Press release
Today at the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, 27 Council of Europe Countries have aligned with a joint statement on the European Convention on Human Rights. The Statement underlines the need for the Convention framework to be fit to address the migration and security challenges of today’s world. Denmark and Italy will continue to lead the way in the effective management of migration.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:
"We have to ensure that foreigners convicted of serious crimes can be expelled. Unfortunately, there is a number of foreign criminals we cannot expel because of the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights. This calls for an adjustment of the balance between the weighty public interests of defending freedom and security in our societies and the foreign criminals’ individual rights. I am very pleased that a majority of the Council of Europe Countries now wants to cooperate on this initiative. It is an important step which underlines the need to increase our populations’ sense of security."
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni:
"I am very pleased that, after significantly reinforcing the external dimension of EU migration policies, launching a fruitful debate on innovative solutions, and placing migration at the core of the Italian G7 Presidency, Italy is now playing a very important and proactive role in migration and security within the Council of Europe. Today, 27 Nations - representing the majority of the Member States of the Council of Europe - have adhered to the Joint Statement promoted by Italy and Denmark on the need to update the application of the European Convention on Human Rights to today’s complex world. This approach will allow us to ensure that the safety of our citizens, which is an absolute priority for our governments, is adequately guaranteed and is not subordinated to interpretations of the law that could end up rewarding individuals who have committed serious violations."
The statement follows the open letter on conventions dated 22 May 2025, initiated by Denmark and Italy, and signed by 9 Council of Europe Countries. The work on migration and the Convention will proceed in cooperation with the Council of Europe with an aim of adopting a declaration at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on 15th May 2026 in Chișinău, Moldova.
Read the joint statement here.
For further information, please call the press and communications department at +45 29 10 88 25.
