Program 2023

Presentation of the Council of Europe Banner for the Europe Prize awarded to Kristiansand, 1966 

The European Hymn, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra  

Welcome speech, Mayor of Kristiansand, Jan Oddvar Skisland 

Greetings to the conference,  prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre

Official opening by the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Allthinget, Iceland, MP Bjarni Jónsson.

Statement by the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge. 

Statement by Kari Henriksen, Vice president of the National Assembly, Stortinget

Keynote Speeches on the future course of European cooperation, by fmr Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Løfven,

Independent statement from the Mayor of Mykolaiv Mr Oleksandr Syenkevych.

Traditional musical performance by singer Kirsten Bråten Berg and musician Daniel Sandèn Warg from the UNESCO Setesdalen-project. 

The 4th Summit of the Council of Europe will take place in Reykjavik, 16.-17. May 2023. A High-Level Reflection Group (HLRG) has been set up by the Council of Europe to help define the way ahead. Likewise, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities have adopted recommendations with proposals for the Summit. 

Recommendations and proposals for the Summit will be presented and discussed by:  

Ine Eriksen Søreide, member of the HLRG, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Storting

Senator Fiona O’Loughlin (Lib/IRE), Chair of the Irish delegation to the PACE and Rapporteur on the Summit of the CoE 

Bernd Vöhringer, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Moderator: Fmr. Ambassador of Norway to the Council of Europe, Torbjørn Frøysnes

Report by the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Erik Møse, fmr. Judge of the European Court of Human Rights and the Supreme Court of Norway 

A European Panel of representatives from member countries, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other institutions will debate the course ahead for European cooperation.

Introduction and moderation by Mr Iulian Bulai, Romania, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, with: 

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna 

Fmr President of Lithuania and EU Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite  

Chairman of EDAM, Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, Istanbul, Ambassador (R) Tacan Ildem, fmr. Assistant Secretary General of NATO

 Head of Department of International Law, Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies, University of Public Service, Budapest, Dr. Norbert Tóth

Fmr Prime Minister of Norway and SG of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland 

President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, President of the Board of KS, Gunn Marit Helgesen 

Vice Chair of the Council of Europe Advisory Council of Youth, Alice Bergholtz

Freedom of Expression was a main theme at last year’s European Conference and continues to be a major concern for the future of Europe, particularly impacted by the Russian war against Ukraine. A panel debate on freedom of expression will cover challenges to media and academic freedom and safety of journalists. The Annual Report of the Platform on Safety of Journalists will be published at the Conference, and the agenda will include a consideration of the need for better protection of journalists and artists. 

Keynote speech, (Speaker to be disclosed later) 

Presentation of the Annual Report of the  Platform on Safety of Journalists by William Horsley, Association of European Journalists, Brussels  

Rebecca Vincent, Director of International Campaigns, Reporters sans Frontières, London will introduce and moderate the debate. The panelists are:  

Representative of Academia (Name to be disclosed later)  

Erkki Tuomioja, Chair of Historians without Borders, fmr. Foreign Minister of Finland

William Horsley, Association of European Journalists 

Kjersti Løken Stavrum, Chair of the Commission on Freedom of Expression

William Nygaard, VP of the PEN International 

Defending the Freedom of Artistic Expression in times of war and crisis. In recent years, the right to freedom of artistic expression has become of growing importance as democracy in Europe declines. In this session we examine the challenges European artists and cultural workers face when they practice their right to freedom of artistic expression.   

Artistic performance by Lusine Djanyan, Pussy Riot-artist and activist 

Panel discussion with introduction and moderation by Sverre Pedersen (Freemuse):

Sara Whyatt Author of the Council of Europe report on artistic freedom 'Free to create: Artistic freedom in Europe' 

Paul Dujardin, fmr. Director of BOZAR, President of the Centennial Anniversary Committee of the Kingdom of Belgium. 

Sonay Ban, Ph.D., Editor at Susma/Speak Up Platform

Oleksandra Deineko, Ph.D., guest researcher OsloMet and UKRAINETT representative

Lusine Djanyan, Pussy Riot-artist and activist  

Faurés requiem. Life and death in sound and image. Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra. Buy tickets here.

Conference after-party at Kilden for all guest and participants with complimentary refreshments