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Forthcoming presidential elections discussed in Council of Europe-European Union meeting in Strasbourg â€“ exclusive

23 October 2007 17:05 (UTC +04:00)

â€œWe mainly touched on the preparation for the elections. You know that the Council of Europe has assistance system and the council publicized how it assisted in holding democratic elections in member states. We said that European Union is also ready to assist in these issues. We also exchanged views on European Neighborhood Policy and drew the participantsâ€™ attention to the state of assessment of action plans in some countries. Ms. Benita Ferrero said that these action plans will be assessed late this year and in spring next year. She also announced that European Commission launched Black Sea Union program and said that European Neighborhood Policy can support the programs serving regional integration, as well as cooperation projects of the Council of Europe. According to the procedure, Council of Europe can reach an agreement with any country on a special project, European Commission pays attention to this issue and passes a decision how this project can be financed in the framework of European Neighborhood Policy,â€ she said. /APA/