Meetings and Officials Visits 2008
2007
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December 2008
60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
09/12/2008
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a seminar entitled “Judicial Practices and Jurisprudential Policies” took place at the European Court of Human Rights on 8 and 9 December 2008, in cooperation with other regional human rights courts. The seminar
was organised with the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Strasbourg-based International Institute of Human Rights, in association with the African Foundation for International Law and the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights.
Visit from the President of the Moldovan Parliament
08/12/2008
On 8 December 2008 President Costa welcomed Marian Lupu, President of the Moldovan Parliament, to the Court. Mihai Poalelungi, the judge elected in respect of Moldova, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, was also present at this meeting.
November 2008
Autumn session of the Académie des Marches de l'Est, Strasbourg
29/11/2008
On 29 November 2008 in Strasbourg, President Costa chaired the autumn session of the Académie des Marches de l'Est, which awarded this year's Europe Prize to Simone Veil. (Speech, in French only)
Visit to the Court of Justice of the European Communities
24/11/2008
On 24 November 2008 President Costa led a Court delegation to Luxembourg for a meeting with the Court of Justice of the European Communities. (Speech, in French only)
Visit from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
19/11/2008
A delegation of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina visited the Court on 18 and 19 November 2008. Among those receiving the delegation
were President Costa, Ljiljana Mijovic, the judge elected in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Visit from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein
18/11/2008
On 18 November 2008 Rieta Kieber-Beck, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein, was received by President Costa. Mark Villiger, the judge elected in respect of Liechtenstein, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, attended also the meeting.
Visit to the French Conseil d'Etat
14/11/2008
On 14 November 2008 President Costa was in Paris with a delegation from the Court and took part in a working meeting with the Conseil d'Etat.
Visit from the Japanese Supreme Court
12/11/2008
A delegation from the Japanese Supreme Court visited the
Court on 12 November 2008 and was received by President Costa.
Visit to Portugal
10/11/2008
On 10 November 2008 President Costa visited Lisbon, where
he took part in a Forum organised by the Council of Europe’s North-South
Centre on “The principle of universality of human rights and its implementation
at international and regional level”. The President visited the Supreme Court
of Portugal, where he gave a speech to mark the 30th anniversary of
Portugal’s ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights. He was also received by Alberto Costa, the Portuguese Minister of Justice. He
was
accompanied by Ireneu Cabral Barreto, the judge elected in respect of Portugal.
Visit from the Supreme Court of Latvia
06/11/2008
A delegation from the Latvian Supreme Court visited the Court
on 5 and 6 November 2008. It was received by President Costa and Ineta Ziemele,
the judge elected in respect of Latvia, and members of the Registry.
Visit to Paris
03/11/2008
On 3 November 2008 President Costa went to Paris to attend the
International Colloquy marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of the French
Constitutional Council. The colloquy was attended by, among others,
representatives from all the European and French-speaking Constitutional Courts.
October 2008
Visit in Poland
24/10/2008
From 23 to 24 October 2008 President Costa paid an official visit to Poland, accompanied by Lech Garlicki, the judge elected in respect of Poland, and Lawrence Early, Section Registrar.
On 23 October 2008 President Costa was received by the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, and the Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Cwiakalski.
On 24 October 2008 President Costa met the President of the Polish Constitutional Court, Bohdan Zdziennicki, and the members of the Constitutional Court.
Visit from the Secretary General of the French Ministry of Justice
21/10/2008
Gilbert Azibert, Secretary General of the French Ministry of Justice, met President Costa when he visited the Court on Tuesday 21 October 2008.
Colloquium on economic, social and cultural rights organised by the CNCDH at the Council of Europe
16/10/2008
On Thursday 16 October 2008 President Costa has given the opening speech at the Colloquium on economic, social and cultural rights organised by the CNCDH (French Human Rights Commission) at the Council of Europe. Speech
Visit from the Armenian Court of Cassation
16/10/2008
A delegation from the Armenian Court of Cassation visited the Court on Thursday 16 October 2008 and was received by President Costa, with Alvina Gyulumyan, judge elected in respect of Armenia, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, also participating in the visit.
