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Debates on Azerbaijan, Georgia and Serbia among highlights of PACE summer plenary session

04/06/2026 | Session

Reports on silencing critical voices in Azerbaijan, and on the functioning of democratic institutions in Georgia and in Serbia, are among highlights of the summer plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which takes place in Strasbourg on 22-26 June 2026. The...

Hemicycle / Session / Hémicycle

PACE held its spring plenary session in Strasbourg

24/04/2026 | Session

Addresses by the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović and France’s Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot were among highlights of the spring plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which took place in...

Free debate on current issues

24/04/2026 | Session

PACE this morning held a “free debate” on current issues not included in the session agenda. On this occasion, members could speak on any issue which falls within the Assembly’s mandate. Seventeen parliamentarians took the floor.

Current affairs debate: call to step up efforts for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

Current affairs debate: call to step up efforts for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime...

23/04/2026 | Session

“We are the leading international Organisation to support Ukraine, neither with money, nor with weapons, but with political power,” today said Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC), opening a current affairs debate on “Accountability and justice: a call to step up efforts for the establishment of the...

PACE debates the need for peace and stability in the broader Middle East

Current affairs debate: the need for peace and stability in the broader Middle East

23/04/2026 | Session

“The entire Middle East – from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf – is on fire, with catastrophic consequences. The lesson we have to learn from this is that without a political strategy there is no solution,” said Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC), opening a current affairs debate today on the need...

Gustaf GÖTHBERG - Request for opinion on the draft additional protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism

The Assembly gives green light to treaty update enabling easier seizure of criminal assets

23/04/2026 | Session

PACE has recommended the swift adoption of a new protocol which updates an existing Council of Europe treaty on the laundering, seizure and confiscation of criminal or terrorist funds, noting that it “significantly expands” the tools allowing assets to be traced across borders and victims to be...

PACE calls for stronger action against social dumping and labour exploitation

PACE calls for stronger action against social dumping and labour exploitation

23/04/2026 | Session

Social dumping and labour exploitation, which at its worst includes forced labour and trafficking in human beings, “represents a grave violation of human dignity and fundamental rights,” warns a resolution adopted PACE. In the adopted resolution based on a report by Valérie Piller Carrard...

PACE improves the procedure for electing judges to the European Court of Human Rights

23/04/2026 | Session

PACE has introduced a series of improvements to the way it elects judges to the European Court of Human Rights to ensure a fair, transparent and efficient nomination and election process. Adopting a resolution based on a report by Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC), presented by Agnes Prammer (Austria...

The Assembly supports content creators against AI companies

The Assembly supports content creators against AI companies

23/04/2026 | Session

PACE is calling for a balanced regulation of artificial intelligence that empowers the creative sector and protects citizens and democracy at large. Approving a resolution based on a report by Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), PACE said that current copyright laws in Europe are “neither clear-cut nor...

PACE calls for consent to be included in national legislation

22/04/2026 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting today in Strasbourg in plenary session, emphasised the need to “include free and informed consent in national legislation on preventing and combating sexual violence”.The question of consent in sexual relations has long been...

Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina reaffirms commitment to Council of Europe values

Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina reaffirms commitment to Council of Europe values

22/04/2026 | Session

Denis Bećirović warns Parliamentary Assembly that constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina is being undermined Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Bećirović, has hailed the strong...

PACE calls for renewed commitment to the Istanbul Convention

PACE calls for renewed commitment to the Istanbul Convention

22/04/2026 | Session

PACE is calling for universal ratification and full implementation of the Istanbul Convention, nearly 12 years after the landmark treaty to protect women against domestic violence entered into force, warning that organised disinformation campaigns and insufficient resources are undermining its...