On 19 July, in Brussels, Antonio Miloshoski, Chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, and Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, discussed co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union and the areas where it can be further improved, based on the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding. They agreed that the accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights will play a significant role in further strengthening the system of human rights protection to the benefit of all European citizens.

The official talks on the accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights started on 7 July in Strasbourg and today’s meeting between Chairman Miloshoski and Vice-President Reding will give added impetus to this complex process.