Thorbjørn Jagland is one of Norway’s most high profile politicians, and can look back on a long and active political career. He served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997, and as Foreign Minister from 2000 to 2001. He has also served as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, and is currently President of the Storting.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has commented that: “The Council of Europe needs a leader who can increase the visibility of the organisation and strengthen its role in Europe’s cooperation architecture.
“This is why Norway has nominated a high-profile politician like Thorbjørn Jagland to this post. If he is elected, Mr Jagland will help to revitalise and modernise the organisation and make it more politically relevant.”
Thorbjørn Jagland together with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. Photo: Lise Åserud / Scanpix
Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Mr Jagland is a staunch defender of democratic principles and human rights. He was recently elected as the new Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the Nobel Peace Prize every year.
With his extensive international experience and top-level political network, Mr Jagland will seek to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the Council of Europe and other European organisations such as the OSCE and the EU.
Thorbjørn Jagland takes active part in the public debate, particularly on international issues, and his candidacy is fully supported by the Government and all political parties in Norway.
Four candidates
The deadline for submitting nominations was 6 March. The other nominees are Luc Van den Brande of Belgium, Mátyás Eörsi of Hungary and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz of Poland.
The Committee of Ministers will draw up a shortlist, and the new Secretary General will be elected at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly in June this year.