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Mr Frank SCHWABE (Germany, SOC)

Photo member

Representative
Deputy
SPD

Deutscher Bundestag
DE - 11011 - Berlin
Germany

Working language: English

Declarations of interests:
2026 , 2025 , 2024 , 2023 , 2022

Declarations of interest regarding election observations (if applicable)

Latest news

23/04/2026 - Session Current affairs debate: call to step up efforts for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine 23/06/2025 - Session PACE reviews the work of its subsidiary bodies since the last session 09/04/2025 - Session PACE calls for action to develop ‘an ethical culture’ at the Council of Europe, strengthens its own anti-corruption rules 22/01/2024 - Session Azerbaijan’s delegation challenged at opening of PACE session 19/06/2023 - Session Türkiye elections offered genuine political alternatives, but were marked by unlevel playing field and irregularities

Mandates

In the political groups

  • Chairperson: Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group since 25/06/2018
  • Vice-Chairperson: Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group from 01/08/2017 to 24/06/2018
  • Vice-Chairperson: Socialist Group from 07/04/2014 to 31/07/2017
  • Member: Socialist Group from 25/11/2011 to 06/04/2014

In the Assembly

  • since 27/01/2014 Representative - Germany
  • from 25/11/2011 to 27/01/2014 Substitute - Germany

In the committee(s) and sub-committee(s)

  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Special Committee on the New Democratic Pact (since 26/01/2026)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation (since 09/12/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development (since 21/11/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): (Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (from 21/11/2025 to 08/12/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media (since 21/11/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination (since 21/11/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities (since 12/04/2025)
  • Alternate SOC: Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights (since 24/01/2022)
  • Chairperson of national delegation: Standing Committee (from 24/01/2022 to 22/06/2025)
  • Full Member SOC: Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights (from 27/09/2021 to 23/01/2022)
  • Chairperson of Political Group: Standing Committee (since 25/06/2018)
  • Chairperson of Political Group: Bureau of the Assembly (since 25/06/2018)
  • Chairperson of Political Group: Presidential Committee (since 25/06/2018)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy (since 25/06/2018)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) (since 25/06/2018)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): (Former) Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs (from 25/06/2018 to 11/04/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (since 25/06/2018)
  • Member: (Former) Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs (from 22/01/2018 to 28/06/2018)
  • Chairperson: Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Ex officio (Rule 44.1 of the Rules of Procedure): Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Bureau of the Assembly (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Standing Committee (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Ex officio (Rule 44.1 of the Rules of Procedure): Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Second Vice-Chairperson: Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (from 28/01/2016 to 21/01/2018)
  • Member: Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) (from 23/06/2014 to 20/01/2019)
  • Full Member: Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (from 28/01/2014 to 05/03/2020)
  • Full Member: (Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (from 23/01/2012 to 26/01/2014)
  • Member: (Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population (from 25/11/2011 to 23/01/2012)
  • Chairperson of Political Group: Sub-Committee on Conflicts concerning Council of Europe Member States (from 25/06/2018 to 26/01/2024)
  • Ex officio: Sub-Committee on Human Rights (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Ex officio: Sub-Committee on Crime Problems and the Fight against Terrorism (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Ex officio: Sub-Committee on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Sub-Committee on Conflicts concerning Council of Europe Member States (from 22/01/2018 to 24/06/2018)
  • Full Member: Sub-Committee on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (from 28/09/2015 to 24/01/2018)
  • Full Member: Sub-Committee on Integration (from 22/01/2013 to 26/01/2014)
  • Full Member: Sub-Committee on Integration (from 30/03/2012 to 20/01/2013)
  • Alternate of Ms Ellen DEMUTH (Full Member): Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation (since 09/12/2025)
  • Alternate of Mr Pierre LAMELY (Full Member): (Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (from 23/06/2025 to 26/06/2025)
  • Alternate of Ms Ellen DEMUTH (Full Member): (Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (from 26/06/2025 to 08/12/2025)
  • Alternate of Ms Daniela WAGNER (Full Member): Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination (from 22/01/2018 to 15/03/2018)
  • Alternate of Mr Axel SCHÄFER (Full Member): Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media (from 23/01/2012 to 09/03/2012)
  • Alternate of Mr Axel SCHÄFER (Member): (Former) Committee on Culture, Science and Education (from 25/01/2010 to 23/01/2012)
  • Alternate of Ms Hülya DÜBER (Full Member): Sub-Committee on Diasporas and Integration (from 26/06/2025 to 28/01/2026)
  • Alternate of Mr Harald PETZOLD (Full Member): Sub-Committee on Human Rights (from 13/11/2017 to 21/01/2018)

