28/01/2026 | Election observation
Addressing PACE on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s accession to the Council of Europe, Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, reiterated Armenia’s choice for peace and co-operation, spoke about the reforms implemented over the past years, and stressed that...
28/01/2026 | Session
The Assembly has reaffirmed that the effective participation of young people is “vital for the renewal, resilience and legitimacy of democratic institutions” and stressed that Europe’s future depends on societies “in which young people are recognised as equal partners in shaping political, social...
28/01/2026 | Session
The Assembly has approved the credentials of both the Austrian and Polish parliamentary delegations, which were each separately challenged on procedural grounds on the opening day of the winter plenary session in Strasbourg. Each year in January, the Assembly approves the credentials of all its...
28/01/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
On the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Holocaust, Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance, made the following statement: “Today – and always – we must reaffirm the universal value of memory, both as a...
28/01/2026 | Session
Opening a current affairs debate on “Ensuring accountability, humanitarian protection and respect for international law in Gaza and the West Bank after the ceasefire”, Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC) called for accountability for the crimes committed against Palestinians and Israelis, for...
28/01/2026 | Session
Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Moldova Mihai Popșoi highlighted the achievements of the Committee of Ministers and the priorities of the Moldovan Presidency, under the motto “For a Europe of peace and...
28/01/2026 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), following up on her report “The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children and the hostages in Gaza”, made the following statement today: “Just one year after the adoption of the Assembly resolution based on my report, Palestinians...
28/01/2026 | Session
The Parliamentary Assembly today emphasised that learning and practising democracy should be “a core political priority in the education system” in order to help young people gain trust in democracy and engage in democratic citizenship. By adopting a resolution based on the report by Luz Martínez...
28/01/2026 | Session
PACE has unanimously said it is against a new draft protocol on the involuntary placement and involuntary treatment of persons in mental healthcare services, pointing out it would “make it more difficult to abolish coercive practices” in such settings. The Assembly had been asked by the...
27/01/2026 | Session
PACE today remembered the victims of the Holocaust in a moving ceremony during which many speakers reflected on its lessons for today. Lord Alf Dubs, who in June 1939 at the age of six escaped the Holocaust on a Kindertransport train from occupied Europe, recalled that journey and spoke of the...
27/01/2026 | Session
The opening session of PACE remains a cornerstone event of European democracy. Parliamentarians from across the whole continent come together to debate the direction of a common European democratic future - a future with a ruptured world order. This was highlighted by the Council of Europe’s...
27/01/2026 | Session
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, warned that Europe faces two wars: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; and an equally dangerous, less visible hybrid war involving disinformation, cyberattacks, and...