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EU Secretary General’s reform backed by Committee of Ministers

21 January 2010 21:30 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ziya Agazade â€“ APA. Strasbourg, 21.01.2010 - The proposal to reform the Council of Europe presented by Secretary General ThorbjÃ¸rn Jagland on 20 January received unanimous support by the Committee of Ministers of the Organisation, APA reports quoting European Council press release spread at EUâ€™s website.

â€œItâ€™s a new time. The political landscape is changingâ€, said the Secretary General, as he presented his vision for the future of the Council of Europe to the Organisationâ€™s decision-making body.

â€œEurope has once again come to a crossroads, so has the Council of Europeâ€, he said.

Jagland unveiled his plan to revitalise the Council of Europe as a political body and an innovative, flexible organisation, in close cooperation with staff and the stakeholders of the Organisation, making it more visible and relevant for the citizens of Europe.

â€œSome parts of the reform have to be implemented immediately, others will take more time,â€ said the Secretary General, â€œBut the work has to start nowâ€, he said. The Organisation should concentrate on fewer projects, selected for the added value and comparative advantages they offer.

Note that, the Secretary General will hold a press conference on the upcoming session of the Parliamentary Assembly and his reform plan at 17.00 on Monday 25 January in Room 1 of the Palais de lÂ´Europe, the OrganisationÂ´s main building.