A choral response” “

“Apart from the important documents we have signed, apart from the official speeches, we have been able to speak to each other, discuss together common problems and ways of tackling them. I think that during these days in Warsaw we have finally been able to breath an air of pan-European unity”, said the “host” of the summit, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, to the delegates of the 46 member countries of the Council of Europe. From his words transpires the success accredited by those present to the meeting held in the Polish capital on 16-17 May. NEW CHALLENGES, terrorism AND REFORM OF THE COURT IN StrasbOurg. “Europe has changed in recent years – explained Kwasniewski -: we are faced by the challenges of terrorism, the security and prosperity of our citizens, and the enlargement of the democratic area… It seems clear to all of us that we need to work in close cooperation, through the Council of Europe and by reinforcing the complementarity between it, the EU and the OSCE”. To this end the political leaders adopted a final Declaration, entrusting Jean-Claude Juncker with the task of drawing up “a report on the relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union”, to avoid the duplication of roles and the squandering of resources, and “bearing in mind the importance of the human dimension of European construction”. A “group of wise men” was also set up, with the task of formulating proposals for the reform of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, weighed down by a huge mountain of 78,000 back cases. “RESPONDING TOGETHER TO globalizaTION”. Equal dignity was conferred to all countries at the summit in Warsaw, ranging from miniscule states like Andorra, Monaco and San Marino to Germany, Russia, Great Britain and France. The voices heard in the royal castle of Warsaw included the premiers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia-Montenegro, Turkey, Hungary and Ukraine. The fact that “the conviction that we must stand united in replying to the problems of globalization was reinforced” at the meeting of the Council of Europe was also important, as its general secretary, the Englishman Terry Davis, explained. “In response to the globalization of some grave problems such as terrorism, corruption, and the trafficking in human beings, the demand for laws and legal conventions we could call global is being reinforced”, said Guy de Vel, the Belgian director general of legal affairs of the Council of Europe, in a briefing to SIR. The tasks of the Council of Europe include, he stressed, “that of creating international legal standards to which the member countries must adjust. For example, against cyber-crime we need to act together and with determination, because this type of crime does not respect national frontiers. Equal attention needs to be paid to the protection of children’s rights”. HOLY SEE: “COMMON GOOD” AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES. Archbishop Giovanni LaJolo, Secretary for relations with States, addressing the summit in the name of the Holy See, declared: “I bring the greetings of the new pope, Benedict XVI, who not by chance chose as his name that of one of the patrons of Europe”. Lajolo added: “The role of the Council of Europe was essential and remains important with the goal of pursuing the common good and respect for national identities. In the process of European integration, we now need to insist on the value of freedom of conscience and religion. We spoke today of the values shared by us all. But if we wish to reinforce Europe, we must make reference to her common history and roots”, and draw guidelines from them for constructing her future. THREE NEW CONVENTIONS AND CHAIRMANSHIP OF PORTUGAL. The final document, signed by the heads of state and of government, declares: “The future progress of the construction of a Europe without delays and ambiguities must continue to be founded on the common values consecrated by the Statute of the Council of Europe: democracy, human rights, and the pre-eminence of the rule of law”. Various anniversaries are recalled in the Declaration: the 60th of the end of the Second World War; the 30th of the Helsinki Act; the 25th of the foundation of the Polish trade union “Solidarnosc”; and the 15th of the fall of the Berlin Wall. “We pay tribute – continues the Declaration – to all those who have enabled us to overcome painful divisions and enlarge our space of democratic security. Today, Europe is guided by a political philosophy of integration and complementarity and by a common commitment to multilateral action founded on international law”. The summit was preceded by a European meeting of non-governmental organizations that are cooperating with many projects of the Council of Europe. Equally important was the Youth Summit, held in tandem with the summit. It delivered a message to the political leaders. The Warsaw summit ended with three new Conventions of the Council of Europe, respectively against terrorism, money laundering and the trafficking in human beings. It also approved an “Action Plan” for the years ahead and passed the revolving chairmanship of the Council of Ministers from Poland to Portugal.