“The accession process requires far-reaching reforms to be carried out in terms of institutions, legislation and administrative practices so that the countries concerned fully take on board the ‘acquis communautaire’, and the Council of Europe is one of the right institutional frameworks for helping move forward such reforms.” said the European Commissioner for Enlargements and Neighborhood Policy, Mr. Štefan Füle at his addressing today to the MPs of the PACE. He also added that in future the parliamentary side of joint assistance and cooperation program of the European Union and Council of Europe will be deepened, and that the special attention will be paid to increasing capacities of national parliaments in drafting legislation, as well as the establishment of parliamentary procedures which fully respect political pluralism.

Following the urgent procedure, the debate on migrations and Asylum, growing tensions in East Mediterranean region, primarily Greece and Turkey, was included in the Agenda. Greece has, according to the raporteuers, become a major point of entrance of irregular migration flows in the EU, Turkey the country of transit, while the inflow of Syrian refugees requires even greater efforts of two countries.

In focus of attention of MPs were also the debates on status of freedom of the media in Europe, and on recent events in Mali and Algeria, as a serious threat to the security and human rights in Mediterranean region.

On the Fourth Day of the Winter Session of PACE in 2013, meetings of the working bodies of the Parliamentary Assembly were also, the work of which the members of the Montenegrin Delegation participated in. The MPs also attended the reception hosted by the Mayor of Strasbourg, Mr. Roland Ries.

Montenegrin delegation composed of: Mr. Zoran Vukčević, Mr. Damir Šehović, Mr. Predrag Sekulić and Mr.  Borislav Banović participates in the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg from 21- 25 January 2013.