10/03/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“I am deeply alarmed by reports of mass killings targeting civilians, especially the Alawite minority and other religious communities, in Syria’s coastal regions,” said Dora Bakoyannis (Greece, EPP/CD), PACE’s rapporteur on the situation in the Middle East. “These atrocities, including the...
05/03/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Stating that foreign interference, in its many forms, is a “substantial and persistent” threat to democratic security, the Political Affairs Committee today condemned “deliberate and systematic efforts by foreign actors to undermine electoral and democratic processes and institutions”. The...
05/03/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Political Affairs Committee considers that it is “more important than ever” for Europe to strengthen its ties with regions that share its values and, in that sense, the Latin American region “should be considered as a natural ally”. According to parliamentarians, while the existing...
05/03/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy
European leaders should bring the European Political Community (EPC) and the Council of Europe closer together and, in line with the Reykjavik Declaration, “set an example of effective and dynamic multilateralism” that promotes shared values and underpins security and stability in Europe, the...
16/01/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE’s rapporteur on the situation in the Middle East, Dora Bakoyannis (Greece, SOC), has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. "The ceasefire agreement marks a crucial development in the ongoing efforts for peace in the region. This agreement, mediated by key international...
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 | Elections
“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...