Council of Europe

HC Deb 22 January 1997 vol 288 c616W

Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions were reached in respect of the Council of Europe at the Dublin EU summit. [11823]

Mr. David Davis

Part VII of the "Presidency Conclusions" (document ref. SN 401/96) which was placed in the House Library on 15 December, records the views of European Council on the Council of Europe as followsThe European Council believes that the Council of Europe has a crucial role in upholding human rights standards and supporting pluralist democracy. It sees advantage in using to the fullest, in co-operation with other international institutions, and expertise and mechanisms of the Council of Europe to advance these objectives. The summit meeting of the Organization, in 1997, will provide a significant opportunity to review the progress made in these areas.