27/05/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a crisis situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic – where an executive, facing a number of constraints, has to take immediate action – how can parliaments adjust their role as guarantors of stability and democratic legitimacy? How can continuity of parliamentary oversight be ensured and where...
07/05/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Two PACE rapporteurs have called on national policy-makers and international institutions to “act in a concerted manner now in order to beat both the virus and the crisis”, urging a strong political response which stabilises economies while protecting the vulnerable. In a joint statement...
05/05/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“PACE‘s support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Kosovo* holds strong in these challenging times,” said PACE Rapporteur Peter BEYER (Germany, EPP/CD). “The people of Kosovo* have been hit hard by the current Coronavirus crisis, as are many others around the world. My sympathy...
07/04/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) may prove a useful ally in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, we should not forget that its use may raise serious human rights concerns that can undermine the trust placed in governments,” said Deborah Bergamini.
25/03/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Democracy and parliamentary scrutiny of governments, even if exercised through new means, must be protected during the COVID-19 pandemic,” warns Dame Cheryl Gillan, Chairperson of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy.
04/02/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Democratic institutions are under threat today in many Council of Europe member States, including some founding ones, warns Marie-Christine Dalloz, rapporteur on "Fostering healthy democracies in Europe".
30/01/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
"The Committee on Political Affairs believes that the Middle East peace process must be urgently re-activated to meet legitimate aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis and bring about long-awaited peace and justice".
17/12/2019 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Opportunities for international co-operation in the Arctic region and the political implications of global warming were the main topics at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on External Relations which met in Rovaniemi, Finland.
09/12/2019 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Adopting a draft resolution on “Democracy hacked? How to respond?”, a PACE committee today expressed its concern at the scale of information pollution in a digitally connected and increasingly polarised world.
09/12/2019 | Political Affairs and Democracy
A PACE committee has invited the Venice Commission to reflect on the setting of “minimum standards with which electoral systems should comply in order to guarantee free elections and fair results thereof”.
09/12/2019 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The committee approved the basic principles involved in a “complementary joint procedure” between the Council of Europe’s two statutory bodies in response to a serious violation by a member State of its obligations.
14/11/2019 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Two rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have welcomed the adoption by the EU Council of supplementary negotiating directives aimed at the swift resumption of negotiations with the Council of Europe on EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights...