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PACE President meets the UN Secretary General in New York

PACE President ends New York visit with an appeal for the election of a woman to the UN’s top job

13/03/2026 | President

PACE President Petra Bayr has concluded a visit to the UN in New York by expressing strong support for the election of a woman as the next Secretary General of the UN. The President was participating in the 70th session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW70), dedicated this year to the...

PACE President meets the UN Secretary General in New York

PACE President meets the UN Secretary General in New York

10/03/2026 | President

PACE President Petra Bayr, in New York to attend the UN Commission on the Status of Women, met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres yesterday for an exchange with him on key issues facing both organisations. “The UN and PACE share the same objectives and concerns: consolidating the rules-based...

International Women's day, March 8

The Assembly remains fully committed to achieving gender equality in Europe and beyond, against growing...

06/03/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

PACE President Petra Bayr and the Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE), made the following joint statement on the eve of International Women’s Day 2026:“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we join the United Nations...

‘A Europe that tolerates Putin’s war betrays its values,’ PACE President says

‘A Europe that tolerates Putin’s war betrays its values,’ PACE President says

24/02/2026 | President

“A Europe that tolerates Putin’s war betrays its values – and a Europe that betrays its values betrays its future,” today said PACE President Petra Bayr, in video message on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. “This is not only a war against...

Petra Bayr: ‘Human rights and democracy are the foundation of security’

Petra Bayr: ‘Human rights and democracy are the foundation of security’

20/02/2026 | President

“The Council of Europe and the OSCE share a fundamental principle: human rights and democracy are not separate from security – they are its foundation,” today said PACE President Petra Bayr, addressing the 25th Winter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) in Vienna. Evoking current...

Olympic Games must be a force for peace and human dignity
©Shutterstock

Olympic Games must be a force for peace and human dignity

05/02/2026 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

PACE President Petra Bayr and Mogens Jensen, Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media today made the following joint statement: On the eve of the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, PACE President Petra Bayr and Mogens Jensen, Chairperson of the PACE...

PACE platform for dialogue with Russian democratic forces holds its first meeting in Strasbourg

PACE platform for dialogue with Russian democratic forces holds its first meeting in Strasbourg

29/01/2026 | President

The first meeting of a new platform for dialogue between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and Russian democratic forces took place in Strasbourg today, on the margins of the Assembly’s winter plenary session. The new Platform, which was created last October, will enable...

Petra Bayr elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Petra Bayr elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

26/01/2026 | Session

Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC) has been elected today President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for a one-year term of office, which may be renewed once. She obtained an absolute majority in the first round of voting with 164 votes to 50 for the other candidate, Victoria...

Theodoros Rousopoulos

PACE President warns of AI-driven fraud targeting democratic institutions

19/12/2025 | President

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos, made the following statement today: “In recent days, following a recommendation by a high-ranking member of a political group within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I agreed to...

Submission of candidatures for the PACE Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces

Submission of candidatures for the PACE Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces

16/12/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy

In October 2025 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided to establish the Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces, as a forum for two-way engagement between the Assembly and Russian democratic forces on issues of common concern. Following a meeting on 12...

London conference urges a stronger role for Europe’s parliaments in shaping AI
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London conference urges a stronger role for Europe’s parliaments in shaping AI

15/12/2025 | Artificial Intelligence

Parliamentarians, policymakers, experts, AI professionals, academics and NGO representatives gathered in London for a major conference on artificial intelligence have urged a stronger role for parliaments in shaping the development, application and regulation of AI to ensure that it complies with...

Discussion on the European Convention on Human Rights and migration must be ‘rooted in our values’ says PACE President

Discussion on the European Convention on Human Rights and migration must be ‘rooted in our values’ says...

10/12/2025 | European Convention on Human Rights

PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, addressing an informal meeting of Council of Europe ministers in Strasbourg, has welcomed the beginning of a discussion about the European Convention on Human Rights and migration – but called for it to be rooted “not in fear, but in our commitment to the...