Ukrainian President and Russian Foreign Minister to address PACE

14/04/2010 Session

Strasbourg, 14.04.2010 – Addresses by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as a series of debates on the consequences of the economic crisis, are among highlights of PACE forthcoming spring session (26-30 April 2010). Two proposals to hold urgent debates have been tabled on "the urgent need for a constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the light of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Sejdic and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina”, and on "the situation in Belarus: recent developments". If the Assembly agrees, both debates are likely to be held on the morning of Thursday 29 April.

The parliamentarians will debate a report on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, which calls for the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships across Europe.

There will also be a debate on the consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, with an intervention from the former head of the international fact-finding mission on the conflict Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini.

The Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is due to take part in a debate on effective implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, following the recent decisions taken at the Interlaken conference for streamlining the procedures of the European Court of Human Rights. The Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey will also present the traditional Communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly.

Other subjects on the agenda include dealing with sea piracy, commemorating the victims of the great famine (Holodomor) in the former USSR, protecting whistle-blowers and drawing up a European code of conduct for lobbying. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg will present his annual activity report for 2009.

Also foreseen is a debate on Montenegro’s honouring of its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe – the first since it joined the Organisation three years ago – and a debate on the state of post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria.

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• Opening speech by the President of the Assembly
• Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and the Standing Committee
• Communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly presented by Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers
• Lobbying in a democratic society (European code of conduct on lobbying)

• Election of a judge to the European Court of Human Rights with respect to Ukraine
• Piracy – a crime and a challenge for democracies
• The necessity to take additional international legal steps to deal with sea piracy
• Associating women in the prevention and the solution of unsolved conflicts in Europe
• Address by Viktor Yanukovich, President of Ukraine
• Joint debate on the consequences of the economic crisis:
  • The social impact of the economic crisis
  • The impact of the global economic crisis on migration in Europe
  • Women and the economic and financial crisis
  • Investing in family cohesion as a development factor in times of crisis
• Wealth, welfare and wellbeing: how to reconcile them in a changing Europe?

• Election of a judge to the European Court of Human Rights with respect to Ukraine (possible second round)
• The consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, and statement by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, former head of the international fact-finding mission on the conflict in Georgia
• Annual activity report 2009 by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg, and statement by Mr Hammarberg
• Commemorating the victims of the great famine (Holodomor) in the former USSR
• Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity

• Possible urgent debates on “the urgent need for a constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the light of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Sejdic and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina” and on "the situation in Belarus: recent developments"
• Migrants and refugees: a continuing challenge for the Council of Europe
• Address by Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
• Effective implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights: the Interlaken process, and statement by Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police of Switzerland (to be confirmed)
• Honouring of obligations and commitments by Montenegro
• Post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria

• The protection of "whistle-blowers"
• Biodiversity and climate change
• Euro-Mediterranean region: call for a Council of Europe strategy