This interview is copyright-free for publication by your media

The Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament must step up their co-operation

Interview with René van der Linden, Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee

Interview (26.06.2002)

Question: The European Union is sometimes criticised for not listening closely enough to the Council of Europe. As a member of the Convention for the future of Europe, do you share that impression?

René van der Linden: I sit on the Convention as a member of the Netherlands Parliament and, like all my fellow members of the Assembly participating in the Convention, I frequently take the opportunity to sing the Council’s praises. It has outstanding achievements to its credit in the field of human rights and the rule of law, it is close to “civil society” and it brings together virtually all the countries of Europe. But while the Council is well known to the parliamentarians who have been members there, the others sometimes underestimate it or are unfamiliar with its work.

Question: How do you propose to increase its influence?

René van der Linden: As a parliamentarian I feel that the Assembly must first of all establish closer relations with the European Parliament by setting up joint committees and carrying out joint activities with it. In my report I suggest organising joint missions to observe elections, for example. The two institutions must also learn to make use of each other’s work. Similarly, national parliaments should devote one sitting per year to the Council of Europe’s activities and be kept informed of the work done by the Committee of Ministers.

Question: Can the Council of Europe help to dispel the image of a “two-tier Europe”?

René van der Linden: For this purpose it is important that the Union as such accede to the European Convention on Human Rights, because it is much wider than its own Charter of Fundamental Rights. In addition, the promotion of practical activities at grassroots level, such as those of the CLRAE, the work of the Committee against Torture or various training schemes are factors that make for greater cohesion between all countries. The Council of Europe also plays a pioneering role in the area of intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and all these specific areas of work must be developed in the context of its co-operation with the Union.