05/10/2010 | Session
PACE has warmly welcomed the political will displayed by the new authorities in Ukraine to enact ambitious reforms, but warned that they must have wide political consensus and public support to succeed. Debating a monitoring report by Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD) and Mailis Reps (Estonia, ALDE), the parliamentarians said the recent Constitutional Court ruling in Ukraine should now prompt the Verkhovna Rada to initiate “a comprehensive constitutional reform process” to bring the country’s constitution fully into line with European standards.
05/10/2010 | Session
At the end of a debate on child abuse in institutions, the Assembly today called for “more far-reaching measures in the future when it comes to according full justice to victims of past offences”. According to the parliamentarians, “more committed action will be required” at national level when it comes to reinforcing legislation on child abuse and applying it to various institutional contexts. No authority or institution “should be exempt from critical review”, as “all institutions without exception” are subject to the same national legislation, in particular in the field of criminal law
05/10/2010 | Session
The Assembly today expressed its concern at the upsurge of certain forms of extremism in Europe, particularly racism and xenophobia, “in the light of the rise of the electoral support of parties” inspired by these ideas. To counter this trend, and in line with the proposals by the rapporteur (Pedro Agramunt, Spain, EPP/CD), parliamentarians called on European governments to devise clear and sustainable immigration policies “accompanied by appropriate integration policies”...
04/10/2010 | Session
"Our Chairmanship fully supports the Secretary General’s decision to call a high-level meeting to put in place a European strategy that would lead to lasting, tangible measures to ensure the social integration of the Roma", said the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers on 4 October. "For all forces will need to be mobilised if this initiative, which is a challenge for Europe as a whole, and the Council of Europe in particular, is to succeed", he added.
04/10/2010 | Session
In his address before the Parliamentary Assembly on 4 October, Guido Westerwelle, Deputy Federal Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, warned of an increasing nationalism in politics. "It may get you applause back home", he said, but it is "irresponsible".
04/10/2010 | Session
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today elected Václav Kubata (Czech Republic, EPP/CD) Vice-President of the Assembly with respect to the Czech Republic.
04/10/2010 | Session
Adopting the final agenda of its Autumn 2010 plenary session (4-8 October), the Assembly decided to hold an urgent debate on “The recent rise in national security discourse in Europe: the case of the Roma”, which will take place on Thursday morning. During the week, the Assembly will also debate on the fight against extremism, human rights and business, and will discuss a report on women’s access to lawful medical care: the problem of the unregulated use of conscientious objection. The Prime Minister of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” Nikola Gruevski and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will address the Assembly.
04/10/2010 | Session
“Many of you know that it is the principle of non-discrimination which is of particular importance to me. During the last couple of months, it has been the issue of the Roma population in Europe which has raised serious questions about discrimination”, said PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu today at the opening of the Assembly’s autumn session in Strasbourg.
04/10/2010 | Session
Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of the Autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly, PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu today expressed his concern at the recent rise of populist and extremist candidates and groupings, obtaining significant results in many countries at regional and national elections. “They exploit the resentments stirred by economic decline and social crisis as they are elected on an 'anti'-ticket - anti-immigration, anti-Muslim, anti-Europe”, he stressed.
22/09/2010 | Session
A possible urgent debate on “The recent rise in national security discourse in Europe: the case of the Roma” as well as addresses by the Prime Minister of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” Nikola Gruevski and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle are among highlights of PACE autumn session, taking place in Strasbourg from 4 to 8 October 2010.
25/06/2010 | Session
PACE today called for a series of measures to protect the world`s forests in both member and non-member states especially considering how illegal logging has led to mass deforestation in developing countries. These measures include establishing more effective monitoring mechanisms and drawing up binding international agreements to limit deforestation, and proposing the development of sustainable forest management techniques.
25/06/2010 | Session
In a resolution adopted today, the Parliamentary Assembly recommends a series of measures designed to combat sexist stereotypes in the media. It invites in particular the member states to set up regulatory and self-regulatory media authorities to reduce gender-based discrimination and to devise codes of good practice with partners in the profession to promote the balanced presence of women and men in the media.