03/11/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
PACE Rapporteur Birgir Thórarinsson (Iceland, EPP/CD) today urged member States to step up external action in support to Afghan refugees and to first reception countries as recommended in Resolution 2522 (2023). He recalled the Assembly’s unanimous decision that “deportations to Afghanistan are...
17/10/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
On the eve of European Anti-trafficking Day (18 October), Theodoros Rousopoulos (Greece, EPP/CD), Chairperson of PACE’s Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons made the following statement: “As we mark the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention...
10/10/2023 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to create a “recurring contact platform” for dialogue with representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces who share Council of Europe values, fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia’s war of aggression...
09/10/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons today made the following declaration: Between 15 and 17 September 2023, approximately 8,500 migrants landed on Lampedusa. Most European countries stated their refusal to honour their shared responsibility to receive these people, with the...
06/10/2023 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces who share Council of Europe values will continue their ongoing dialogue with leaders and members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during a live-streamed hearing of three of its committees, taking place on Tuesday...
21/09/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
The Migration Committee, meeting today in Reykjavik, expressed its concern at the increasing instrumentalisation of the theme of migration and asylum in election campaigns, often reduced to security matters. A partial and biased treatment of this theme legitimises political programmes aimed at...
20/09/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons strongly condemned the systematic persecution of women and girls decided on by the Taliban. They called on member States to respect UNHCR’s non-return advisory applying to Afghanistan, but also to Iran and Pakistan, which host more than...
19/06/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
On the eve of World Refugee Day (20 June 2023), Theodoros Rousopoulos (Greece, EPP/CD), Chair of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, has made the following statement: "Speaking at the Council of Europe’s fourth Summit, PACE President Tiny Kox underlined the importance...
26/05/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC), Rapporteur on how migration and asylum are being discussed during electoral campaigns, has completed a two-day visit on 24-26 May 2023 in Sweden. Indeed, the Tidö political agreement in the wake of the elections in September 2022 lays the ground for a major...
12/05/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
PACE’s Migration Committee has hailed the “resilience, courage and determination” of Belarusians who have been forced into exile by the repression of the Lukashenka regime – and urged states hosting them to take legal and practical steps to welcome them. In a unanimously-approved draft resolution...
11/05/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
PACE Migration Committee has proposed that migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons should be granted free access to sports centres, clubs and activities, and provided with free team strips if they need them, as a way of promoting their social inclusion. In a draft resolution adopted...
11/05/2023 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Paris, has adopted the following declaration, proposed at the initiative of Emmanuel Fernandes (France, UEL): “France is conducting a large-scale police operation...