Visit from the Vice-President of the European Commission, Responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security
16/10/2008
On Thursday 16 October 2008, Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, Responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, visited the Court and was received by President Costa. Erik Fribergh, Registrar, and Vincent Berger, Jurisconsult, were also present at the meeting.
Visit from the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation
09/10/2008
On Thursday 9 October 2008 Alexandre Konovalov, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation, visited the Court, where he was received by President Costa. Anatoly Kovler, judge elected in respect of the Russian Federation and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, were also present at this meeting.
Visit from the Minister of Justice of “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
09/10/2008
Mihajlo Manevski, Minister of Justice of “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” was received at the Court by President Costa on Thursday 9 October 2008. The meeting was also attended by Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, judge elected in respect of that State, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar.
Visit from the inspector-general of custodial facilities (France)
09/10/2008
On Thursday 9 October 2008 Jean-Marie Delarue, inspector-general of custodial facilities (France), was received by President Costa.
Conference on “International Courts and Tribunals – the Challenges ahead”, London
07/10/2008
On Monday 6 October 2008 President Costa visited London to take part in a conference on “International Courts and Tribunals – the Challenges ahead”, organised under the auspices of the Swedish chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in collaboration with the Council of Europe’s Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI).
(speech). (in French only)
On Tuesday 7 October 2008 President Costa gave a lecture at King's College London.
(speech)
Visit from the Turkish Cypriot community leader
02/10/2008
On Thursday 2 October 2008 Turkish Cypriot community leader Mehmet Ali Talat visited the Court, where he was received by President Costa. Erik Fribergh, Registrar, took also part in the visit.
Visit from the Prime Minister of Sweden
02/10/2008
Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, was received at the Court by President Costa on Thursday 2 October 2008. Erik Fribergh, Registrar, was also present.
Visit from the Minister of Integration and Gender Equality of Sweden
01/10/2008
Nyamko Sabuni, Sweden’s Minister of Integration and Gender Equality, was received by President Costa on Wednesday 1 October 2008. Elisabet Fura-Sandström, the judge elected in respect of Sweden, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, were also present.
September 2008
Visit from the President of Cyprus
30/09/2008
On Tuesday 30 September 2008 Demetris Christofias, President of Cyprus, visited the Court, where he was received by President Costa. George Nicolaou, the judge elected in respect of Cyprus, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, also attended.
Visit from the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
29/09/2008
On Monday 29 September 2008 Haris Silajdzic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited the Court, where he was received by President Costa. Ljiljana Mijovic, the judge elected in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, took also part in the visit.
Visit from the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations
29/09/2008
Jorge Sampaio, the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, was received by President Costa on Monday 29 September 2008. Ireneu Cabral Barreto, the judge elected in respect of Portugal, and Erik Fribergh, the Court’s Registrar, were also present.
Visit from the Danish Supreme Court
24/09/2008
On 23 and 24 September a delegation from the Danish Supreme Court, headed by its President, Torben Melchior, visited the Court, where they were welcomed by President Costa and Peer Lorenzen, the judge elected in respect of Denmark.
Visit from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights
18/09/2008
A delegation from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, led by its President, Paolo Carozza, visited the Court on 17 and 18 September 2008. The delegation was hosted by President Costa and Erik Fribergh, the Registrar, among others.
Visit to Cyprus
16/09/2008
On 15 and 16 September 2008 President Costa made an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of the Supreme Court, accompanied by George Nicolaou, judge elected in respect of Cyprus, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar. On 15 September they were received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, and will meet the President of the House of Representatives, Marios Garoyian. On 16 September President Costa delivered a speech to the Supreme Court after a meeting with its President, Petros Artemis.
July 2008
Visit from the Albanian Constitutional Court
09/07/2008
A delegation from the Albanian Constitutional Court, led by its President, Vladimir Kristo, visited the Court on 8 and 9 July 2008 and met President Costa. Ledi Bianku, the judge elected in respect of Albania, and Michael O'Boyle, Deputy Registrar, took also part in the visit.
