” “"It is extremely important that cooperation between the two organisations become systematic": René Van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Pace), sums up in this way the debate which is in progress at the CoE headquarters in Strasbourg, which is mostly about the relations between the "46" members and the 25-member European Union. Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, presented a report called "Council of Europe-European Union: one ambition for the continent". The response of the PACE has been favourable, especially "in connection with the recognition of the key role played by the CoE as the defender and guarantor of human rights". The debate goes on today and tomorrow in the Palais de l’Europe, and will also deal with the proposed new Agency for Fundamental Rights of the European Union. According to Juncker, "the EU member states should urge the EU to join the European Convention on Human Rights", while "Brussels’ organisations should recognise the CoE as the landmark of human rights for all of Europe". In addition, "the EU should become a member of the Council of Europe by 2010". The Secretary General of the CoE, Terry Davis, highlights "the importance of Juncker’s idea of the EU joining the Council of Europe". Actually, "all the recommendations of prime minister Juncker are the fruit of the general principle that the European Union has a duty to respect human rights and the Council of Europe is responsible for protecting them".” “
