Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic-Buric handed over the six-month rotating chairmanship of the Council of Europe to Finland in a ceremony in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Pejcinovic-Buric briefed the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers about Croatia’s activities during its chairmanship.

Over the past six months, Croatia organised 28 events and meetings, and presented its tourism through a cultural programme in Strasbourg.

One of the main priorities of Croatia’s presidency was the fight against corruption, she said. The main event on that topic was a ministry-level conference held in the Adriatic city of Sibenik, where a declaration was agreed on forming a network for the prevention of corruption, under the auspices of Croatian, French, and Italian anti-corruption authorities.

This was the country’s first time chairing the Council of Europe since it joined in 1996.

Founded in 1949 in London, the Council of Europe is the oldest European organisation which aims to strengthen European unity and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the continent.

At the end of the Wednesday’s meeting, she symbolically handed Finland the presidency keys.

Later on Wednesday, Pejcinovic-Buric also met with Council of Europe Secretary-General Thornbjorn Jagland and Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini for talks on the future activities of the Committee of Ministers.

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