Autumn Session 2025

PACE autumn session focused on the challenges faced by journalists

Debates on an "Urgent call to put an end to the devastating humanitarian catastrophe and the killing of journalists in Gaza" as well as on the need to step up efforts to liberate Ukrainian journalists held in captivity by Russia were on the agenda of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which took place in Strasbourg from 29 September to 3 October 2025.

The 2025 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize was awarded to Ukrainian journalist and human rights defender Maksym Butkevych. The Assembly also adopted opinions on the draft Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine and on the draft Council of Europe convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series.

Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, addressed the Assembly, as well as Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, President of the Committee of Ministers, presented the traditional communication from that body and answered questions from members.

Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan, also addressed the parliamentarians during a debate on the Assembly’s support for Kazakhstan and its democratic reforms. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, held a question and answer session with the parliamentarians.

During the session, the Assembly re-elected Despina Chatzivassiliou to the post of Secretary General for the next five years.

Urgent debates were also held on on “Russia: new threats to European democracies”, and on the need to "Uphold democracy and the rule of law in Georgia". There were current affairs debates on the "Political crisis in Serbia" and on "Democracy, the rule of law and inclusive dialogue in Türkiye".

Other reports discussed included “Russian democratic forces”, “Youth movements for Democracy” and “Political parties and democracy”. The honouring of membership obligations to the Council of Europe by Hungary and post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria were also debated.

Other items on the agenda included “Artificial intelligence and migration”, “Sexual violence against men and boys”, “Analysis and guidelines to guarantee the right to housing”, “Promoting universal health coverage” and “Ensuring Parliamentary Assembly members can travel freely to carry out their work”.