19/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - Secretary of State and current President of the Council of the European Union Hans Winkler, who was in Strasbourg for the presentation of the Austrian Presidency's programme, also met the Chairs of the European Parliament committees. He and Elmar Brok, Chair of the external relations committee, spoke about future enlargements, transatlantic relations and the international situation. The debate on the future of Europe and EP proposals on how best to use the reflection period were discussed in his meeting with Jo Leinen, Chair of the constitutional committee, and questions of development and the assimilation of Human Rights in talks with third countries were raised by the Chair of the development committee, Luisa Morgantini. In his conversations with Jean-Marie Cavada, Chair of the civil liberties committee, Mr Winkler raised the topic of the planned European Human Rights Agency. The Council President also took part in an inter-institutional group meeting on communication.