Cooperation between Council of Europe and EU: Secretary General and EU foreign minister discuss closer relationship

The Secretary General met on 15 December with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, for the first introductory visit, focused on ways to reinforce cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe against the background of the changes resulting from the Lisbon treaty entering into force. Thorbjørn Jagland and Baroness Catherine Ashton agreed that these changes, and notably the setting up of the External Action Service and the EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, provide an opportunity for a new, much closer relationship between Strasbourg and Brussels. They agreed to meet regularly and maintain open communication lines for consultations on areas of mutual interest and concern.