Since 1989, when European history gathered momentum with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Council of Europe's role and impact have changed dramatically. Now the Council of Europe - as the 'Council of Greater Europe' - has reached a turning point. Having helped the new states which emerged from the wreckage of communism to establish themselves as democracies, it is now preparing to launch new partnerships, to start working in new ways - underpinned by the Council's genuine values: democracy, the rule of law and human rights. At the same time, the Council intends to monitor states where the rule of law is still fragile and make sure that they truly apply our standards