The European Conference 6 May 2024
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Status Europa - Democracy and Human Rights in Europe

In cooperation with the Council of Europe and our partner organisations, Kristiansand municipality will convene the fifth European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights on 6 May, 2024 in Kristiansand.  

The European order has never been more profoundly challenged than through the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is in every way contradictory to respect for democracy, human rights and our fundamental values. It is time to reflect on the status of Europe.

Watch the streaming from 5 May 2023

Did you miss out on the European Conference 2023? Here is a link to the streaming.

Program 5 May 2023

About the conference

Tickets and registration

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Democracy week

Photos

Photo credit: Kjell Inge Søreide.

The European Hymn presented by the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra
Jan Oddvar Skisland, mayor of the city of Kristiansand welcomes the participants to the European Conference 2023
Ine Marie Søreide, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
 Prime Minister in Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre greeted the conference.
Bjarni Jónsson, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of Allthinget during the official opening.
 Statement by the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge.
Statement by Kari Henriksen, Vice president of the National Assembly, Stortinget
 Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
 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.
 Jan Oddvar Skisland and Oleksandr Syenkevych signing a memorandum of understanding for furthere cooperation.
Jan Oddvar Skisland and Oleksandr Syenkevych shaking hands.
 Conference moderator, Sunniva Whittaker, rector of the University of Agder
 A good turnout during the 2023 Europen Conference.
Mayor of Kristiansand, Jan Oddvar Skisland arriving the European Conference.
 From left: Mayor of Kristiansand, Jan Oddvar Skisland, former prime minister of Sweden, Stefan Løfven and Kari Henriksen, vice president of the National Assembly, Stortinget
 The audience arriving at the European Conference.
 From left: Former ambassador Torbjørn Frøysnes, Tacan Ildem, chairman of EDAM, Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, Istanbul, Ambassador (R) and Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuanian politician and fmr. president of Lithuania
 The crowd during lunch.
Maja Fleck-Baustian from Youth for Diversity together with some of the other young participants in the audience.
Time for coffee and mingling. From left former ambassador Torbjørn Frøysnes and William Nygaard, VP of the PEN International.
 Traditional musical performance by singer Kirsten Bråten Berg and musician Daniel Sandèn Warg from the UNESCO Setesdalen-project.
Musician Daniel Sandèn Warg from the UNESCO Setesdalen-project.
Former ambassador Torbjørn Frøysnes moderated the panel discussing recommendations and proposals for the upcoming Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavikd later in May.
From left: Torbjørn Frøysnes, Ine Eriksen Søreide, member of the HLRG, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Norwegian Storting, senator Fiona O’Loughlin (Lib/IRE), Chair of the Irish delegation to the PACE and Rapporteur on the Summit of the CoE
 Senator Fiona O’Loughlin (Lib/IRE), Chair of the Irish delegation to the PACE and Rapporteur on the Summit of the CoE.
Ine Eriksen Søreide, member of the HLRG, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Storting.
 Bernd Vöhringer, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
 A statement on Ukraine: Ar eport 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 debated the course ahead for European cooperation. Introduction and moderation by Mr Iulian Bu
 Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna participated in the panel via videolink.
Fmr President of Lithuania and EU Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite.
 From left: Alice Berholtz, Vice Chair of the Council of Europe Advisory Council of Youth, Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuanian politician and fmr. president of Lithuan
 From left: Dr. Norbert Tóth, Tacan Ildem and Julian Bulai.
 William Horsley from Association of European Journalists, Brussels presented the Annual Report of the Platform on Safety of Journalists.
The topic for session III was a debate on freedom of expression discussing challenges to media and academic freedom and safety of journalists. From left: Rebecca Vincent, Director of International Campaigns, Reporters sans Frontières who moderated the pan
 Kjersti Stavrum Løken, Chair of the Commission on Freedom of Expression sharing some of her thoughts.
 William Nygaard (left) and Erkki Tuomioja.
 Session IV was about defending the Freedom of Artistic Expression in times of war and crisis. Oleksandra Deineko, Ph.D., guest researcher OsloMet and UKRAINETT representative introduced the session.
Sverre Pedersen (Freemuse) and Deineko talked about the challenging situation in the Ukraine.
Sverre Pedersen (Freemuse) sharing som initial thoughts.
 The entire panel from left: Sverre Pedersen (from Freemuse), Sarah Whyatt (Author of the Council of Europe report on artistic freedom 'Free to create: Artistic freedom in Europe''), Sonay Ban, Ph.D., Editor at Susma/Speak Up Platform, Lusine Djanyan, Pussy
 Lusine Djanyan and Paul Dujardin
 Sarah Whyatt
 Sonay Ban
 Lusine Djanyan
 Lusine Djanyan during her artistic performance
 Lusine Djanyan during her artistic performance. She ended with a quote by the Russion opposition politician Ilya Yashin, a friend of hers who has been imprisoned for nine years: This darkness is not forever, it's not endless. The spring will come.

Where do we stand, and what are we moving towards? The implications of the war are grave and lasting. It is necessary to consider how we can sustain and defend a functioning system of European cooperation. An important question for European institutions, such as the Council of Europe and the EU, is how cooperation can be sustained without Russian participation. There is also much concern and uncertainty among European citizens about the future of Europe. Therefore, defining the status and the way ahead for European cooperation is the main theme of the 4th European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights.

What to expect?

One of the key topics which will be addressed at the conference is the upcoming fourth Summit of the Council of Europe, which will take place in Reykjavik mid-May. The ramifications of the war in Ukraine for human rights, European relations and freedom of speech and artistic reflections will also be on the agenda.

The conference brings together high-level speakers and panelists from the Council of Europe, the EU and the parliamentary assemblies. There will be several speakers from the Nordic countries, including Iceland, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of Europe. Other European countries, such as the Ukraine, will also be represented, as well as international organizations such as Reporters sans Frontières, Association of European Journalists, PEN, Historians without borders etc.

We look forward to welcoming public institutions, media actors, parliamentarians, international organisations, as well as NGOs, companies, foundations, trade unions, thinktanks, universities and civil society at large.

Some of this year's speakers

Dalia Grybauskaite

Lithuanian politician and fmr. president of Lithuania

Stephan Löfven

Former prime minister of Sweden

Lusine Djanyan

Pussy Riot-artist and activist

Bjarni Jónsson

Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of Allthinget

Complete list of speakers

Click here for the 2023 speakers 

Democracy Week

The European Conference is the main event of Kristiansand’s Democracy Week, which takes place from 2 - 8 May. This is a week filled with panel discussions, political conversations and cultural events addressing challenges regarding democracy, human rights and freedom of expression. There will be several high-level bilateral and multilateral meetings, diplomatic participation, and wide media coverage.

Kristiansand kommune
Postboks 4
4685 Nodeland

T: 38 07 50 00 | E-post
www.kristiansand.kommune.no

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