Intervention of the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, during the videoconference of the Plenary meeting of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) (10 June 2020)
In his intervention during the videoconference of the Plenary meeting of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, emphasised the need to ensure the right of access to Justice in a time of pandemic. It is of decisive importance, he stressed, adding that we must also safeguard the right to a fair trial and protect the health and safety of those who work in and use the Courts. In this context, he welcomed today’s adoption of the Plenary Declaration, which, he stated, is a foundation for creating a roadmap for the functioning of judicial systems in a time of crisis. Moreover, he highlighted, respect for human rights and the principles and values that the Council of Europe represents are high on the Greek Chairmanship’s agenda.
Mr. Varvitsiotis stressed that the pandemic has led to unprecedented circumstances for which there were no guidelines for protecting human life and safeguarding human rights. “The Greek Chairmanship’s goal is to establish rules and a common system of values that will guide us in safeguarding Democracy, the Rule of Law and Human Rights during a sanitary crisis or any other emergency situation,” he emphasised. And he added that we must be prepared, so that, if something like this happens again, we don’t find ourselves in “uncharted waters.”
In this context, the Alternate Minister reiterated that the adoption of a Joint Declaration is planned for November, in Athens, during the 130th Session of the Committee of Ministers, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the signing of the European Convention on Human Rights. “It will be the first time such a text is adopted,” he underscored.
June 10, 2020