Last November, the Presidency of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe was assumed by Italy for the eight time after the creation of the organization in 1949. With this occasion, the permanent Italian representative to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Michele Giacomelli, has cured the online publication \u201cItaly and the Council of Europe\u201d, as a testimony of the strong tie between our country and the values and ideals represented and defended by the Council.<\/p>\n
This volume offers three remarkable contributions, respectively by the Italian President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pej\u010dinovi\u0107 Buri\u0107. Each of them underlines the role of the Council as a \u201cmoral compass of our continent\u201d, constantly trying to overcome current challenges, in particular the Covid-19 pandemic, with the major commitment to safeguard human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.<\/p>\n
The work, then, gives some insights on the origins, structure, and functions of the Council, and offers interesting contributions on Italy\u2019s role in the Council. As for the current Italian Presidency, Amb. Michele Giacomelli explains that \u201cItaly intends to pursue an inclusive Presidency that is open to dialogue with all parties, [\u2026] determined to consolidate further the role of the Council of Europe within the international architecture for protecting individuals and our fundamental values\u201d.<\/p>\n