LIVE VIDEO, TEXT // Ministerial Session of Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe opened in Chișinău

The Republic of Moldova is hosting today the 135th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Over 50 delegations from member states are expected at the event, including more than 20 foreign ministers. The meeting marks the end of the Republic of Moldova’s mandate at the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Update 09:22 – The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, underlined that the democratic resilience of the Republic of Moldova is a powerful message for Europe.

“Madam President Sandu, thank you very much for your words. Your speech reminded us that defending Ukraine actually means defending Europe’s ideas, a Europe based on human dignity, democracy, solidarity and the rule of law. The resistance, the democratic resilience of Moldova, is a powerful message for Europe, demonstrating that democratic societies can withstand manipulation when institutions are strong and European values remain the compass that guides the country. Thank you very much, Madam President, for being such a strong European leader,” Berset said at the opening of the session.

Update 09:00 – The 135th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has opened its proceedings. The President of the Republic of Moldova is delivering a speech.

“The Council of Europe was built after the ruins of war. At that time, not only buildings were in ruins, but also trust, dignity and institutions. The founders understood something that history has written in blood: peace does not just mean the absence of war; it must be built, maintained and protected,” Maia Sandu said, stressing that today Russia represents a major threat to European security.

The President highlighted the importance of support for Ukraine and the need for international accountability mechanisms.

“It is very important for the Republic of Moldova to be a founding member of the Special Tribunal for the investigation of the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Impunity is not neutral — it is an invitation to repeat crimes,” the President stated.

Update 08:42 – Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Țoiu, is making statements to the press. The head of diplomacy in Bucharest reaffirmed support for the European path of the Republic of Moldova and called for accelerating the process of accession to the European Union, including by opening negotiation chapters.

“Romania is a country deeply committed to this European path. We have seen the reforms carried out by the Republic of Moldova and it is very clear that, at this point, all the negotiation chapters must be opened,” Oana Țoiu declared.

Update 08:08 – At the Palace of the Republic, delegations from the member states of the Council of Europe are starting to arrive to participate in the Ministerial Session held in Chișinău. The guests are being welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, and by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The meeting will take place at the Palace of the Republic in the center of the capital. It will reflect the priorities assumed by our country during its presidency and will include topics such as continued support for Ukraine, with an emphasis on reconstruction, combating disinformation and foreign interference, strengthening security and reinforcing democratic resilience.

At the same time, ministers will discuss the Democratic Pact for Europe, the future external action strategy of the Council of Europe, migration, and the strengthening of international cooperation and multilateralism.

The event program will start at 08:00 with the reception of delegations. At 09:00, the official opening of the ministerial session will take place, with addresses by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, a speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, as well as an intervention by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset. At the end of the event, the rotating presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will be handed over to the Principality of Monaco.

After the handover ceremony of the presidency, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Principality of Monaco, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, as well as the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will hold a joint press conference. The Republic of Moldova took over, on 14 November 2025, the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The mandate is exercised by our country for a period of six months, until 15 May of this year. This is the second time the state has held this responsibility, the first Presidency being exercised in 2003.

The Committee of Ministers is the main decision-making body of the Council of Europe, responsible for implementing the organization’s objectives. Member states are represented by their ministers of foreign affairs and by their permanent representatives to the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is a European intergovernmental organization, created on 5 May 1949. It currently has 46 member states and its official seat is in Strasbourg, France. The main objectives of the Council of Europe are the protection of human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law; identifying solutions to the problems facing European society; and consolidating democratic stability in Europe by supporting political, legislative and constitutional reforms.

The Republic of Moldova became a member of the Council of Europe on 13 July 1995.