Visit from the Secretary General of the OSCE
07/07/2008
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, Secretary General of the OSCE visited the Court and was welcomed by President Costa on Monday 7 July 2008.
Summer University for Democracy
04/07/2008
On Friday 4 July 2008 President Costa gave the closing
speech (in French only) at the third Summer University for Democracy, Strasbourg.
June 2008
Visit from the European Commissioner for Consumer
Protection in the Barroso Commission
30/06/2008
Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection
in the Barroso Commission, visited the Court and was welcomed by President Costa
on Monday 30 June 2008.
The Journées Strasbourgeoises 2008
30/06/2008
On Monday 30 June 2008 President Costa gave a
speech (in French only) at the Journées Strasbourgeoises 2008. This opening speech focus on “similarities and differences between law and morality: factors for unity or diversity?”
Visit from the President of Montenegro
30/06/2008
Filip Vujanovic, President of Montenegro, visited the Court on Monday 30 June 2008 and held a meeting with President Costa.
Visit from the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross
26/06/2008
Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was welcomed by President Costa on Thursday 26 June 2008.
Visit from the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe
24/06/2008
A delegation from the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe visited the Court on Tuesday 24 June 2008. They were received
by President Costa. During the visit the Court's Registrar, Erik Fribergh, and
Deputy Registrar, Michael O’Boyle, presented the work and organisation of the
Court.
Visit from the
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
23/06/2008
Carl Bildt, Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Sweden and Chairman-in-Office of the Committee of
Ministers of the Council of Europe, met President Costa on Monday 23 June 2008.
Judge Elisabet Fura-Sandström, elected in respect of Sweden, and Court Registrar
Erik Fribergh attended the meeting.
Visit from the
President of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic
17/06/2008
President Costa met
the President of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic, Iva Brozova, on
Tuesday 17 June 2008.
Official visit to
Sweden
10/06/2008
On 9 and 10 June 2008
President Costa, (speech
in French only) accompanied by a delegation from the Court composed of Elisabet
Fura-Sandström, judge elected in respect of Sweden (speech),
Giorgio Malinverni, judge elected in respect of Switzerland (speech),
Erik Fribergh, Registrar (speech),
Michael O'Boyle, Deputy Registrar, and Roderick Liddell, Director of Common
Services (speech),
attended a symposium in Stockholm organised in connection with Sweden's
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The
symposium addressed means of strengthening the implementation of the Convention
at the national level, and brought together representatives of the Governments
of the Council of Europe's member and observer States as well as representatives
of international NGOs and governmental organisations. During the visit President
Costa met Sweden's Justice Minister Beatrice Ask, the Vice-President of the
Supreme Court, Gertrud Lennander and the President of the Supreme Administrative
Court, Sten Heckscher.
Official visit to
Finland
06/06/2008
President Costa,
accompanied by a delegation from the Court comprising Päivi Hirvelä, the judge
elected in respect of Finland, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar, was in Finland for
an official visit on 5 and 6 June 2008. President Costa met the Minister of
Justice, Tuija Brax, and the Prosecutor General, Matti Kuusimäki. During the
visit he gave a
speech at the Supreme Administrative Court and took part in a seminar. He
was also received by the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.
Exchange of views
with the Council of Europe's European Committee of Social Rights
02/06/2008
On Monday 2 June 2008
President Costa, accompanied by a delegation from the Court (Françoise Tulkens,
Section President, judge elected in respect of Belgium, Giorgio Malinverni,
judge elected in respect of Switzerland, and Erik Fribergh, Registrar), took
part in an exchange of views with the Council of Europe's European Committee of
Social Rights.
May 2008
Visit to
the Netherlands
30/05/2008
President Costa,
accompanied by a delegation from the Court including Egbert Myjer, judge elected
in respect of the Netherlands, and Michael O'Boyle, Deputy Registrar, were in
the Netherlands on 29 and 30 May 2008 for an official visit. President Costa met
the President of the Supreme Court, W.J.M. Davids, the Vice-President of the
Council of State, H.D. Tjeenk Willink, the Minister for European Affairs, F.
