05/07/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE rapporteur on the situation in Belarus, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), has condemned the new wave of violence against peaceful protesters, journalists and human rights defenders in Belarus. “I am concerned about the rough dispersal of peaceful demonstrations in Minsk and other cities on July 3rd, Independence Day, with hundreds of protesters being brutally beaten and detained merely for clapping hands,” he said.
29/06/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Europe cannot stand idly by and watch as history is made by this spectacular push for freedom in the countries of the southern Mediterranean,” said Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP), presenting his report on co-operation between the Council of Europe and the emerging democracies in the Arab world to the PACE’s Political Affairs Committee.He issued an urgent call for the creation of a “common democratic home”.
31/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
On the basis of a report presented by Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), the PACE Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Paris today, voted in favour of granting the Parliament of Morocco partner for democracy status. The PACE will be required to vote on a corresponding draft resolution at its forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg (20-24 June).
31/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Given the ongoing harassment and political trials of civil society and political opponents, and continuing the restrictions of freedom of speech and association, the human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating and remains a matter of serious concern,” said Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), PACE's outgoing rapporteur on Belarus, speaking today.
30/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
According to a report on the situation in Tunisia, prepared by Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE) and adopted by the PACE Political Affairs Committee today in Paris, the Assembly must put its experience of accompanying democratic transitions and establishing new institutions in young democracies in Europe at the disposal of Tunisia’s transitional institutions, future permanent institutions and civil society.
04/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
"I very much welcome the unity deal of the various Palestinian groups, signed today in Cairo," said Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL), the PACE rapporteur on a request by the Palestinian National Council for "Partner for democracy" status with the Assembly. "Palestinian unity is of utmost importance with regard to the Palestinian request for closer co-operation with the Assembly," said Mr Kox, who made a fact-finding visit to Ramallah and Jerusalem in March to assess the request.
29/03/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Following the request submitted by the Palestinian National Council for “Partner for democracy” status with the PACE, Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL), rapporteur on behalf of the the Political Affairs Committee, paid a fact-finding visit to the Palestinian Territories from 21 to 25 March 2011. At the end of the visit, the rapporteur met with President Abbas and invited him to come to Strasbourg.
18/03/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL), who is preparing a report on the request submitted by the Palestinian National Council for “Partner for democracy” status with PACE, is to make a fact-finding visit to the Palestinian Territories from 21 to 25 March 2011. “Partner for democracy” status allows parliamentary delegations mainly from countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and central Asia to take part in the Assembly's activities.
16/03/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a report on the expansion of democracy by lowering the voting age to 16, member States are invited to create the necessary preconditions for the participation of young people in civic life through education as well as the promotion of community involvement and to investigate the possibility of lowering the voting age to 16 years in all countries and for all kinds of elections. They should also examine the possibility of lowering the minimum ages to stand for different kinds of elections (parliament, senate, presidency, local and regional bodies) whenever advisable.
10/03/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a hearing on the situation in Tunisia and the possible Council of Europe contribution, organised by PACE's Political Affairs Committee in Paris on 9 March, participants stressed that the Jasmine Revolution was the Tunisian people’s revolution and that it was for them to build the society and state they wished to have.
09/03/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
At a meeting of the PACE Political Affairs Committee in Paris today, the rapporteur on the situation in Belarus Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC) strongly condemned the continuing repression of civil society, human rights defenders, independent media and political opponents in Belarus.
03/03/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
A leading expert on contemporary Egypt, the historian and writer Tewfik Aclimandos, as well as Egypt’s ambassador to France Nasser Kamel will be among those taking part in an exchange of views on the situation in Egypt at a meeting of the PACE Sub-Committee on the Middle East in Paris on 8 March 2011.