During her inaugural visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on November 12 and 13, Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni met high-ranking representatives of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights for working discussions. She also signed the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism.

Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, spoke about his first year in office and exchanged views on Council of Europe activities in support of Ukraine and the Council of Europe's promotion of democracy, all priorities of Mr. Berset. They also exchanged views on the status of the budget negotiations, which are being led by Ambassador Domenik Wanger. The Council of Europe budget should be adopted in two weeks, but further compromises are still necessary.

Together with the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge, the Foreign Minister signed the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. The Additional Protocol, also known as the Riga Protocol, criminalizes in particular travel for terrorist purposes as well as related acts of financing and support. Liechtenstein signed and ratified the Warsaw Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism in 2016. Voluntary contributions were also awarded to the Council of Europe. Liechtenstein uses these to support Council of Europe projects that promote good governance based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the member states of the Council of Europe.

The meeting with Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), focused on the important work of protecting fundamental rights and the independence of the Court. The meeting with Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, focused in particular on the importance of involving young people in democratic processes. Liechtenstein is endeavoring to find a youth delegate from Liechtenstein for next year's congress. The stay in Strasbourg was rounded off with a working lunch with Secretary General Berset and the German-speaking ambassadors and a reception with representatives of the Council of Europe member states and high-ranking Council of Europe staff at the Liechtenstein residence.

Further images can be downloaded at regierung.li/medienportal.