Thorbjorn Jagland, the former President of the Norwegian Storting and head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee was voted into the role of Secretary General for the Council of Europe by the group’s members at the beginning of the month. Jagland received more than twice the votes for his opponent, the former Polish PM Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. Jagland has considerable experience in the European theatre, having previously held the offices of Norwegian Foreign Minister and Prime Minister.
Jagland’s election was welcomed by Jonas Gahr Store, the current Norwegian Foreign Minister: “I am very happy to see a Norwegian at the helm of the organisation for the coming five-year term, and glad to see a Norwegian as secretary general in a major international organisation for the first time since Trygve Lie’s period as the first secretary general of the UN,” the Norway Post reports.
Gahr Store went on to commend the Parliamentary Assembly for their confidence in the Norwegian candidate, and also those who campaigned on his behalf. Jagland will assume his responsibilities immediately and has been elected by the 47 member states for a term of five years.
“The Council of Europe has the longest history of all the existing European cooperation organisations, and it is one of the most important inter-governmental organisations in Europe today. Its 47 member countries and 800 million European citizens need a strong and effective organisation. They need a strong leader who can renew and modernise the organisation and strengthen its fundamental objective of preserving and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” claimed Gahr Store.
The Minister went on to add that he was “…fully aware that this is a very demanding task, but I am also convinced that Mr. Jagland is the right leader as the organisation marks its 60th anniversary. As a former prime minister and foreign minister and as incumbent President of the Norwegian Storting and the Norwegian Nobel Committee, he is widely recognised as a leading European political figure. Mr Jagland – whom I have known and worked with for many years and whom I greatly respect – has clearly demonstrated over the years that he has the experience, integrity and visions required to guide the Council of Europe in the challenging years ahead.”
Øystein, Norway
That’s why I don’t want that EU membership. I see NO SINGLE reason to pay for luxury life of Icelandic MEP (unless I myself is appointed of course :-) )
Is it Ok with you that some MEP from Albania and Commissioner from Austria will decide what’s right for Norway and good for you?
I think we have enough national a****les to screw everything up.
It seems Alexandr E. doesn’t live in Eastern or Southern Europe. So please don’t dare to compare those ‘different’ circuses ;)
:P
@AE – “PS. I don’t want to pay a krona to this circus.”
Noboby expect you to like anything, but you should at least be aware of that some few of your “krona” probably goes to a peson that also works as a MEP. Many icelanders would say it is OK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8298580.stm
A circus indeed
I’ve never heard about him as “leading figure” but that’s OK. And btw it matches the pattern (see below)
For those who don’t know – once upon a time Komrad Stalin was appointed to the role of Secretary General. With almost exactly same responsibilities – to keep organization going. Just for that. The head of back office. But soon he managed to control everything as he was the only one who kept all connections together, who knew all information, who arranged everything…
The rest of story is well known.
And some additional info
What EU Commissioner does
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023252.stm
and what MEP does
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8027602.stm
Proinsias de Rossa is an MEP for Ireland and splits his time between Brussels, Strasbourg and Dublin.
And then ask yourself how can the 700-plus MEPs from 27 countries work together? Or maybe they just vote for what Commissioners offering them?
Welcome to EUSSR :-)
PS. I don’t want to pay a krona to this circus.