I feel honoured to participate, for the first time, in the work of the Committee of Ministers in a common effort to provide political impetus to the important achievements of the Council of Europe in the light of the emerging challenges.
Statement by Miomir Žužul, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Croatia
Committee of Ministers, Council of Europe
12 May 2004
"I feel honoured to participate, for the first time, in the work of the Committee of Ministers in a common effort to provide political impetus to the important achievements of the Council of Europe in the light of the emerging challenges.
This Ministerial meeting takes place in a very different Europe. Twenty-five of our members are now also members of the European Union. I sincerely congratulate all ten new European Union members on their historic achievement, which is also a message of encouragement for countries like Croatia who are following the path of Euro-Atlantic integration.
I am glad to underline that the Croatian journey to the European Union has been accelerated by an important decision taken recently in this very town, Strasbourg, where I was presented with the opinion of the European Commission recommending that Croatia should be granted the status of candidate to the European Union and that the negotiations for Croatia´s accession to the European Union. These recommendations are a clear recognition of the efforts and results that my country has undertaken. I hope that the European Council will confirm the candidate status and set a date for the comments submitted for negotiation at its meeting in June.
In the context of the mandate of the Committee of Ministers, I believe there is a need to strengthen the political relevance of this Organisation in contemporary Europe.
The role of the Council of Europe in the political architecture of our continent will always be defined by its pan-Europeanism. The fact that the Organisation embraces almost all European states, reflects its important political dimension and puts new challenges ahead.
While standing for its values, the Council of Europe has proven its immense role by inviting to its membership even those countries that could not yet prove an impeccable record in the fields of democratisation and human rights. This policy has produced results throughout the European continent. Rather than standing aside and imposing high political pressure, the Council of Europe makes nearly everyone an insider, therefore equally important and equally responsible for cherishing its fundamental standards.
The Council of Europe has an irreplaceable status in the European political structure when it comes to the values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. This should remain so with the focus of new challenges to our countries and societies.
It is important that the issues of cooperation and assistance to member countries remain high on the agenda of this Organisation. We can see tangible results already achieved by the Organisation in this field in our close neighbourhood. Significant improvements in honouring commitments have been registered by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia and Montenegro is accomplishing its first year of membership with some concrete achievements, the most commendable being the ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights, but still facing many problems. The Council of Europe is providing appropriate assistance to the process of developing democratic values and inter-ethnic cooperation in Kosovo.
These results are highly regarded by my country which remains vitally interested in maintaining stability, positive developments and the strengthening of the European perspectives in South-east Europe. Croatia is committed to an active engagement in these processes.
The principle that concerns us is another important virtue that is still maintained and developed with this Organisation. This brings me to an issue that is considered by many as the central issue of this meeting, the reform of the European Court of Human Rights.
We are all aware of the crucial role of our unique system of human rights protection for the development of a European society that we would like to live in. The Court´s jurisdiction stretches today to about 800 million Europeans. It was indeed this very system that introduced the individual with a set of rights and, what is even more important, with the mechanism which ensures the enjoyment of these rights. In Europe, human rights are not only lofty principles but legally enforceable rights.
Yet, the system has almost become the victim of its own success - the uncontested authority and justice incorporated in the work of the Court has led to an ever increasing number of applications. Today, the workload entirely jeopardises the Court´s efficiency.
It is necessary for the sense of dignity and security of each and every European that the credibility of the Court remains intact. By reforming the system, we are not undermining the institution of individual petition, but on the contrary giving the Court an operational tool to provide individuals with meaningful and timely protection.
I hope that we can uphold the principle of consensus today and adopt Protocol No. 14, showing in this manner our clear and unified support for this adjustment of the system. It is equally important that all member states sign and ratify this Protocol as soon as possible. Croatia is ready to sign it and I will proceed with a signature at tomorrow´s ceremony.
At the end, Mr. Chairman, allow me to congratulate the Netherlands for the very successful completion of the Chairmanship and to wish every success to Norway in leading our Organisation in the next period."
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