Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

News

Political parties are an essential motor for democratic renewal, says PACE

Political parties are an essential motor for democratic renewal, says PACE

02/10/2025 | Session

Against a context of democratic backsliding and erosion of public trust in institutions, the Parliamentary Assembly considers that political parties “are an essential motor for democratic renewal”, and has called them to reconnect with citizens. According to the resolution adopted by PACE, based...

PACE calls for impact assessment and key revisions to draft convention on audiovisual series

PACE calls for impact assessment and key revisions to draft convention on audiovisual series

02/10/2025 | Session

Welcoming the finalisation of the draft Council of Europe Convention on the Co-production of Audiovisual Works in the form of Series, the PACE today said it “commends its ambition to promote cross-border collaboration and cultural diversity”. However, unanimously adopting an opinion based on the...

PACE called on member states to promote universal health coverage

PACE calls on member states to promote universal health coverage

02/10/2025 | Session

Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and budgetary constraints, and in the face of worsening inequalities in access to healthcare, PACE today emphasised the importance of promoting universal health coverage (UHC), based on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, a central political...

Communication from the Committee of Ministers

Committee of Ministers’ President Borg: 'Democracy flourishes when no one is left behind'

01/10/2025 | Session

At the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Maltese Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg highlighted the Committee of Ministers’ achievements and the priorities of the Maltese Presidency. Towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine In his address, Minister Borg spoke of the Special Tribunal on...

PACE seriously concerned by lack of democratic progress in Hungary

PACE seriously concerned by lack of democratic progress in Hungary

01/10/2025 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed serious concern at Hungary’s lack of progress on democracy, human rights and the rule of law, pointing to a “worsening situation in certain areas”. Hungary has been under the Assembly’s monitoring procedure since 2022. It is...

Current affairs debate on the political crisis in Serbia

Current affairs debate on the political crisis in Serbia

01/10/2025 | Session

Opening a current affairs debate on “The political crisis in Serbia,” Victoria Tiblom (Sweden, ECPA), one of the co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Serbia, outlined the events that led to the deterioration of the situation in the country, referring to the escalation of mass protests since...

Victory for Victoria

Victory for Viktoria: PACE inaugurates annual commemoration of journalists who risk their lives to tell the...

01/10/2025 | Session

The Assembly today inaugurated the annual “Victory for Viktoria” commemoration to honour war correspondents and journalists who risk, and often lose, their lives defending the right to information and truth in conflict zones. During the opening of the event in Strasbourg, PACE President Theodoros...

Journalists matter: PACE calls for immediate release of Ukrainian journalists held by Russia

Journalists matter: PACE calls for immediate release of Ukrainian journalists held by Russia

01/10/2025 | Session

“The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is also a war against truth,” the Parliamentary Assembly declared today, urging the liberation of Ukrainian journalists unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation. Adopting a resolution based on the report by Yevheniia Kravchuk (Ukraine, ALDE...

Malta’s President highlights commitment to protecting 'shared humanity'

Malta’s President highlights commitment to protecting 'shared humanity'

01/10/2025 | Session

Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly, Malta’s President Myriam Spiteri Debono reflected on six decades of Malta’s engagement with the Council of Europe, emphasising the organisation as a forum “where our core values are nurtured, upheld and translated into tangible progress”. Speaking as both “a...

Supporting young people as ‘builders of democracy’

Supporting young people as ‘builders of democracy’

01/10/2025 | Session

Young people across Europe are “among the most active defenders and imaginative builders” of democracy, human rights the rule of law, according to PACE, and they should be treated “not with repression or indifference, but with recognition, protection and support”. Adopting a resolution based on...

PACE decided to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria

PACE decides to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria

01/10/2025 | Session

At its plenary session in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided today to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria and to follow the developments in the country in the framework of its periodic reviews. It welcomed the fact that Bulgaria had...

PACE welcomes draft convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine

PACE welcomes draft convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine

01/10/2025 | Session

“The Russian Federation must make full reparation for all the damage, loss or injury caused,” the Parliamentary Assembly said today, welcoming the finalisation of the draft convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. Adopting its opinion based on the report by Lord...