11/12/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a worrying context of global instability and insecurity, and in order to protect democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and preserve Europe's position in the world, member states should strive for “an open rules-based international order of realism”, rather than an ever-shrinking club of...
05/12/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Addressing the plenary meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino), Antonio Gutiérrez Limones (Spain, SOC), stressed the importance of the relationship between the European and Latin American regions, and made a call to relaunch the Cooperation Agreement between the...
27/11/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Dora Bakoyannis (Greece, EPP/CD), PACE’s rapporteur on the situation in the Middle East, made the following statement today: “The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which is taking effect today, marks a significant step toward stability in the Middle East. This agreement, facilitated...
15/11/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Faced with the growing destabilisation of the world order, organisations based on universal values, such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations, must increase contacts at all levels, intensify co-operation and support each other in order to strengthen the multilateral system," said...
08/11/2024 | Election observation
“Democracy is a work in progress. Our populations are facing unprecedented societal challenges bringing about a deep sense of injustice, of insecurity, and of fear. The challenge is to identify how to ensure democratic security so that citizens can feel they can work together to promote access to...
11/10/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Under the chairmanship of Alexis Tsipras (Greece, UEL), PACE’s Sub-Committee on the Western Balkans met in Belgrade on 10-11 October 2024, at the invitation of the Serbian parliament. Addressing the meeting, Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, emphasised the...
10/09/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Political Affairs Committee, meeting on 9 September in Paris, expressed its concern about the persecution of human rights defenders in Iran and abroad by the Iranian regime. The report by Max Lucks (Germany, SOC), adopted by the committee, underlines that many Iranians in exile in Europe, and...
21/06/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Ending a five-day visit to the Middle East today (17-21 June), the Chair of PACE’s Sub-Committee on the Middle East Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC) has called for "a collective surge of responsibility to ensure the effective implementation of an immediate ceasefire, the safe return of hostages to...
18/06/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Faced with democratic backsliding in Europe, marked by the weakening of the separation and balance of powers and the restriction of freedoms, the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, which met in Oslo on 30 and 31 May, called on member States to “adopt participatory and deliberative...
11/06/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Practical moves made by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus since October 2020 to re-open Varosha – a fenced-off area of the city of Famagusta which has been a “ghost town” since the division of the island – are an “unacceptable change” to its status and a grave violation of...
04/06/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the international community has imposed sanctions to counter this aggression and hold Russia accountable for its violations of international law. PACE’s Political Affairs and Democracy Committee condemned...
13/05/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
"Securing the release of hostages and preventing any further catastrophic escalation of the conflict are the two priorities demanding the full commitment of all parties at this critical juncture,” said Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC), PACE rapporteur on recent developments in the Middle East, in a...