Strasbourg, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a speech before the General Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the Secretary General of that pan-European organisation, Walter Schwimmer declared: "There can only be one Europe, a continent peopled by 800 million Europeans, based on common values, democracy, human rights and the pre-eminence of the law. I would therefore propose to reflect upon the possibility of the European Union becoming an associate member of the Council of Europe". Speaking of the several stages (EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Cultural Convention and the European Social Charter) in this new relationship between the two organisations, Schwimmer added: "The EU and the Council of Europe share the same flag and the same anthem. Adoption of the Council of Europe's Fundamental Convention would be the next logical step. Whoever shares our symbols should also share our commitments".
The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Luzius Wildhaber also made an appeal in favour of the European Union acceding the European Convention on Human Rights. An opinion also shared by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that has just adopted the Theadoros Pangalos report on the Council of Europe's contribution to the European Convention currently drawing up a draft Constitutional Treaty for the EU (see EUROPE of 28 January, p.9).