22/09/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur on co-operation with the emerging democracies in the Arab world, and Konstantinos Vrettos (Greece, SOC), PACE rapporteur on the situation in the Middle East, will be visiting Egypt from 23 to 26 September 2011.
13/09/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
"The celebration of the International Day of Democracy takes on a very special meaning this year at a time when movements of popular protest have broken out in the Arab world, bringing changes both spectacular and unexpected. The protagonists of the “Arab Spring”, who have forged rapid links via social networks and the Internet, want democratic change founded on trust and transparency: they aspire to dignity, freedom, social justice and respect for human rights in a law-based state, declared PACE Bureau on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy.
06/09/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a debate today in Caserta, Italy, on the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the Council of Europe, based on a report by Kerstin Lundgren (Sweden, ALDE), the Political Affairs Committee argued that the partnership between the EU and the Council of Europe should lead to a common space for human rights protection across the continent in the interest of all Europe's citizens.
06/09/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
On the basis of a report by Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL), the PACE Political Affairs Committee today gave the go-ahead for granting Partner for Democracy status to the Palestinian National Council. The Assembly is to take a decision on this matter at its October plenary session in Strasbourg.
01/09/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
At the invitation of the Italian delegation to the PACE, its Bureau, the Political Affairs Committee and the Committee on Rules of Procedure meet in Caserta (Italy) on 5 and 6 September. The Political Affairs Committee will discuss the granting of “partner for democracy” status to the Palestinian National Council, based on a report to be presented by Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL). The PACE will vote on a draft resolution on this subject at its next plenary session in Strasbourg (3-7 October 2011).
08/08/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Following last week's arrest of Ales Bialiatski, head of the NGO Viasna and Vice-President of the International Human Rights Federation, on charges of “tax evasion”, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur on Belarus has urged the authorities in Belarus to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr Bialiatski and to put an end to all forms of harassment against him and other human rights defenders in the country.
21/07/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Following the recent executions of two men, Oleg Grishkovets and Andrei Burdyka, in Belarus, as reported yesterday by the state-run Vecherny Grodno newspaper, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), the rapporteur on Belarus for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has reiterated the Assembly’s long-standing and categorical opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
05/07/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE rapporteur on the situation in Belarus, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), has condemned the new wave of violence against peaceful protesters, journalists and human rights defenders in Belarus. “I am concerned about the rough dispersal of peaceful demonstrations in Minsk and other cities on July 3rd, Independence Day, with hundreds of protesters being brutally beaten and detained merely for clapping hands,” he said.
29/06/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Europe cannot stand idly by and watch as history is made by this spectacular push for freedom in the countries of the southern Mediterranean,” said Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP), presenting his report on co-operation between the Council of Europe and the emerging democracies in the Arab world to the PACE’s Political Affairs Committee.He issued an urgent call for the creation of a “common democratic home”.
31/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
On the basis of a report presented by Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), the PACE Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Paris today, voted in favour of granting the Parliament of Morocco partner for democracy status. The PACE will be required to vote on a corresponding draft resolution at its forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg (20-24 June).
31/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Given the ongoing harassment and political trials of civil society and political opponents, and continuing the restrictions of freedom of speech and association, the human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating and remains a matter of serious concern,” said Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), PACE's outgoing rapporteur on Belarus, speaking today.
30/05/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
According to a report on the situation in Tunisia, prepared by Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE) and adopted by the PACE Political Affairs Committee today in Paris, the Assembly must put its experience of accompanying democratic transitions and establishing new institutions in young democracies in Europe at the disposal of Tunisia’s transitional institutions, future permanent institutions and civil society.