Timmermans, and the Minister of Justice, E.M.H. Hirsch Ballin. On the occasion
of this visit, he was also received by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix.
Speech
Visit from the President of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro
28/05/2008
A delegation from the Constitutional Court of Montenegro headed by its President, Milan Markovic, visited the Court on Wednesday 28 May 2008 and met with President Costa and the Deputy Registrar, Michael O'Boyle.
Visit from the Secretary-General of La Francophonie
23/05/2008
Abdou Diouf, Secretary-General of
La Francophonie, former President of the Republic of Senegal, paid a visit to the Court on Friday 23 May 2008, when he met President Costa and the Registrar, Erik Fribergh. During their meeting, President Costa gave Abdou Diouf an introduction to the Court.
Visit from the French Senate's Finance Committee
20/05/2008
A delegation from the French Senate's Finance Committee, led by Jean Arthuis, visited the Court on Tuesday 20 May 2008 for a meeting and discussions with President Costa. Erik Fribergh, Registrar and Vincent Berger, Jurisconsult, took part in this meeting, during which the members of the delegation familiarised themselves with the working of the Court.
Visit to the Principality of Andorra
16/05/2008
At the invitation of Didier Maus, President of the Constitutional Court of the Principality of Andorra, President Costa made an official visit to Andorra on 15 and 16 May 2008, accompanied by a delegation from the Court composed of Josep Casadevall, judge elected in respect of Andorra, and Court Registrar Erik Fribergh. President Costa spoke at a conference organised by the Constitutional Court.
Speech in French only
Visit to Azerbaijan
04/05/2008
President Costa, accompanied by a delegation from the Court composed of, among others, Khanlar Hajiyev, the judge elected in respect of Azerbaijan, and Roderick Liddell, the Director of Common Services, went on an official visit to Azerbaijan from 2 to 4 May 2008. President Costa was received by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. During the visit President Costa also met Farhad Abdullayev, the President of the Constitutional Court, and Ramiz Rzayev, the President of the Supreme Court, and held discussions with the Minister of Justice, Fikrat Mammadov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov. President Costa gave a speech at the International Conference on the Protection of Democratic Values in the Administration of Justice.
Speech
Visit from the President of the Turkish Constitutional Court
06/05/2008
A delegation from the Turkish Constitutional Court, led by its President Hasim Kilic, came to the Court for a working visit on 5 and 6 May 2008. The delegation attended when the new judge elected in respect of Turkey, Isil Karakas, took the oath on Monday 5 May. It also attended working meetings with President Costa and judges and staff from the Registry.
April 2008
Twelfth "Study Session for persons providing legal assistance to Roma and Traveller Communities"
28/04/2008
President Costa delivered an opening speech at the twelfth "Study Session for persons providing legal assistance to Roma and Traveller Communities", in which Françoise Tulkens, the judge elected in respect of Belgium, also took part.
Speech in French only
Visit from the French Minister of Foreign Affairs
17/04/2008
On the occasion of the Parliamentary Assembly part-session, President Costa has received a visit from the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner.
Press
realease
Visit from the Federal Chancellor of Germany
15/04/2008
President Costa has received a visit from Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany. In welcoming the Chancellor, President Costa, accompanied by Renate Jaeger, judge elected in respect of Germany, and the Registrar, Erik Fribergh, emphasised the importance of this visit.
Press
Release
Visit from the President of
the Slovak
Republic
14/04/2008
President Costa has received a visit from President Ivan Gašparovic of
the Slovak
Republic, accompanied, in particular, by Jan Kubis, the Slovakian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers.
Press
Release
Visit to the Slovak Republic
03/04/2008
President Costa, accompanied by a delegation from the Court
made up of, among others, Ján Šikuta, the judge elected in respect of the Slovak
Republic,
were on an official visit to the Slovak Republic. President Costa was received by
the President of the Supreme Court, Milan Karabín, and met the members of the
Supreme Court and the members of the Slovakian Judicial Council. He held talks
with Justice Minister Štefan Harabin, who briefed him in particular on the
Government’s initiatives aimed at remedying problems concerning the length of
proceedings. President Costa also met with the Speaker of the Slovakian
Parliament, Pavol Paška, who assured him of the Slovak Republic's full support for the
Court’s efforts to secure implementation of Protocol No. 14.
