4. Agenda Adoption of the agenda Mr KOX formally asked if the agenda of the Standing Committee could be adopted and did not see any objections. He announced a special event which would be the heart of the Standing Committee. He invited Mr Bjarni JÓNSSON, Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation, to make introductory remarks. 5. Special event on the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe - United around values in the face of extraordinary challenges Introductory remarks by Mr Bjarni Jónsson, Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly Mr Bjarni JÓNSSON, Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation, addressed Ms Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð GYLFADÓTTIR, the Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr KOX; members of the Standing Committee and the Deputy Secretary General; and guests and friends. It was a true honour to give the opening remarks for the vital discussion of the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe for Mr JÓNSSON, and for their united values which had to prevail despite challenging times. He was especially proud and honoured to welcome everyone to Iceland on this historic occasion. He noted that the Parliamentary Assembly had been pushing for a 4th Summit even before the illegal invasion of Ukraine, and he commended it for since taking the lead in an impressive and unified manner. The focus of the discussion today was on the Council of Europe as a key player of the multilateral architecture. The Council of Europe had indeed acted in a decisive manner and acted swiftly in expelling Russia on the initiative of the Parliamentary Assembly. The lead that the Parliamentary Assembly had taken in its capacity to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, had been crucial and of utmost importance to unite Europe and international institutions behind Ukraine. The agenda of the Reykjavík Summit was founded on the recommendations unanimously adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly from Ms Fiona O’LOUGHLIN’s excellent report on the Summit. There would be strong deliverables from the Reykjavík Summit, and principles for democracy which needed to be adopted along with a recommitment to their values. At the centre of the Summit there would be support for Ukraine; accountability for the aggressor; and the establishment of a Register of Damages, including the children who had been robbed of their future, what Mr JÓNSSON recognised as the first legally binding act of its nature, and something whose establishment he regarded as extraordinary. It was a first Register with comprehensive action for the victims of the war of aggression. It was also important that the issue of a special tribunal not only be addressed at the meeting, but also for decisive steps to be taken in that direction. The Heads of State and Government should make further history that week, said Mr JÓNSSON, by taking the lead in establishing environmental protection as a human right, as well as taking further action against global warming. This was to be at the heart of the second panel discussion that day, of the Council of Europe as a pioneer of human rights protection, the new generation of rights. Mr JÓNSSON concluded that they were about to make history here in Reykjavík, but now it was up to Heads of State to have the courage to make it happen. He thanked the room and left to a round of applause. Mr KOX, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, thanked Mr Bjarni JÓNSSON, Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation. He invited Mr Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, to make remarks.

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