16/05/2022 Political Affairs and Democracy
In a new security context which is fraught with risks as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the PACE Political Affairs Committee is urging European nations to reinforce their wider “democratic security” by renewing their commitment to the Council of Europe’s core values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
“They should reiterate their support for the Council of Europe as the cornerstone European organisation to develop a shared space for these values to thrive,” the committee said in a draft resolution adopted today, based on a report by Bogdan Klich (Poland EPP/CD).
While defence issues are excluded from the Council of Europe’s remit, the Organisation should enhance the comprehensive and long-term security of its member States within the scope of its mandate, the parliamentarians said.
They set out a series of steps to enhance democratic resilience, promote multilateralism and give fresh impetus to the central role of the Council of Europe.
They also called for new mechanisms to monitor democratic developments in member States, as well as the convening of a Fourth Summit of heads of state and government to drive forward these changes.
The report is due to be debated by the Assembly at a future plenary session.