04/12/2020 | Standing Committee
National programmes for the award of citizenship, residence permits and tax domiciles to foreign investors must respect the legal standards set by the Council of Europe, as well as relevant international legal standards designed to prevent corruption, money laundering and terrorists financing...
26/11/2020 | Standing Committee
The Standing Committee (*) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will meet by videoconference in its enlarged format on Friday 4 December 2020. After the opening of the meeting by PACE President Rik Daems, the parliamentarians will discuss support for people with autism...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
The ‘enlarged’ Standing Committee, meeting today by videoconference, held a current affairs debate on the Athens Declaration by the Committee of Ministers Chairmanship on: “Effectively responding to a public health crisis in full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law”. Jacques...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert Spano, has paid tribute to the essential role of parliaments in upholding the Convention and rulings of the Strasbourg Court. Addressing a meeting of PACE’s “enlarged” Standing Committee by videoconference, Mr Spano said: “The role of...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth today presented Germany’s priorities for its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and took questions from members. These priorities include strengthening the implementation of rights and obligations under the European...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
In light of the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, PACE’s Standing Committee has unanimously approved modifications to the Rules of Procedure to enable the Assembly to hold remote or hybrid plenary sessions in exceptional circumstances. Approving a report by Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
Recalling that the Assembly’s decisions should be based on clear and effective parliamentary rules, the Assembly has amended its Rules to reflect changes in parliamentary practice and to clarify procedures where their application or interpretation has raised difficulties. The modifications...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
Council of Europe member States should ensure a gender dimension in their foreign policies, by promoting inclusiveness, equality and non-discrimination, in order to counter the backlash against women’s rights, according to PACE’s Standing Committee. Unanimously approving a report by Petra Stienen...
20/11/2020 | Standing Committee
The PACE Standing Committee, meeting by videoconference, called on member States to enshrine the protection of academic freedom and institutional autonomy in national legislation, and to provide adequate public funding for higher education and research, enabling institutions to maintain their...
17/11/2020 | Standing Committee
Highlights of PACE’s Standing Committee, meeting by video-conference on 20 November in its enlarged format, include reports on the gender dimension of foreign policy and on threats to academic freedom. German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth will present Germany’s priorities for its...
23/10/2020 | Standing Committee
PACE’s Standing Committee has strongly condemned new crackdowns on political opposition and civil dissent in recent months in Turkey and urged the Turkish authorities to “take meaningful steps” to improve standards in the field of democracy, rule of law and human rights. Approving a resolution...
23/10/2020 | Standing Committee
PACE’s Standing Committee today expressed its concern at the numerous cases of violations of lawyers’ rights, including attacks on their safety and independence, in recent years. Lawyers continue to be targeted for their involvement in human rights-related cases, or for their work denouncing...