23/06/2009 | Session
PACE, meeting this week in plenary session in Strasbourg, today elected Kristina Pardalos as judge to the European Court of Human Rights with respect to San Marino.
23/06/2009 | Session
In a resolution adopted today, the Assembly considers that the main challenge facing international financial institutions such as the IMF and development banks such as the World Bank, as well as the governments that fund them, is to ensure adequate global liquidity and stability in order to restore growth and hence employment. According to Kimmo Sasi (Finland, EPP/CD), author of the report on this subject, restoring health to the international banking system must be a top priority.
23/06/2009 | Session
After discussing an information note prepared by PACE co-rapporteurs with respect of Ukraine, on the basis of their last visit to Kiev from 5 to 8 April 2009, the PACE Monitoring Committee today expressed its concern that the positive changes to the Law on Elections of the President of Ukraine, adopted after the controversial second round of the Presidential election in 2004, were only of a temporary nature and will not be applicable for the forthcoming Presidential elections.
23/06/2009 | Session
A report approved today by PACE Legal Affairs Committee has recommended a series of steps to boost the independence of judges across Europe to end what it calls “politically-motivated interference” in individual cases. The report, prepared by Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (Germany, ALDE), exposes ways that politicians can meddle with the law in four countries representing the principal types of criminal justice system in Europe.
23/06/2009 | Session
Thomas Mirow, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) underlined on 23 June at the Assembly the effects of the global financial crisis. ''Ten countries –including Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine- are expected to suffer severe recessions or depressions, with growth in the order of -4 to -15% in 2009'', stated the EBRD President.
23/06/2009 | Session
While recalling that funding from the EBRD has become more important than ever for those countries it supports, the Assembly believes that the EBRD needs to continue its efforts to co-operate with other banks and international financial institutions, in order to avoid overlapping activities. According to the parliamentarians, there is scope for greater co-ordination with the Council of Europe too, such as carrying out joint projects with the Development Bank, or working more closely with Council bodies active in the economic sphere.
23/06/2009 | Session
The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, today acknowledged the role of the Council of Europe creating a context for change in Northern Ireland, and for its advocacy and support to the peace process. Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly on 23 June, she pointed out the success of police reforms in Northern Ireland as a major step in the process.
23/06/2009 | Session
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, today voted in favour of restoring the Special Guest status of the Belarusian Parliament, which has been suspended since 1997, with a view to "engaging in political dialogue with the authorities" while supporting "the strengthening of democratic forces and civil society". This status, however, could only be granted “after a moratorium on the execution of the death penalty is decreed”.
23/06/2009 | Session
"The fact is that the Council of Europe is a logical whole, in which every part, from the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly, the Court to the Congress, the Commissioner, the operational directorates and the partial agreements, all have their own roles and reinforce each other’s work. [...] That is how our organisation has developed and disseminated democracy, defended and extended human rights, advocated and encouraged the rule of law over the past sixty years, and this is how it will continue to carry out its mission for decades to come...," declared the Secretary General.
22/06/2009 | Session
Samuel Žbogar, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Slovenian Foreign Minister, expressed ''his deep disappointment and concern at the decision to withdraw the Secretary General's election from the agenda''. He expressed the wish that this election would take place at the earliest possible moment while underlining that the Committee of Ministers' aim is to continue constructive dialogue with the Assembly.
22/06/2009 | Session
The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) addressed the Assembly on 22 June, highlighting the global relevance of human rights. The current Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia focused on the co-operation between IPU - which celebrates its 120th anniversary - and the Council of Europe, facing common challenges in the international political arena.
22/06/2009 | Session
At the opening of its Summer session (22-26 June 2009) in Strasbourg, the Assembly decided not to include on its agenda the election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (due to be held on Tuesday 23 June) and not to hold an urgent debate on the issue. The parliamentarians decided to discuss the situation in Iran during an urgent debate on Thursday 25 June. Other highlights of the session include the biennial debate on “the state of human rights in Europe", as well as debates on the situation in Belarus and the creation in the Assembly of a "Partner for democracy" status for the parliaments of countries neighbouring the Council of Europe.