July 6, 2011- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko hosted a 1118th meeting of the CE Committee of Ministers.

The key event of the meeting was an exchange of views of the Council of Europe member states delegations with the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle. The CE and the EU are closely linked historically, whilst for decades of their evolution there have occurred natural differences that both institutions are now seeking to overcome. Facilitating this process became a key target of the Ukrainian presidency in the Council of Europe.

At the discussion it was stressed upon the need of strengthening collaboration between the Organizations, in particular, introducing a political item in the CE-the EU relations. The participants discussed the issue of the EU involvement in the CE projects and programs within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the CE and the EU (2007), which aims to enhance the CE and the EU cooperation in the areas of common interest, particularly, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic development, an intercultural dialogue, education, social affairs, youth policy.

Today's event as well as high level informal consultations with the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, the CE Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. indicate the consistency in our state's policy in its efforts to strengthen the role of the Council of Europe within the European context.