24/06/2026 | 12:01:29 Sorry, that was not artificial intelligence (AI), I think. Well, Madam President, Dear colleagues, I wrote this text, which I am about to deliver myself. It was not generated by AI. Unfortunately, I cannot prove this because so many texts of mine are now circulating on the internet that ChatGPT could easily have turned them into a relevant contribution. That would have saved me a lot of time and effort, but I would have undermined the essence of today’s topic. For democracy begins with the... 28/01/2026 | 13:13:27 Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2. Chair, dear colleagues, I read this resolution and recommendation with great interest, pleasure, and agreement.With interest, because this year marks 40 years since I was elected as the youngest member of the City Council in my city Maastricht, thus beginning my political and administrative career. I was elected because my party, the Christian Democrats, reserved a preferential position on the candidate list for a member of their youth... 01/10/2025 | 17:41:04 Thank you, Mister President. Dear colleagues, It is encouraging that this Assembly is closely monitoring the progress of establishing a Claims Commission for the damages suffered - and still being suffered - by Ukrainians as a result of Russian aggression. I therefore wholeheartedly welcome Lord Richard KEEN's Opinion, which clearly outlines the current state of affairs within the preparatory bodies of the Committee of Ministers, and also guides us on how we, as an Assembly, should approach... 01/10/2025 | 16:19:32 Merci, Madam Chair. Dear colleagues, I have long hesitated to speak on the topic of youth participation. After all, one could argue that it is primarily the young people themselves who should have the floor when it comes to this subject. And since, as you all can see, I belong more to the senior ranks of Europe - and today I am yet another year older than I was yesterday - that hesitation is quite justified. And yet, when I joined a political youth organization 48 years ago, at the age of 17... 28/01/2025 | 17:40:55 Mister President, dear colleagues, Yesterday His All Holiness Patriarch BATHOLOMEW gave an impressing speech, in which he called upon all faiths to invest in mutual understanding, dialogue and living peacefully together on this one planet. And he mentioned his warm co-operation with the Roman Catholic Church, and especially the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy Land, that looks after the Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. The presence of Christianity in the Middle East is and... 01/10/2024 | 12:45:36 Thank you. Mister Secretary General, also from the Netherlands, congratulations. You show engagement for the values and challenges for the Council of Europe. They are in good hands! We in Europe are a family of nations that share this common goal. Our family of nations is rich in diversity, consists of family members with different beliefs, cultural heritage, languages and political opinions. And pluralism, I think, in itself, is the strength of Europe, a strength that I cherish. Secretary...