Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Justice
On Wednesday, 10 December 2025, in Strasbourg, Lithuanian Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė took part in an informal Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe. During the event, Lithuania and 26 other member states presented a joint political statement highlighting the need to strengthen Europe’s resilience to modern threats in the context of migration, including the instrumentalisation of migrants.
Migration Flows and Hybrid Attacks
The Minister noted that the discussions are taking place at a time when Europe is facing irregular migration flows and hybrid attacks, with authoritarian regimes exploiting democratic states’ human rights obligations to undermine their democracies, values, and unity. According to her, this situation requires the ability to respond to new security challenges without losing trust in the system of the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Lithuania consistently supports the understanding of the Convention as a living instrument — one that must evolve alongside a changing geopolitical environment while preserving the independence of the European Court of Human Rights and its ability to respond to emerging challenges,” said Tamašunienė.
The Convention as a Constitutional Document of European Public Order
The Minister stressed that, as the Convention is a constitutional document of European public order, its application must remain dynamic — enabling states not only to protect individual rights but also to defend democratic institutions and national security when they become targets of deliberate external attacks.
Speaking about the instrumentalisation of migration, she highlighted the need for a clear and firm interpretation of the Convention, taking into account three key elements:
the malicious use of people as tools of political pressure,
the real and direct threats to public order,
the need for states to apply proportionate and lawful measures.
She emphasised that human rights and security principles reinforce each other, and the Convention must remain a tool that helps states protect democracy, the rule of law, and the safety of their citizens.
Conclusions Adopted During the Conference
The conference resulted in conclusions confirming the participating states’ commitment to continue the political dialogue along the directions set by the Council of Europe.
Additionally, during the evening meeting of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe’s Action Plan is expected to be approved.
On 22 May 2025, the leaders of nine states — Denmark, Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland — signed a joint political statement drawing attention to challenges arising in the context of migration and calling for a fair balance in the interpretation of the Convention by the European Court of Human Rights.
18 More States Join the Initiative
Today, 10 December, another 18 states joined the joint political statement:
Ireland, Albania, Bulgaria, Iceland, Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Ukraine, and Hungary.
Lietuvosvalstybe.com
Source: Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania
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