13/09/2022 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In 2003, the EU expressed its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans, but the length of time that has elapsed and failure to adequately reward progress have sapped political momentum and public enthusiasm. “The European vision is losing its shine. In its place...
13/09/2022 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE’s Political Affairs Committee has urged the United Kingdom to ensure that Brexit does not result in any diminution of rights for the people of Northern Ireland, warning that the withdrawal from the European Union had “reignited deep-seated tensions in Northern Irish society, furthering...
13/09/2022 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy has made the following declaration for the International Day of Democracy (15 September): The world is confronted with epochal and global challenges which interact and magnify each other’s effects. In Ukraine, people are losing their lives and...
03/06/2022 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC) will visit Cyprus on behalf of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) from 6 to 8 June 2022, to gather information for his report on a “Call for Famagusta’s return to its lawful inhabitants”. During...
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...
25/04/2022 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Describing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as “an act of unprecedented gravity” with far-reaching consequences worldwide, PACE’s Political Affairs Committee has made a strong call for unity in supporting Ukraine and for putting maximum pressure on the Russian Federation to cease its...
04/04/2022 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its exclusion from the Council of Europe, the Political Affairs Committee has stressed the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the Council of Europe and the EU, “on the basis of their shared values and commitment...
28/09/2021 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Tackling the immediate and future momentous challenges posed by the situation in Afghanistan requires a “coherent, co-ordinated and concerted” response by the international community and Council of Europe member States should “spare no effort” to achieve this objective, the Political Affairs...
31/08/2021 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE rapporteur Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) will be in Vilnius and Warsaw from 1 to 3 September to meet Belarusian political stakeholders and civil society representatives living abroad, in the context of the preparation of his report on “Call for an inclusive national political process in...
22/06/2021 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In order to respond to the urgency of the climate crisis, governments need to combine “a clear political engagement and top-down leadership” that allows for meaningful contributions from citizens, according to the Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Strasbourg and by videoconference. The...
07/06/2021 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“I welcome the strong support expressed by G7 Finance Ministers on 4-5 June in London for the introduction of a minimum corporate tax and a fair distribution of the taxation of the profits of large multinationals, especially the big digital companies. This is a major break in the race to the...
19/05/2021 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Following the wave of violence that has hit Israel and Gaza in recent days, causing further victims, loss of life, destruction and suffering, it is the duty of every international institution, every government and every democratic conscience to act to halt the military escalation and restore the...