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Governor Wenzel addresses Council of Europe and OSCE working group

28 April 2017

BRUSSELS - The Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Rolf Wenzel participated in COSCE, the joint working group of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which met in Brussels today. 

Governor Wenzel gave a presentation on the current activities of the CEB and took part in an exchange of views. The topics discussed included current challenges facing Europe, especially migration, youth unemployment, and slow economic growth, and ways to tackle these challenges. 

In his speech, Mr Wenzel stressed that the respective activities of the CEB and the OSCE to support democracy and democratic values, human rights and the rule of law were complementary and fully aligned with the core values of the Council of Europe. 

He also underlined the importance of the CEB’s work to promote social cohesion and inclusive growth in Europe as a way of fighting inequality, exclusion and marginalisation, often seen as some of the root causes of radicalisation and extremism. 

The social integration of migrants, refugees and displaced persons was a priority line of action for the CEB, said Governor Wenzel. “Every effort must be made to give these people a professional and economic perspective. This is what the CEB is striving to achieve in its member countries, so that together we can create strong, thriving democracies in which every individual has the chance to develop his or her full potential,” he concluded. 

Also taking part in COSCE were the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, and the Director of the Directorate General of Programmes of the Council of Europe, Verena Taylor. 

Set up in 1956, the CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) has 41 member states. Twenty-two Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries, forming the Bank's target countries, are listed among the member states. As a major instrument of the policy of solidarity in Europe, the Bank finances social projects by making available resources raised in conditions reflecting the quality of its rating (Aa1 with Moody's, outlook stable, AA+ with Standard & Poor's, outlook stable and AA+ with Fitch Ratings, outlook stable). It thus grants loans to its member states, and to financial institutions and local authorities in its member states for the financing of projects in the social sector, in accordance with its Articles of Agreement.