Bildt referred the parliamentarians to his written communication concerning the last months' activities in the Committee of Ministers and responded  briefly to some of the written questions that the parlamentarians had addressed to him. Thereafter he gave a speech focusing on political issues of high relevance in the European context.

In his intervention, Minister Bildt underlined the role of the Council of Europe in Europe, and with focus on the core issues in which the activities of the organisation makes a difference. This was done with success. Of course there were shortcomings in many different areas - in all parts of Europe - including in Sweden, where constant work on improving the protection of human rights was ongoing.

The Minister said that the protection of human rights and our democratic systems prevented our societies from confrontation. All Member States had a responsibility to monitor each other since no state stood above our common values.

Bildt stressed the importance of the European Court of Human Rights and the Convention on Human Rights.

In the Minister's view, the huge workload of the Court was a consequence of its own success. To address this problem it was of great importance that all Member States ratify Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights as soon as possible so that it can enter into force.

The possibility to ask spontaneous questions constituted a change in the format of the meeting, that most of the parliamentarians appreciated. One question regarded how the responsibility of Member States and the relations between parliaments could be strengthened. Bildt answered that all Member States had a responsibility to monitor each other. He welcomed a discussion on how this could be further developed.

Another question concerned the current Swedish law on signals intelligence. Bildt stated that the new law did not change anything in practical terms, it just meant that there was now a law in place on an activity that was not regulated before. On questions about the budget Bildt referred to the fact that  most States favour zero growth, which was not necessarily wrong, but at the same time it was obvious that the realisation of the visions of the Council of Europe would imply certain costs.

One parliamentarian questioned the increasing cooperation between the EU and Cuba. Bildt said that he could not see any steps towards democracy in Cuba, but he promoted a dialogue as isolation presented no possibility to have any influence. The same approach was applicable regarding Belarus. On a question if it was likely to have Kosovo as the 48th Member State of the Council of Europe, Bildt answered that the item was not on the agenda. He stressed that Kosovo firstly had to focus on economic and social development.

In addition to his speech in the Parliamentary Assembly, Bildt’s day in Strasbourg included conversations with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Lluís Maria de Puig, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, and the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Jean-Paul Costa.