Brussels, 18/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, Giovanni Di Stasi, President of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, says: 'I welcome… the positive assessment given to the role of the Congress in reinforcing territorial democracy in Europe,' in the report on relations between the EU and the Council of Europe prepared by Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Congress' role in boosting inter-territorial democracy (see EUROPE 9173 on Juncker's report). 'I am particularly pleased to see that Prime Minister Juncker supported the Congress' recent initiatives, namely the creation of the Adriatic and Black Sea Euro-regions and the establishment of a Council of Europe Centre on inter-regional and transborder cooperation in St Petersburg. I am also pleased that Mr Juncker has a positive view of the possible joint action of EU and the Congress in South-East Europe and South Caucasus,” he added.