Brussels, 14/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - In the press release published on Wednesday 7 May after its 118th session, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe welcomes the new impetus given to relations between the pan-European organisation which groups together the 46 countries of Europe, including Russia and Turkey and the European Union. “A year after the signature of the memorandum of understanding between the two institutions, the effects of the new impetus given to the partnership are visible”, the Committee of Ministers notes. It goes on to say: “Consultations have increased at all levels and working relations have been strengthened in the areas of common interest. Ministers called for a continued intensification of effective cooperation in priority areas as foreseen by the memorandum. A new dynamic in working relations is demonstrated for example by joint efforts to develop pre-electoral assistance with countries concerned, through the joint programmes in the South Caucasus, Moldova and Ukraine and close cooperation in the countries participating in the European neighbourhood policy or the enlargement process. Furthermore, the cooperation agreement between the Council of Europe and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has been adopted and there is an increasing tendency to consult the Council of Europe on draft EU legislation as well as to make reference to Council of Europe standards in European Union policies and legislation”. Ministers also stressed that other cooperation mechanisms mentioned in the memorandum of understanding, including those aimed at the reinforcement of political dialogue on issues of mutual interest - where positive developments are already noted - may be further explored. They instructed their deputies to examine, in close cooperation with the European Union, the potential of the memorandum for further progress in this regard, as well as on the question of improving people-to-people contacts between Europeans throughout the continent.
Work is also continued on the follow-up to be given to the more general report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union that Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker established at the behest of the heads of state and government. Several recommendations made by Mr Juncker have now been taken into account: - reform of the ministerial sessions has resulted in shorter and more result-oriented meetings with more direct involvement of the outgoing and incoming chairs; - enhanced cooperation has been achieved between the Council of European Human Rights Commissioner and the European Union institutions; - and the reinforcement of the resources of the Office of the Commissioner is underway. Ministers also recalled, with a view to the election of the secretary general of the Council of Europe in 2009, that they had committed themselves a year ago to present candidates for the post of secretary general matching the profile recommended by Prime Minister Juncker. They asked their deputies to prepare an overall assessment of the relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, including action taken on the Juncker Report - to be submitted to the high-level follow-up group to the Juncker report, in time for it to be examined at the 119th ministerial session in May 2009. To this end, they asked their deputies to identify the main priorities for future action in time for the handover of the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers from Sweden to Spain in November 2008. (O.J.)