Strasbourg, 22.09.2010 – A possible urgent debate on “The recent rise in national security discourse in Europe: the case of the Roma”[1] as well as addresses by the Prime Minister of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” Nikola Gruevski and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle are among highlights of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), taking place in Strasbourg from 4 to 8 October 2010.
Other topics to be debated include the fight against extremism, human rights and business, and a report on women’s access to lawful medical care: the problem of the unregulated use of conscientious objection.
The parliamentarians will also hold a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. Antonio Milošoski, Foreign Minister of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, will present the communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly and answer members’ oral questions.
The Assembly will also discuss a number of reports on children’s rights: “Child abuse in institutions: ensure full protection of victims”, the urgent need for action on children without parental care, and guaranteeing the right to education for children with illnesses or disabilities. Hayrünnisa Gül, patron of the Turkish campaign “Education enables”, will contribute to the latter.
There will also be debates on the activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Council of Europe Development Bank.
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Draft agenda
The final agenda is decided by the Assembly on the opening day of the session.
Monday 4 October 2010
Statement by the President of the Assembly
Possible election of Vice-Presidents of the Assembly
Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and the Standing Committee
Celebration ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights
Address by Guido Westerwelle, Deputy Federal Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
Communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly presented by Antonio Milošoski, Minister for Foreign Affairs of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers
Possible urgent debate on the recent rise in national security discourse in Europe: the case of Roma, with statements by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg, and an invited personality [to be confirmed]
Address by Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"
PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu will give a press conference on Monday 4 October at 10.30 a.m. in Room 1. Other press conferences will be announced on the spot.
Press conferences can be viewed live here. Recordings of some press conferences may also be available.
Further details: see the Assembly's website. Additional information may also be found on the Council of Europe web portal, here. Debates are webcast live here.
For TV planning units: videos in broadcast quality of PACE plenary highlights are available on request from the Audiovisual Service, tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 35 00.
Contact: PACE Communication Division, tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93, [email protected]
[1]. Following a request from the Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee, the Bureau has recommended the holding of this debate. The Assembly will make a final decision when it adopts its agenda on the opening day of the session.
