Walter Schwimmer joins with the future Italian Presidency of the EU in a political conspectus

Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, and the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini discussed the future Italian Presidency of the EU this morning in Rome. They identified themes of common action for the two European institutions such as migration and fighting terrorism and traffic in human beings. The issues of Serbia and Montenegro, after the murder of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the future Moldovan Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and the contribution expected of Italy in the monitoring of media throughout Europe were also addressed. Italy will look into the matter of making the European Union an "associate member" of the Council of Europe, said Mr Frattini.

During the day Mr Schwimmer also spoke with Fiorello Provera, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, about Iraq and the dangers of future refugee cohorts. He raised the subject of enhancing the synergies between the Council of Europe and the EU with Rocco Buttiglione, Minister for Community Policies.

With the Minister of Justice, Roberto Castelli, discussions concerned the measures designed to shorten court proceedings and speed up the execution of judgments delivered by the European Court of Human Rights. The Secretary General and the Minister for Regional Affairs, Enrico La Loggia, agreed on the approach to adopt for drawing up an instrument on regional self-government in Europe that would be compatible with the Community measures.

In Naples, while visiting the Maison de la Méditerranée at the invitation of Claudio Azzolini, Chairman of the Italian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Secretary General said he was impressed by this centre where states and civil society of both shores of the Mediterranean were represented. He added that it materially furthered the Council of Europe's action in the sphere of intercultural dialogue.