30/08/2007 President
At the end of the joint meeting between the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament (EP) and the ad hoc Committee of the Chairpersons of Political Groups (Presidential Committee) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) which took place on 30 August 2007 in Brussels, the Presidents of the EP, Hans-Gert Pöttering and PACE, René van der Linden and the Presidents of their respective political groups, made the following statement:
The European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe share the same values and principles; they both strive for a continent based on peace, democracy, human rights, rule of law, social justice and prosperity.
The cooperation between the two institutions is vital in their common endeavour to build a Europe without dividing lines. Complementarity and joint action whenever possible are a matter of political responsibility and accountability to Europe’s citizens, as this is the best way to enhance efficiency and avoid duplication of activities and waste of public money.
Cooperation between the EP and PACE has constantly improved and has produced commendable results, as has been witnessed most recently in their cooperation on the question of a world-wide abolition of the death penalty and in their discussions on their respective reports on CIA secret detention centres.
Much more can be achieved in a number of other areas where the two institutions can combine their respective strengths: in particular, in the promotion of democracy, including cooperation in joint electoral observation work, and in the furtherance of the respect for human rights, in inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue; in the setting of basic legal standards within Europe; the process of further EU enlargement and the European neighbourhood policy as well as in the EU’s partnership with Russia; the fight against corruption, trafficking in human beings and domestic violence.
In the meeting of 30 August 2007, it was agreed to request that the two Secretaries-general make proposals for an agreement on strengthening co-operation between PACE and EP. The signature of such an agreement will add a parliamentary dimension to the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the Council of Europe and the European Union on 23 May 2007.
It was furthermore agreed that the good functioning of the European Court on Human Rights is in the best interests of all European citizens and that the question of its financing should be of joint concern.