Seminar on
"the role of the Government Agents in effective human-rights protection"
03/04/2008
On 3 April the President delivered an address at a seminar on
the role of the Government Agents in effective human-rights protection, being
held in connection with Slovakia’s Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe. He also gave a speech at the celebration to mark the
fifteenth anniversary of the Constitutional Court.
Speeches
March 2008
Visit to Lithuania
14/03/2008
At the invitation of the President of the Lithuanian
Constitutional Court, Egidijus Kuris, President Costa made an official visit
to Lithuania from 10 to 14 March 2008 accompanied by a delegation from the
European Court composed of Danute Jociene, the judge elected in respect of
Lithuania, and Patrick Titiun, Head of the President's Private Office.
President Costa addressed the Lithuanian Parliament and the
Constitutional Court and held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister and the
Speaker of Parliament. He was also received by the Lithuanian President, Valdas Adamkus, who told him that the Court was helping Lithuania to identify
problems and redress them. Adamkus expressed the view that President Costa's
visit would assist Lithuania's progress towards improving human rights.
President Costa said in reply that Adamkus's commitment to human rights was
encouraging for the Court's work.
A Child’s View of Human Rights
10/03/2008
The European Court of Human Rights welcomed 180
schoolchildren aged 9 to 12 years from France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Russian
Federation
and Switzerland for the closing ceremony of a human-rights awareness-raising
project organised by the association Regards d’Enfants, under the auspices of
the Council of Europe. The children, acting as human-rights ambassadors,
presented their work and pictures about different Articles of the Convention,
before planting a tree in the Court's grounds.
Press release
February 2008
Launch of the 2008 edition of the European Union’s Exchange
Programme for Judicial Authorities
08/02/2008
President Costa pronounced an opening speech to mark the
launch of the 2008 edition of the European Union’s Exchange Programme for
Judicial Authorities. This programme run by the Judicial Training Network
enables judges and prosecutors to experience working in courts in other European
countries. The launching ceremony was held at the Strasbourg Court on 7 February,
in the presence, inter alia, of the Permanent Representative of the European
Commission to the Council of Europe, Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, and the Court’s
Registrar, Erik Fribergh. For the first time, work experience in the European
Court of Human Rights is being offered as part of the programme, which has
already benefitted 375 members of the legal service.
January 2008
Visit from the President of Georgia
24/01/2008
On Thursday 24 January 2008 President Costa received a visit
from Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia, accompanied by the President of
the Georgian Supreme Court and the President of the Constitutional Court of
Georgia. During their meeting, Mr Saakashvili invited President Costa to pay an
official visit to Georgia; the President of the Court announced that he would
carry out this visit in the course of 2008.
NGO Conference of the Council of Europe
22/01/2008
President Jean-Paul Costa delivered a speech on Tuesday 22
January before the NGO Conference of the Council of Europe.
Speech in French only
Visit from the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic
21/01/2008
On Monday 21 January 2008 President Costa received a visit
from Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, and Ján Kubiš, the
Slovakian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe. During that meeting, Prime Minister Fico and the
Minister for Foreign affairs assured President Costa that the Court could count
on the support of the Slovak Republic.
Visit to Budapest
19/01/2008
President Costa paid an official visit to Budapest
from 16 to 19 January 2008 at the invitation of Zoltán Lomnici, President of
the Supreme Court. He was accompanied by András Baka, Judge elected in
respect of Hungary. He was received by the Hungarian President László Sólyom,
and met Mihály Bihari, President of the Constitutional Court and the members
of the Constitutional Court. He also met the Presidents of the Chambers of the
Supreme Court. He had a meeting with Albert Takács, Minister of Justice and
Police in the presence of Judit Fazekas, Secretary of State in charge of the
Law of the European Union. He paid a visit to the Parliament where he met the
Vice-President, Gábor Világosi.