APPENDIX 2

Declaration on The Reykjavik Summit: a strong message of unity, common purpose and unwavering resolve to be followed up by action

1. Meeting today in Riga as the Standing Committee, the Parliamentary Assembly welcomes the ReykjavikDeclaration “United around our values” adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the 4th Council ofEurope Summit (Reykjavik, 16 - 17 May 2023), as a strong message of unity, common purpose andunwavering resolve. The Declaration reflects the key concerns and proposals set out in Assemblyrecommendation 2245 (2023) “The Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe – United around values in theface of extraordinary challenges”.

2. With the Reykjavik Declaration, the Heads of State and Government have provided a new direction forthe Council of Europe in the years to come. As a statutory organ of the Council of Europe, the Assembly standsready to translate the Summit vision into concrete results, through its parliamentary deliberations, its monitoringprocedure, its inter-parliamentary co-operation activities and networks, and its interaction with the Committeeof Ministers and the Secretary General.

3. Standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes, the Assembly will spare no effort to support thereconstruction and democratic resilience of Ukraine, being convinced that well-functioning democraticinstitutions, respect for the rule of law and compliance with democratic standards together with strongerEuropean integration are the best guarantees for the democratic security of Ukraine and Europe.

4. Recalling that there cannot be lasting peace without accountability, the Assembly welcomes theestablishment of an Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of theRussian Federation Against Ukraine, as a first component of a future international compensation mechanism,and encourages other countries to add their names to those of the 45 member and observer states, and theEuropean Union, which have already joined it or declared their intention to do so.

5. At the same time, the Assembly will resolutely pursue its efforts to ensure that the political and militaryleadership of the Russian Federation is held to account for its war of aggression against Ukraine, supportingthe urgent establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression and calling for the Council of Europeto be a part of relevant consultations and negotiations, providing its expert and technical support. It calls forjustice for the victims of war crimes, human rights and humanitarian law violations and for the creation of viablemechanisms to ensure the return of abducted persons, including children, back home.

6. Following up the Reykjavik Declaration, the Assembly will strive to preserve the role of the Council ofEurope as a beacon of human rights protection, by promoting compliance with the European Convention onHuman Rights, protecting the authority of the Court, and ensuring the swift and satisfactory execution of itsjudgements; and by promoting the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on HumanRights without any further delay.

7. Welcoming the Reykjavík Process, and reaffirming once more its belief that the right to a safe, clean,healthy and sustainable environment is a fundamental human right which should be enshrined in domestic andinternational law, the Assembly will contribute actively to the standard-setting work of the Council of Europe inthe environmental field. It will also continue to support the Organisation’s work to shape human rights protectionin the digital age and to address other emerging societal challenges from a human rights perspective.

8. Convinced of the urgent need to prevent and resist democratic backsliding, the Assembly will continueto support member states in tackling its root causes, placing greater emphasis on promoting equality andprotecting social rights. It will endorse, promote and further develop the Reykjavik Principles of Democracy.The Assembly will strengthen its initiatives to prevent and counter foreign interference with democraticprocesses, to enhance the integrity of elections, and to promote media freedom and freedom of expression. Itwill also step up its engagement with civil society and mainstream a youth perspective in its work, as well ascontinue promoting and protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.

9. As the body representing the national parliaments of all member States, the Assembly stands ready toengage in the Council of Europe High-level Dialogue with member States and partners on the ReykjavikPrinciples of Democracy. It will also play its part beyond Council of Europe membership, strengtheningrelations with parliamentary bodies and other international organisations, further consolidating dialogue andco-operation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, and identifying channels and means tostrengthen dialogue with Russian democratic forces and civil society who share Council of Europe values.

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