. This was passed in 1950 and came into force in the first countries in 1953. It is intended, for example, to protect the right to life or to ensure protection against discrimination. The European Court of Human Rights, to which citizens of the member states can turn in the event of violations, monitors compliance with the convention. In recent years, many cases have come from Russia.
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