On 15 May 2026, in Chișinău, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 46 Council of Europe member states will hold their annual session, which will be opened by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
In a context of major geopolitical upheaval, growing pressures on multilateralism and persistent instability in Europe, this meeting will provide an opportunity to decide on the Council of Europe's policy objectives at the highest level, at a particularly crucial time for Europe and its citizens.
The discussions will focus on a series of priority issues which lie at the heart of the Council of Europe's mandate, such as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, with particular emphasis on post-war accountability and reconstruction, and the Council of Europe's work in the area of migration, following on from the ministerial conference of 10 December 2025, which called for the adoption of a declaration by the Committee of Ministers reflecting a joint European approach.
The ministers will also discuss the New Democratic Pact for Europe, in the light of the new annual report by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, manipulation of information and foreign interference, including the protection of democratic processes and the integrity of elections at a time when foreign pressures are on the rise, and ways of strengthening democratic resilience.
Another item to be debated will be the future external action strategy of the Council of Europe, in its role as one of the key standard-setting, geopolitical players in Europe and the world.
The agenda will also include the broader issue of international co-operation and effective multilateralism, at a time when these are coming under enormous strain.
Lastly a new Additional Protocol to the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism will be adopted to supplement and update the current text.
A treaty signing ceremony is also planned, enabling countries to accede to a number of recent Council of Europe conventions.
At the end of the meeting, the Republic of Moldova will hand over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers to Monaco. The Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, will present a review of the presidency. Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Monaco's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, will present the priorities of the Principality's Presidency for the next six months.
A press conference is scheduled for Friday 15 May, at the end of the session, with the Ministers of the Republic of Moldova and Monaco and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
