Date of release : 17-05-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : Participation of the Presidency at the 3rd Summit of the Council of Europe

The Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, as head of the Polish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, submitted a proposal to the 3^rd Council of Europe Summit that Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, be entrusted with a special assignment on the structure of Europe in recognition of his skills and convictions regarding Europe.

As a result, the final policy declaration from the Heads of State and Government at the Summit will include a reference making clear the Council of Europe’s determination to take its place alongside other organisations involved in building a democratic and safe Europe.

The Heads of State and Government of the 46 nations represented at the Council of Europe have decided "to create a new structure allowing greater cooperation and interaction between the Council of Europe and the European Union in areas of common interest and particularly with regard to human rights, democracy and the rule of law." 

The Council of Europe has appointed Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, "to draw up personally a report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, based on decisions taken at the Summit and keeping in mind the importance of the human dimension in European integration".