The President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, today attended the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at which Slovakia handed over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers to Sweden. In his address, Dr Rupel referred to cooperation between the European Union and the Council of Europe, judging that cooperation had been given new impetus and mutual trust strengthened by the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year by both organisations. He also pointed out that the Lisbon Treaty opens the way for the European Union’s accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In conclusion, Dr Rupel spoke about intercultural dialogue as one of the priorities of Slovenia’s EU Council Presidency and pointed to the forthcoming official opening of the Euro-Mediterranean University with which Slovenia wishes to make a tangible contribution to the promotion of intercultural dialogue in the region.
