Today, the EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell met with Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. 

High Representative/Vice-President Borrell and Secretary-General Burić reiterated their commitment to deepen the high-level political dialogue and to reinforce even further the EU-Council of Europe strategic partnership in the areas of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Following the EU’s high-level participation in the Council of Europe’s Reykjavík Summit in May 2023, the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange on the current state of play of the Summit follow-up process and other topics of common interest. 

The Secretary-General expressed gratitude for the EU’s assistance in the rapid establishment of a Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The EU joined the Register as a founding associate member. They both reflected on possible future steps in setting-up an international compensation mechanism for the victims of Russia’s aggression.

High Representative Borrell and the Secretary-General Burić welcomed the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention and the significant progress on the EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.

During the meeting, they discussed the EU’s enlargement policy and opportunities for extended cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe in view of the growing number of candidate countries. The High Representative debriefed on his recent visit to Georgia. 

They also addressed the continued restrictions on free movement along the Lachin corridor and the serious humanitarian situation facing Karabakh Armenians.