10/10/2023 | 19:37:57 Thank you very much, Mister President, I would like to start by congratulating the two Rapporteurs for this detailed report and perhaps also critical report on some points - but I think that is also the task of this periodic procedure, which we have introduced because - and I am a great believer in this - because when I started here, 12 or 13 years ago, there was this idea that there are the teachers and the students of democracy. There are those who come from the post-socialist states; who... 09/10/2023 | 16:49:07 Thank you, Mister President, Earlier we also discussed in the progress report how in several regions of Europe unresolved conflicts are breaking out again, turning into violence. An example of this is the situation in northern Kosovo, where on 24 September a Kosovo police patrol was ambushed, one policeman was killed, and two were injured. At first, it looked like that was going to continue to escalate. However, it must be said that it was possible to mitigate this escalation to some extent... 09/10/2023 | 15:55:12 Thank you very much, Mister President, The view that we have when we begin this debate, at the beginning of each assembly, as a progress report, is the idea that we are making progress in terms of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and peaceful co-existence. At the moment, we have to recognise that there is regression in many areas. In addition to the war in Ukraine – which is still raging, where there is no end in sight and no diplomatic initiatives are on the way – in recent weeks... 20/06/2023 | 18:45:37 Thank you very much, Mr President, Ladies and gentlemen, I think this is a very important report by Ms Selin SAYEK BÖKE. I certainly thank her for this report. I think it contains many important points, even though I would not reject everything that has been said right now from the conservative side. I will say, I was a rapporteur for an international organisation on the first report on Covid-19, which was about lessons learned from Covid-19 for a future and rights-based response to Covid-19... 19/06/2023 | 15:34:23 Thank you very much, Mister President. It is good that the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe have met in Reykjavík, for only the fourth time in history, by the way. I can say I hope that it will not be another 18 years before the next Summit takes place, but that it will take place more frequently. Nevertheless, I would like to note a few critical observations that I also noted in the Standing Committee in Reykjavík. I have the impression that our discourse in the Council... 28/04/2023 | 10:39:37 Thank you very much, Madam President, Dear Colleagues, Thank you very much for the friendly and interesting discussion, and perhaps a few thoughts and additions. On the subject of small states, and Iceland – we also just talked about it – is after all also a small state that has a specific democratic tradition. I think what is special about San Marino and Iceland is not only are they small states that have special problems, but also that they have maintained a centuries-old republican... 28/04/2023 | 10:10:37 Thank you very much, Madam President, Ladies and gentlemen, Today we are talking about San Marino, truly a fascinating microstate, an enclave surrounded by Italy, whose democratic and republican structures go back centuries. It is, in fact, the oldest republic in the world, and it has been highly interesting to write this report. San Marino was selected on 3 February 2021, in the framework of this so-called periodic review procedure in which all Council of Europe States participate, and... 23/01/2023 | 15:56:01 Thank you very much. Mister President, Also on behalf of the Left Group, congratulations on your election, Mister Tiny KOX. You really did an outstanding job last year. I also agree with everything that our rapporteur, Mr George KATROUGALOS, said, perhaps a word again about the war that we have all condemned here, the Russian war of aggression. I believe that in addition to this clear condemnation, we must also think more about what possibilities there are to end this war. In my country... 10/10/2022 | 12:25:39 Mr President, I would also like to touch on three issues. Earlier this morning we commemorated the victims as a result of the new attacks on Kiev and many other Ukrainian cities. We have seen a further escalation of this war. And it is right, of course, that we remember the victims. It is also right that we condemn the acts and condemn Russia's attacks, as we have often done. But I also think that we also have to put our energy into how we get out of this further escalation. There is... 20/06/2022 | 12:24:45 Thank you very much, Miste President, Ladies and Gentlemen, The progress report always offers the opportunity to reflect, to think about the situation we are in. If we now look back at the last few months and look forward, then this terrible war in Ukraine, Russia's withdrawal - or actually the previous withdrawal of Russia from the Council of Europe and now also from the Court of Justice is a very serious setback overall. It has to be said: not progress, but a setback. One hundred and forty...