14/10/2022 Session
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during its Autumn plenary session (Strasbourg, 10 to 14 October 2022). The Assembly also held an urgent debate on "Further escalation in the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine".
During the PACE plenary session there were addresses by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, as well as the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama.
The 2022 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which honours outstanding human rights defenders, was awarded in a special ceremony, with the overall winner selected from among three shortlisted candidates.
The Assembly held current affairs debates on "Military hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including strikes against settlements and civilian infrastructures" and on "Threatened bans of Pride events in Council of Europe member States".
In addition, the Assembly debated a European perspective for the Western Balkans, countering Islamophobia or anti-Muslim racism, vaccine discrimination, and the impact of Brexit on human rights on the island of Ireland. The Assembly also discussed the honouring of obligations and commitments by Türkiye, Hungary and Romania.
Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s European Affairs Minister, presented the Communication from the Committee of Ministers in the framework of the Irish Presidency of the Council of Europe. The Organisation’s Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić held the usual question time with PACE members.
The Assembly also debated reports on the misuse of the Schengen Information system by States as a politically-motivated sanction, discrimination against women in sport, safe third countries for asylum seekers, illegal measures of migration management in the context of pushbacks on land and sea, and revisiting labour rights.