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.
25/02/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), rapporteur on the request from the Parliament of Morocco for partner for democracy status with PACE, will make a fact-finding visit to Rabat from 1 to 3 March. Talks are scheduled with the Speaker of the House of Councillors, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairmen of political groups, as well as with parliamentarians in charge of relations with the Council of Europe.
20/12/2010 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 20.12.2010 – The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for Belarus, Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC) has expressed her deep concern at yesterday’s episodes of violence on the streets of Minsk following the presidential elections on Sunday 19 December. “I am...
15/12/2010 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a resolution on reconciliation and political dialogue between the countries of the former Yugoslavia* adopted unanimously in Paris today, the Political Affairs Committee says it supported the efforts of the countries of the former Yugoslavia to reconcile and reconstruct a new relationship among themselves and welcomed their commitment to regional co-operation, which indicated a greater willingness to overcome the legacy of the past. It noted with satisfaction a number of positive examples of people and leaders from the region working together for change.
14/12/2010 | Political Affairs and Democracy
At a hearing in Paris on the expansion of democracy by lowering the voting age to 16, the rapporteur of the PACE Political Affairs Committee on this issue, Miloš Aligrudic (Serbia, EPP/CD), today said that lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 should be strongly encouraged as the period of adolescence was of paramount importance for the future citizen. “Those who are below 18 and wish to vote should register on Voting Registers on their own. This is aimed at solving the problems related to the turnout of young voters, and participation of the young,” the rapporteur stressed.
03/12/2010 | Political Affairs and Democracy
A ten-member PACE delegation visiting the United Nations on the occasion of the General Assembly session has held a round of meetings with leading UN officials and ambassadors to discuss topics including peacekeeping and peace-building operations, counter-terrorism and human rights, as well as regional issues such as the situation in Kosovo.*