27/06/2013 | Session
The Assembly today called on the Russian Council of the Federation to reject the law on so-called "Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships among minors" and on the Parliament of Ukraine not to pursue the examination of the draft law on the prohibition of so-called "homosexual propaganda”. The Assembly particularly deplored the unanimous approval by the Russian Duma of the draft law which...
25/06/2013 | Session
At the end of a debate on the situation in the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, PACE today expressed its support for a solution involving two “democratic and pluralist” states.
25/06/2013 | Session
While raising in a resolution adopted today “serious and sustained concerns” about the extent to which Hungary is still complying with the obligations it took on when it joined the Council of Europe, the Assembly decided however not to open a monitoring procedure in respect of the country but resolved “to closely follow the situation” and “to take stock of the progress achieved” in the implementation of the adopted text.
25/06/2013 | Session
The Assembly today elected Egidijus Kūris as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Lithuania. Mr Kūris, having obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast, is elected judge for a term of office of nine years as from 1 November 2013. Judges are elected by PACE from a list of three candidates nominated by each State which has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights.
25/06/2013 | Session
The Assembly today elected Róbert Ragnar Spanó judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Iceland. Mr Spanó, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected a judge for a term of office of nine years as from 1 November 2013. Judges are elected by PACE from a list of three candidates nominated by each State which has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights.
25/06/2013 | Session
Two years after granting partner for democracy status to the Moroccan Parliament,* and considering that the prime aim of the partnership was progress in taking forward reforms, PACE today, in its first assessment, underlined the “important step taken by Morocco on the path to democratic reform”...
24/06/2013 | Session
When adopting its final agenda at the opening of the Summer Session 2013, PACE decided to hold on Thursday an urgent debate on “Popular protest and challenges to freedom of assembly, media and speech” and a current affairs debate on “State interference on privacy in the Internet”. The credentials of the Icelandic delegation to the Assembly were challenged on procedural grounds.
24/06/2013 | Session
Referring, at the opening of the PACE part-session in Strasbourg, to the importance of the debate on the request for the opening of a monitoring procedure for Hungary, President Jean-Claude Mignon said that the Assembly was obliged “to react to this situation in the most appropriate manner, conducting a constructive dialogue with the authorities so that they bring their legislation and practice into line with our standards.”
24/06/2013 | Session
The credentials of the new Icelandic delegation to the PACE have been challenged on the opening day of the Assembly’s summer plenary session in Strasbourg on the grounds that it does not contain at least one Representative who is a member of “the under-represented sex”, as required by the Rules.
24/06/2013 | Session
According to PACE, the 12 May 2013 early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria “were held in a pluralist context, fundamental freedoms were upheld and the administration of the elections was satisfactory”. Nevertheless, the Assembly was concerned at “the public’s lack of trust in the electoral process” ...
24/06/2013 | Session
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented a communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly and answered questions from delegates. Mr Nalbandian detailed priority areas for the Organisation’s work during the Armenian Chairmanship, emphasizing the particular importance of efforts to tackle hatred, racism...
17/06/2013 | Session
A decision on a request for the opening of a monitoring procedure in respect of Hungary and a debate on tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity – to be addressed by the Women’s Rights Minister of France Najat Vallaud-Belkacem – are among the highlights of the PACE summer plenary session in Strasbourg on 24-28 June 2013.