Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Romania on 20-21 March.

In Bucharest, Mr. Jagland is holding bilateral meetings with the President of Romania Traian Băsescu, the Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlăţean, the Minister of Justice Mona Maria Pivniceru, the President of the Chamber of Deputies Valeriu Zgonea, the President of the Senate Crin Antonescu and the President of the Superior Council of Magistrates Oana Schmidt Hăineală. He will also meet with the Romanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The main topics of he visit include Council of Europe-Romania relations, execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments, constitutional and administrative-territorial reforms, justice, combating corruption and the Roma.

Following Secretary General Jagland's meeting with Prime Minister Ponta today, the Prime Minister announced that Romania would request that the European Court of Human Rights postpone by 3-4 weeks its 12 April deadline for implementation of its judgment on the Romanian law on property restitution to allow for more consultations in Strasbourg. The aim was to draft a law in full conformity with the ECHR decision, both sides concluded.

Secretary General Jagland and Prime Minister Ponta also agreed that the Romanian government would officially request the Council of Europe's body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission, for its expertise in the constitutional reform process.

With regard to the situation of Roma, a priority for the Council of Europe, Secretary General Jagland and Prime Minister Ponta agreed that assistance programmes should focus more on education as key for the long-term integration of the Roma community in Romania.

During his visit, Mr. Jagland will participate in a seminar celebrating the 20th anniversary of Romanian´s accession to the Council of Europe and visit a Roma school in the Ferentari district.

A press conference with Secretary General Jagland and Foreign Minister Titus Corlăţean will take place on Thursday 21 March at 13:00 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For accreditation, please contact: [email protected]

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