Reykjavik European Council summit, majority agreement in favor of the main purpose of the appointment – a damage “registration” caused by Russian invasion of Ukraine-, as well as -like Germany- the commitment of its many members revitalize the organization and expanding its financial endowment.
A total of 40 of the 46 member states signed the treaty and in addition to these, accession was achieved. United States, Japan and Canada, countries participating in the summit as “observers”. Among those who did not sign was Hungary, and thus it was reinstated. distancing or guilt Everything that implies taking measures against Moscow.
Other member states of the Council also have conflicting relations with Russia or strong ties with the aggressor country – for example Türkiye, Armenia, Serbia and Azerbaijan– They distanced themselves from the majority, declaring that they were not “currently” considering signing the agreement.
The registry will not be just a protocol or a database. To keep all information and evidence of the damage caused and to hold accountable those responsible for the loss or damage caused by their actions in Ukraine, and also indemnify and reimburse to those who suffer.
justice and reparation
An initial application period of three years has been proposed and its headquarters or operational headquarters will be in The Hague and another delegation will be on Ukrainian territory. In other words, the Dutch city where the International Court (ICC) is located.
The list of forty subscribers includes countries that are willing to contribute to enrollment but have not yet considered enrollment. legal terms to implement them in their own territory, such as Switzerland.
In the words of Denys Schmyhal, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, who represents his country in Reykjavik, it will be the “cornerstone” of the implementation of future “justice and reparations” as President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses their leaders in a virtual format.
German in family photo of Council of Europe leaders Olaf Schölz, French Emmanuel MacronItalian Giorgia Meloni and the British Rishi Altar, In addition to the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen. On the Spanish side, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, Describing the creation of this registry as “basic” in his statements to Efe.
It was also the term most used by the leaders and representatives of the signatory countries. “It is an important contribution to international efforts to get Russia to respond to its brutal war of aggression,” Scholz told German media.
Russian goods abroad
It is unclear how this aim of the international community will be realized. Ukrainian Prime Minister Schmyhal reminded that Kiev is determined to use Russian assets abroad to settle reparations. Instead, Scholz warned that this path is “complicated” and legally not possible.
German chancellor promised to increase with others 10 million euros your country’s financial contribution to the Council of Europe. Currently the leading European economy contributes around €44 million per year, which is close to 10% of the organisation’s total budget.
There is still a long way to go before the agreement on the registration of war damage and losses is concluded. However, broad support for this initiative in Reykjakiv resulted in the advocacy of Human Rights and democracy.
The summit in Iceland’s capital was the fourth in its more than 70-year history, and was marked by Russia’s exclusion from the organization following the start of the invasion of Ukraine last year.
“The Council of Europe can and should play a relevant role in accountability,” Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir said at the close of a summit where her country handed over the rotating presidency to Latvia, a major European ally of Ukraine. Like the rest of the Baltic states.