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Closer EU-Council of Europe cooperation is more important than ever, Secretary General tells PACE

23/06/2021 | Session

Responding to questions from members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić began by emphasising the importance of coordinating work with the European Union in order to avoid duplication. She underlined the shared values of the two...

Current affairs debate on the situation in Belarus

23/06/2021 | Session

“Belarus has become a threat to the whole of Europe, especially to neighbouring countries, with a real risk of destabilisation”, said Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD), opening of a current affairs debate on this topic. Mr Zingeris referred to the forced landing of a civilian airliner by the...

10th anniversary of the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention: 'Nothing will make us back down'

23/06/2021 | Session

“As we seat here and debate, women will be beaten to death. And we are not just talking about a few cases, but about thousands and thousands and thousands of acts of violence. Just think about it”, PACE President Rik Daems said at the opening of an event organized in the framework of the PACE...

Enhancing participation of women from under-represented groups in political and public decision-making

23/06/2021 | Session

PACE today called on member States to promote the participation of women from under-represented groups in political decision-making by acting at several levels, with particular emphasis on combating gender-based stereotypes and sexism, access to public decision-making, and participation in...

PACE condemns “grave human rights violations” committed against Crimean Tatars

23/06/2021 | Session

Reaffirming the non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea, the Assembly condemned the “grave violations of human rights” that have been committed against Crimean Tatars, including killings and enforced disappearances, “which moreover have not since been subject to an effective investigation...

A ‘right to know’ to combat disinformation and manipulation

22/06/2021 | Session

The Assembly urged European governments to create a broad “right to know” – consisting of maximum transparency in public life, a vibrant and diverse media, and a rich educational and cultural environment – in order to encourage democratic participation and combat “post-truth” disinformation and...

PACE clarifies legal and human rights pre-conditions for the use of Covid passes

22/06/2021 | Session

PACE has clarified the pre-conditions necessary for the use of Covid passes, declaring their use “fraught with legal and human rights complications”. The use of such passes, which would partially lift Covid restrictions for holders, “above all depends on a high degree of certainty about medical...

PACE elects Davor Derenčinović judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Croatia

22/06/2021 | Session

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today elected Davor Derenčinović as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Croatia. Mr Derenčinović, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of...

Helping the children of ‘Generation Covid’ to overcome the devastating impact of the pandemic

22/06/2021 | Session

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children has been devastating, according to PACE, and “Generation Covid” – as they are sometimes referred to – will face the consequences for many years to come, unless European governments take adequate measures. Unanimously approving a report today by...

Overcoming the socio-economic crisis sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic

22/06/2021 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly today expressed its deep concern about the situation of the vulnerable population affected by the socio-economic crisis sparked by the pandemic. “The recession caused by the Covid-19 has resulted in deep shortfalls in resources for enterprises, workers and States, as...

PACE elects two new Vice-Presidents

21/06/2021 | Session

The Assembly today elected, at the opening of its Summer 2021 Session, two new Vice-Presidents: Marta Grande (Italy, NR) and Ria Oomen Ruijten, (Netherlands, EPP/CD). Twenty Vice-Presidents are elected annually at the beginning of an ordinary session and remain in office until the opening of the...

PACE reviews the work of its subsidiary bodies since the last session

21/06/2021 | Session

The list of candidates for the post of judge at the European Court of Human Rights submitted by Croatia; the lists of candidates to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) in respect of several countries; the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament 2021; the 2021 World...