SEISMIC CHANGE: THE FUTURE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AFTER RUSSIA'S EXPULSION FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE REYKJAVİK SUMMIT

Year 2025, Volume: 83 Issue: 1

Eray Acar

https://doi.org/10.30915/abd.1541332

Abstract

The Council of Europe decided to expel Russia from the Council on 16 March 2022 following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia's initiative was characterised as a 'seismic change' in the sense that it constituted a clear incompatibility with the fundamental values on which the Council was built and threatened the existing political-legal order in Europe. In the wake of this threat, the Council held its 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023, after an 18-year break. This study will examine the place of the Summit in the functioning of the Council of Europe and its current position in the context of the Council's aim to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. The Reykjavik Summit is compared with the content of the previous Summits in Vienna in 1993, Strasbourg in 1997, and Warsaw in 2005 in the context of the circumstances surrounding these meetings. These meetings, organised to deliver a strong political message in times of crisis, are also crucial in revealing situations considered exceptional or crises for the Council of Europe. By comparing the Summits of Heads of State and Government and analysing them in light of current developments, the aim is to predict the future direction of the Council of Europe.

Keywords

Council of Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Reykjavik Summit, human rights

SİSMİK DEĞİŞİM: RUSYA’NIN AVRUPA KONSEYİ’NDEN İHRACI VE REYKJAVİK ZİRVESİ SONRASI KONSEY’İN GELECEĞİ

Abstract

Avrupa Konseyi, Rusya’nın Ukrayna’ya karşı başlattığı saldırı savaşı sonrası 16 Mart 2022’de Rusya’nın Konsey’den ihraç edilmesine karar verdi. Rusya’nın girişimi, Konseyin üzerine inşa olduğu temel değerler ile açık bir uyumsuzluk teşkil etmesi, Avrupa’daki mevcut siyasi-hukuki düzeni tehdit etmesi bağlamında “sismik değişim” olarak nitelenmiştir. Bu tehditin sonrasında Konsey 4. Devlet ve Hükümet Başkanları Zirvesi’ni 18 yıllık bir aradan sonra 16-17 Mayıs 2023 tarihlerinde Reykjavik’te düzenlemeye karar verdi. Bu çalışmada Zirve’nin Avrupa Konseyi’nin işleyişi içerisindeki yeri ve Konsey’in Avrupa’da insan hakları, demokrasi ve hukukun üstünlüğünü koruma amacı bağlamındaki güncel konumu irdelenecektir. Reykjavik Zirvesi, daha önce 1993’te Viyana’da, 1997’de Strazburg’ta ve 2005’te Varşova’da düzenlenen Zirveler’in içerikleri, bu toplantıları çevreleyen koşullar doğrultusunda karşılaştırılmaktadır. Kriz anlarında güçlü siyasi mesaj vermek adına düzenlenen bu toplantılar, Avrupa Konseyi için istisnai veya kriz olarak addedilen durumların ortaya konması bakımından da önem arz etmektedir. Devlet ve Hükümet Başkanları Zirveleri’nin karşılaştırılması ve güncel gelişmelerle birlikte değerlendirilmesi yoluyla Avrupa Konseyi’nin geleceğine dönük bir yön tahminine ulaşmak amaçlanmaktadır.

Keywords

Avrupa Konseyi, Rusya, Ukrayna, Reykjavik Zirvesi, insan hakları

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