06/09/2021 | President
“I am shocked to learn that Belarusian opposition leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms on so-called conspiracy charges,” PACE President Rik Daems said today. “These sentences are entirely without merit, and both of these courageous individuals...
17/08/2021 | President
“The entire world is watching the events unfolding in Afghanistan with grave concern and sadness. The international community should remain united and firm in demanding an immediate end to violence and the respect of human rights for all, both in the current situation and once a system of...
30/07/2021 | President
Ending his working visit to Georgia (27-28 July 2021), PACE President Rik Daems made the following statement: "I wish to express my gratitude to the Georgian authorities and, in particular, to the Chairperson of the Georgian Parliament, Kakha Kuchava, and the head of the Georgian delegation to...
23/07/2021 | President
Rik Daems, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), is to make a working visit to Georgia on 27 and 28 July 2021. In Tbilisi he is due to meet the Speaker of Parliament and Prime Minister, as well as the Foreign, Justice and Internal Affairs Ministers. Meetings...
13/07/2021 | President
“At a moment when we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Parliament of Morocco’s partner for democracy status with PACE, I would like to congratulate the parliament on the progress it has made as regards the representation of women (21 per cent), since the adoption of the quota system in...
09/07/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems will make a working visit to Rabat from 11 to 14 July, during which he will hold high-level meetings with Moroccan authorities. Meetings (to be confirmed) are scheduled with the Presidents of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives, the Head of...
17/06/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems, addressing a new UN network which brings together parliamentarians worldwide to help combat terrorism, has pledged the Assembly’s full support for this initiative – while recalling that the fight against terrorism should always be conducted in line with human rights...
11/06/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems, addressing Council of Europe media ministers by teleconference, has again called for a transparent and clearly defined legal and ethical framework for Artificial Intelligence based on principles already spelled out by the Assembly. “We need to regulate AI before AI...
04/06/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems, marking World Environment Day (5 June 2021), has issued an urgent appeal for parliaments and governments to act with “force and conviction” to create an explicit legal right to a healthy environment in order to help halt the drastic degradation of ecosystems worldwide...
02/06/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems, ending a working visit to Hungary, has welcomed the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and the opportunities it offers to further strengthen co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly. The President visited...
25/05/2021 | President
Rik Daems, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will make a working visit to Budapest from 26 to 28 May, during which he will hold a series of high-level meetings, in particular with the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the...
19/05/2021 | President
“States must ensure that no one is discriminated against for not having been vaccinated against Covid-19, whether due to possible health risks or not wanting to be vaccinated,” the PACE President said today, addressing the Saint Petersburg International Legal Forum on ‘Vaccination by Law’. While...