19/03/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems has again recalled that the rule of law must prevail in the emergency situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic – and stressed that any laws linked to the pandemic should comply with the constitution and international standards. “Today’s debate – held as the crisis...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
PACE Standing Committee has said it deplores the complacency of both countries of origin and destination concerning children who are “left behind” when their parents migrate abroad for work, potentially depriving them of support and protection. “Leaving millions of children without parental care...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
The Standing Committee, meeting today by videoconference, held a current affairs debate on “Recent developments in Turkey concerning parliamentary democracy”. Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC) opened the debate.
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
PACE has again urged Council of Europe member States to do more to confiscate illegal assets, including by reversing the burden of proof as to the illegal nature of the assets, pointing out that national and international efforts to combat money-laundering are still “falling far short of declared...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
The PACE Standing Committee, meeting by videoconference, today expressed its deep concern over victims of arbitrary displacement, underlining that nearly 2.8 million Europeans were internally displaced persons (IDPs). “Many Europeans are refugees in other countries, in particular Ukrainians who...
04/12/2020 | Standing Committee
The time has come to make the world more ‘autism-friendly’, PACE’s Standing Committee has urged, calling for “person-centred and life-long support” for people with autism and their families. In a resolution based on a report by Sevinj Fataliyeva (Azerbaijan, EC/DA), approved today during a...
04/12/2020 | Standing Committee
The PACE Standing Committee, meeting today by videoconference, underlined the essential role of guardians in ensuring protection and respect of the fundamental rights of unaccompanied and separated migrant children. “Guardianship systems are not harmonised across Europe and differ from country to...
04/12/2020 | Standing Committee
The PACE Standing Committee, meeting today by videoconference, strongly condemned attacks on NGOs and their donors assisting refugees and migrants, stressing that such attacks could take the form of “physical violence, legal obstacles, judicial, administrative or fiscal harassment, smear...
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...