Interventions

Last speeches

23/06/2026 | 11:20:39 Madam President, Dear colleagues, That we see a deterioration of human rights, of democracy and rule of law in Türkiye, this is nothing new, but what we see now is a very dramatic development in the last months and years. And for sure those ones who underline the geopolitical role of Türkiye are right and we welcome this geopolitical role and we should work together. But this organisation is about the situation in Türkiye. It's about democracy, the rule of law and the human rights situation... 23/04/2026 | 11:19:58 Madam President, Dear colleagues, Thank you very much for this very important exchange of views. I would like to thank all the Ukrainian colleagues for always opening your heart in this debate. I know it is not easy to describe your personal situation. I would like to ask, for sure, Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS was mentioned, Mr Iulian BULAI and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe for the initiative for this debate. But, we want to show – and I think it was seen through the speakers... 23/04/2026 | 10:08:09 Thank you very much, and good morning, Ms President, Distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, We meet today in an Assembly that represents Europe‘s commitment to law and human rights. These principles were built after the worst moments in our history. Today, they are under serious pressure again. This is not just another debate. It is a test. We must decide whether international law still protects the vulnerable, or whether it fails when faced with open aggression. Think about the... 22/04/2026 | 12:00:44 Mister President, I'm sorry to say that this is for sure unfortunately not the aim of the amendment. The aim of the amendment is to undermine the meaning of the legislation in Spain. The "Yes Means Yes" legislation is a leading example for all of Europe. We have to be thankful to the government and to the parliament of Spain for this legislation. What we should really not do – and I really ask each and every one, even those who have a very prominent role in this Parliamentary Assembly of the... 27/01/2026 | 12:47:52 Madam President Bayer, Madam President Sandu, distinguished guests. The Holocaust was organised on German soil and by Germans. This fills me with great shame. I'm therefore grateful that I may speak here, albeit on behalf of my parliamentary group, but nonetheless as a German. It fills me with great shame that antisemitism, antigypsyism, discrimination against LGBTIQ, discrimination against people with disabilities, racism and general misanthropy, while never truly gone, are now resurfacing...

Activities

Reports and committee opinions

24/03/2025 | Doc. 16138 | Report Respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption within the Council of Europe 03/06/2022 | Doc. 15544 | Report The continuing need to restore human rights and the rule of law in the North Caucasus region 23/04/2022 | Doc. 15506 | Report Consequences of the Russian Federation's continued aggression against Ukraine: role and response of the Council of Europe 06/11/2020 | Doc. 15178 | Report Modification of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure on alternative arrangements for the organisation of Parliamentary Assembly part-sessions 06/01/2020 | Doc. 15024 | Report Complementary joint procedure between the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly in response to a serious violation by a member State of its statutory obligations

Motions, Written Declarations, Questions

15/05/2026 | Doc. 16405 | Motion for a resolution Reported cases of political prisoners in Europe 23/04/2026 | Doc. 16395 | Motion for a resolution Human rights challenges in the North Caucasus 19/04/2026 | Doc. 16381 | Motion for a resolution A strong response to the Epstein files: ensuring full transparency and accountability 14/04/2026 | Doc. 16376 | Motion for a resolution Democratic security in the Western Balkans 29/01/2026 | Doc. 16338 | Motion for a resolution Safeguarding international justice from transnational repression

Votes on adopted texts

23/06/2026 | Doc. 16424, vote on the draft text for resolution The functioning of democratic institutions in Serbia 22/04/2026 | Doc. 16370, vote on the draft text for resolution Paving the way for a culture of consent 22/04/2026 | Doc. 16372, vote on the draft text for resolution Promoting the Istanbul Convention and improving its implementation: building on lessons learnt 22/04/2026 | Doc. 16375 rev, vote on the draft text for resolution Towards the universal abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances 22/04/2026 | Doc. 16362, vote on the draft text for resolution Tracking the proceeds of the crime denounced by Sergei Magnitsky and holding its perpetrators accountable