Press Release: New impulse for European Union – Council of Europe co-operation

On 3.4.01, the European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, and Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, signed a Joint Declaration on Co-operation and Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The main aim of the Declaration is to provide for the establishment of a framework to improve the implementation of co-operation between the two organisations. In particular, an annual meeting will provide the occasion for officials from both sides to draw up objectives, plan activities, monitor joint programmes and evaluate their implementation. This Declaration aims to enhance complementarity between the two institutions in their contributions to democratic stability in our continent.