12/11/2025 President | Ad Hoc Committee New Democratic Pact
PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has affirmed the Assembly’s commitment to advancing the “New Democratic Pact for Europe” – a Council of Europe initiative which aims to stop the unravelling of democracy and boost the resilience of democratic institutions against backsliding, disinformation and authoritarianism.
The President was speaking at the second meeting of a new 70-member committee of PACE members set up to support the Pact, which will engage governments, NGOs and the public in a push to reinforce democracy, amplify its benefits and renew its processes.
“The role of this committee will be crucial in translating many aspects of the Pact into concrete initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic security and resilience through a strong parliamentary dimension,” the President said.
At its second meeting, held as the European Convention on Human Rights marked its 75th anniversary, the committee looked at the impact of Strasbourg Court rulings on freedom of expression and assembly, and asked how political parties could be made the first line of defence against democratic backsliding.
An earlier meeting served to launch the committee and heard a presentation on the Pact, while its next meeting, in Chișinău on 20 November, will tackle how to avoid foreign interference in elections.
A new web page on the work of the committee is to be created, which will track its work and bring together all the Assembly’s activities geared towards boosting democracy and democratic security.