23/06/2008 | Session
"If we cannot safeguard human rights and protect our democratic way of governing , our societies risk sooner or later to sink down into confrontation", said Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Committee of Ministers, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly on 23 June. "This is what the Council of Europe is all about, no state stands above these standards. While being proud of our achievements, we must recognize that there are significant challenges ahead", he added.
23/06/2008 | Session
The Assembly today unanimously adopted a recommendation encouraging the states bordering the Black Sea - Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine – to take steps to prevent damage to the Black Sea environment and strengthen co-operation at both national and regional levels. According to the Assembly, the Council of Europe, of which all the riparian countries are members, is well placed to facilitate such co-operation.
23/06/2008 | Session
PACE is to prepare a report on the proposed 42-day pre-charge detention in the United Kingdom. At the opening of its summer session this morning in Strasbourg, the Assembly – made up of parliamentarians from the 47 Council of Europe member states – voted against holding an urgent debate on the subject this week, but instead to prepare a full report for possible debate at its next session (29 September-3 October 2008).
23/06/2008 | Session
"It is normal for people in any democracy to have different ideas and views. The main thing is that disputes are settled by democratic means, in compliance with the Council of Europe’s values. I hope that the Turkish institutions will shoulder their responsibilities in this area. But we too have a responsibility, that of providing Turkey with a clear, unequivocal European perspective", PACE President said today at the opening of the Summer Session 2008 in Strasbourg. Adopting its agenda, the PACE decided to hold an urgent debate on recent developments in the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey on Thursday 26 June at 3 p.m. The parliamentarians also decided to hold an urgent debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia on Wednesday 25 around 6 p.m.
20/06/2008 | Session
A group of 20 members of PACE have requested the holding of an urgent debate on the proposal for 42-day pre-charge detention in the United Kingdom at the Assembly’s summer plenary session next week in Strasbourg (23-27 June).
10/06/2008 | Session
An urgent debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey, to which Turkey’s Foreign Minister has been invited, a general policy debate on the situation in China, and a special debate on the state of democracy in Europe, involving guest speakers from civil society, are among the highlights of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) taking place in Strasbourg from 23 to 27 June 2008. Serbian President Boris Tadic will also address the Assembly on Thursday 26 June.
18/04/2008 | Session
“Too much tourism can kill tourism, and it is up to policy-makers to take strong action in support of a quality-oriented growth of tourism based on the principles of sustainable development, which covers environmental protection, quality of life, cultural diversity, social equity and an economy ensuring prosperity for all”, said José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), presenting his report to the Assembly plenary session.
18/04/2008 | Session
In order to better control immigration from sub-Saharan Africa into Europe, PACE today called on European governments for more and better information on how sub-Saharan migratory flows work, more humane and secure removals, improved provision for migrant students, closer harmonisation of European legislation, and stronger links with African countries, including development aid. “European states are reminded that sub-Saharan migrants have the same rights and duties as others, and have the right to be treated humanely”, said Jean-Guy Branger (France, PPE/DC), the author of the adopted text.
17/04/2008 | Session
PACE today called on the member states to promote the teaching of Europe’s literary heritage and introduce new ways of teaching literature, reflecting its European dimension. “Learning about European literature is an integral part of education for European citizenship”, said Jacques Legendre (France, EPP/CD), rapporteur for the Culture Committee.
17/04/2008 | Session
In a world currently facing a ‘‘crisis of civilisation,’’ Europe represents hope for bridging ‘‘the growing gap’’ between globalisation’s technological progress and humanity’s ‘‘capacity to cope’’ with globalisation, said celebrated Lebanese author Amin Maalouf in his address to the Assembly on 17 April.
17/04/2008 | Session
While noting with satisfaction that today there is a broad consensus on the question of the accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights, PACE today said it is “time for the declarations of intent to be carried into effect”. The adopted text, drafted by Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc (Netherlands, EPP/CD), underlines that the accession will convey “a clear commitment to the protection of human rights not only within the boundaries of the EU but also Europe-wide, and will confirm the EU’s essence as a “community based on law”. Henceforth, the parliamentarians said, “the accession must be the priority in the dialogue between the two Organisations”.
17/04/2008 | Session
At a hearing held by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the PACE, the representatives of various NGOs asked that the Council of Europe show firm political resolve towards the protection of human rights defenders and that it adopt a specific European instrument, in addition to the instruments that already existed for their protection. According to Amnesty International, the members of the PACE could play a significant role in persuading governments to make arrangements to deal with crisis situations (for example by granting emergency visas).