Subject: ENNHRI update informal Ministerial Conference Council of Europe
From: "Sara Rommes" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Katrien Meuwissen" <[email-masked]>, "Debbie Kohner" <[email-masked]>, "Marta Gattini" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:51:23 +0200

Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.
Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.

Dear ENNHRI members,
We would like to follow up on yesterday's informal Ministerial 
<https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/migration-challenges-council-of-europe-ministers-call-for-political-declaration-on-rights> 
Conference on potential changes to the European Convention on Human Rights 
system in the context of migration. Thank you for engaging with national 
authorities in advance of the conference. ENNHRI issued a statement 
<https://ennhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ENNHRI-statement-to-inform-Council-of-Europe-Ministerial-Conference-on-European-Convention-on-Human-Rights-and-Migration.pdf> 
leading up to the event, calling on the Council of Europe Ministers to 
uphold the rule of law and safeguard independence of the European Court of 
Human Rights.
Outcomes of the conference
The Ministers in the conference have adopted a set of conclusions by 
consensus. In the conclusions, they call on the Committee of Ministers to 
act on four items:

1.	Prepare a draft political declaration. The declaration is meant to 
accomplish two objectives:

*

	(1) Reaffirm the obligation to ensure the effective enjoyments of the 
rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Convention to everyone within the 
jurisdiction of Member States in the context of the contemporary challenges 
posed both by irregular migration and by the situation of foreigners 
convicted of serious offences and;
*

	(2) Take into account the government’s fundamental responsibility to ensure 
national security and public safety.

This political declaration is expected to be adopted at the next formal 
session of the Committee of Ministers in Chisinau, in May 2026.

2.	Reiterate its support for the elaboration of a new recommendation on 
deterring and fighting the smuggling of migrants, with full respect for 
their human rights;
3.	Consider how the Council of Europe, including through the possible creation 
of an inter-governmental committee, can best address pressing migration 
issues and related policies;
4.	Encourage the Secretary General to engage in discussions at an 
international level relating to migration.

The conclusions agreed on by the ministers can be found here 
<https://rm.coe.int/informal-ministerial-conference-10-december-2025-conclusions/488029b843> 
.
More information on the outcomes of the Conference can be found here 
<https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/migration-challenges-council-of-europe-ministers-call-for-political-declaration-on-rights> 
and the press conference held by Secretary General Alain Berset after the 
Conference can be watched here. <https://www.youtube.com/live/qSuhNFTjmoc>
27 states
Next to these developments, twenty-seven member States have issued a joint 
declaration, which they delivered at today’s Ministerial Conference. In this 
statement, they ask to ensure that the Convention framework is fit to 
address today’s challenges. According to the statement, these challenges 
include:

*

	Expulsion of foreigners convicted of serious crimes
*

	Clarity about inhuman and degrading treatment
*

	Innovative and durable solutions to address migration
*

	Decision-making in migration cases
*

	Instrumentalisation of migration

The twenty-seven states call for an “open and constructive discussion within 
the Council of Europe and with its Secretary-General to develop an adequate 
response to protect the Convention system from attempts to distort and 
weaken it”.
The joint statement delivered by the 27 states can be found here 
<https://um.fi/statements/-/asset_publisher/6zHpMjnolHgl/content/joint-statement-delivered-to-the-conference-of-ministers-of-justice-of-the-council-of-europe-10-december-2025-1/35732> 
.
Follow up
We will now consider the next steps and identify where our involvement can 
be best carried out. The process will continue early 2026 at the CDDH, where 
ENNHRI will participate as an observer. We will continue to monitor 
developments closely and keep you updated.
We also encourage you to stay in contact with your relevant ministries and 
Council of Europe contacts on this matter. Please keep us abreast of any 
relevant information from your domestic context.
In case of any questions, please contact 
<mailto:[email-masked]> Katrien Meuwissen and 
<mailto:[email-masked]> Sara Rommes.
Kind regards,

Sara Rommes
Human Rights Trainee

European Network of National Human Rights Institutions
Permanent Secretariat

   <mailto:[email-masked]> [email-masked]

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