Born in 1949 at the end of the Second World War, the Council of Europe is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The institution is headquartered in Strasbourg as a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation and is “at the center of questions concerning human rights on an international scale”, underlines Daniel Höltgen, communications director of the Council of Europe . He sees this anniversary as “an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and look to the future.”
This body, which employs 2,200 people, including 2,000 here, and has 46 member states, is sometimes confused with the institutions of the European Union and its nearby parliament. “The challenge is certainly to explain what we do and to better understand the various institutions,” underlines Daniel Höltgen. However, the Council of Europe’s communications director believes “it is even more important for the public to know that we are working together to respond to the great challenges of our time, such as the defense of human rights. Man, the fight against discrimination, equality, climate change and even artificial intelligence. In summary, “intensive collaboration with the European Union”, supplemented by “good cooperation with the City of Strasbourg”.
For its 75th anniversary, the Council of Europe is offering several events until November, including a ministerial conference on May 16 and 17 and welcoming around a hundred young people to discuss their vision and the future of the Europe. The Council, which places youth at the heart of this anniversary, will also participate in Europe Day organized by the City on May 9 at Place du Château.
Furthermore, the international organization has developed a series of podcasts to discover the works of art of the Council of Europe and will organize, among other things, an online exhibition.
75th anniversary of the Council of Europe from Council of Europe on Vimeo.
Lucie Dupin
Photo: Candice Imbert Council of Europe
