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The European Commission and Council of Europe signed a ‘Statement of Intent’ on April 1 putting in place a new framework for cooperation in the EU Enlargement and Neighborhood Regions for the period 2014-2020.
“The agreement will enable the two organizations to work together in a more strategic and result-focused manner to help promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the EU Enlargement and Neighborhood Regions based on the Council of Europe’s binding international conventions, monitoring bodies and assistance programs,” according to a message posted on the website of the Council of Europe.
The statement was signed in Brussels by EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Fule and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland.
The agreement sets out working methods for cooperation through joint programs in the EU Enlargement Region (Turkey and the Western Balkans), countries covered by the EU Eastern Partnership program and also countries in the Southern Mediterranean region (initially Morocco and Tunisia).
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