On 8 July Senior Officials from the European Union and the Council of Europe convened in Brussels for their annual Senior Officials Meeting (SOM). The meeting reinforced the strategic and values-based nature of the partnership, highlighting ongoing cooperation and shared commitments.
The discussions focussed on Ukraine's pursuit of justice amidst Russia's ongoing war of aggression. Both the European Union and the Council of Europe emphasised the Register of Damage as a crucial first step towards an international compensation mechanism and agreed on the strategic importance of swiftly establishing an International Claims Commission as a second step. The Council of Europe commended the European Union's support in promoting the Register of Damage and active participation in the negotiations on the Claims Commission. The Council of Europe acknowledged the excellent cooperation with the European Union towards establishing the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which is progressing well and marks a key milestone towards international justice.
Regarding the European Union enlargement process, the Senior Officials noted dynamic cooperation and intensive dialogue between the Council of Europe and the European Union, supporting candidate countries and potential candidates' compliance with Council of Europe standards and the European Union acquis communautaire. Regular consultations have further strengthened this cooperation. Collaboration concerning the annual Rule of Law Reports involving candidate countries was highlighted as a critical element.
The Senior Officials endorsed the Operational Conclusions of the European Union-Council of Europe Scoreboard on Cooperation through Joint Programmes meeting, highlighting decades of successful cooperation through joint programmes. These programmes represent one of three pillars of European Union-Council of Europe cooperation, alongside high-level political dialogue and legal cooperation.
European Union and Council of Europe representatives praised the effective and efficient work and the required adaptability of the Partnership for Good Governance, the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, and the South Programme in addressing current realities and emerging needs.
The Senior Officials discussed the Council of Europe's ongoing work to implement the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy. Both parties are dedicated to aligning efforts towards a new Democratic Pact for Europe of the Council of Europe and the EU's European Democracy Shield, aiming to bolster democracy, reinforce public trust, and tackle emerging challenges.
Lastly, both institutions are committed to promoting European Union-Council of Europe common standards globally, with a focus on encouraging non-European States to accede to Council of Europe Conventions.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment for sustained dialogue and cooperation, reinforcing the strategic European Union-Council of Europe partnership.
