22/06/2011 | Session
"Armenia has been drawing closer to Europe in a unique and natural way for two decades, during which the Council of Europe has been a key partner in the process of establishing and strengthening democracy", the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, has told the Parliamentary Assembly.
22/06/2011 | Session
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov referred to the “winds of change” in the southern neighborhood of Europe, stressing that Europe must share its democratic transition experience. This is why Bulgaria organised last May in its capital the Sofia Platform, a conference in which took part governmental and non-governmental representatives from Arab countries, Europe and the US.
22/06/2011 | Session
“Preparing for a sexual offence against a child is a serious crime, particularly when the preparation has gone so far that the offender has scheduled a meeting with the child and the purpose of the meeting is that the offender will abuse the child sexually,” Ulrika Rogland, public prosecutor in Malmö (Sweden) said today in Strasbourg on the occasion of the 3rd meeting of the Network of Contact Parliamentarians to stop sexual violence against children.
22/06/2011 | Session
In connection with the reform of the PACE, the parliamentarians adopted a resolution today containing a number of measures ranging from policy action to modifications of its working methods and structure. These measures, which are set out in detail in the report by Jean-Claude Mignon (France, EPP/CD), will come into effect at the opening of the Assembly’s 2012 session, on 23 January 2012.
22/06/2011 | Session
While welcoming the report of the Group of Eminent Persons on “Living together – Combining diversity and freedom in 21st-century Europe”, a basis for further reflection on Europe’s future, against the backdrop of the Organisation’s ongoing reform process, the Assembly today encouraged politicians and elected representatives at all levels to speak out on the challenges raised at present “by the threats to the European project and solidarity”...
21/06/2011 | Session
In his third address to the Parliamentary Assembly, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych recalled how important it was for the unity of Ukrainian society to pursue the country’s European integration while strengthening its relations with neighbouring countries, especially Russia.
21/06/2011 | Session
In a resolution adopted today, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided to grant “Partner for Democracy” status to the Parliament of Morocco. This is the first parliament to be awarded this new status, created by PACE in January 2010. Endorsing the conclusions of the rapporteur on this question, Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), PACE considered that “the request by the Parliament of Morocco meets the formal criteria set forth in its Rules of Procedure”.
21/06/2011 | Session
The Council of Europe must do all it can to support democracy in Tunisia, not least with practical assistance on electoral matters, and by involving Tunisian representatives in its own activities. Following the proposals by the rapporteur (Anne Brasseur, Luxembourg, ALDE), the Assembly said that the future Tunisian Parliament could consider applying for “Partner for Democracy” status with the Assembly...
21/06/2011 | Session
The Assembly today elected André Potocki as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of France. Mr Potocki, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected a judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of office of 9 years starting on 4 November 2011. Judges are elected by PACE from a list of three candidates nominated by each State which has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights.
21/06/2011 | Session
Council of Europe member states should accept, as a priority, the relocation and resettlement of asylum seekers and refugees from countries “under strain” on Europe’s southern shores, PACE said today. In a resolution based on a report by Christopher Chope (United Kingdom, EDG), the Assembly said all European governments had a moral duty to assist Malta, Italy and other countries dealing with the thousands of “boat people” who have arrived from North Africa in recent months.
20/06/2011 | Session
Adopting the final agenda of its plenary Summer Session, the Assembly today decided to hold, on Thursday 23 June, a current affairs debate on the political and humanitarian consequences of the situation in Syria and Libya. The parliamentarians noted that Mohamed Mouldi Kefi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia will not intervene in the debate on the situation in Tunisia. The Assembly also decided to hold a debate on the expansion of democracy by lowering the voting age to 16, on Thursday 23 June.
20/06/2011 | Session
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which opened today in Strasbourg its Summer Session 2011, elected Krista Kiuru (Finland, SOC) Vice-President of the Assembly with respect to Finland.