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Sofia, Bulgaria

PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria

16/04/2026 | Elections

A 13-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Chris Said (Malta, EPP/CD), will travel to Bulgaria from 17 to 20 April to observe the early parliamentary elections, alongside observers from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human...

Post-monitoring dialogue with Albania: PACE monitors welcome constructive discussions with all stakeholders

14/04/2026 | Monitoring

Following a visit to Tirana from 30 March to 1 April 2026, the co-rapporteurs of PACE for post-monitoring dialogue with Albania, Ionut Stroe (Romania, EPP/CD) and Pawel Jabłoński (Poland, ECPA), have welcomed the constructive discussions with the authorities and all other stakeholders about the...

Pristina, Kosovo
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Post-electoral visit to Priština

14/04/2026 | Elections

On 17 April 2026, Yunus Emre (Türkiye, SOC), Chairperson of the ad hoc Committee for the observation of the early elections to the Assembly of Kosovo* (28 December 2025) and Georgios Stamatis (Greece, EPP/CD), Vice-Chairperson, will pay a technical post-electoral visit to Priština to gather...

Hungary’s parliamentary elections: vibrant, but no equal opportunities for contestants, international...

13/04/2026 | Elections

The 12 April parliamentary elections saw active citizen engagement, with record voter turnout and genuine choice, but there was no level playing field, with the ruling party benefitting from systemic advantages that blurred the line between state and party, international observers said in a...

We must not look away from Gaza, says PACE follow-up rapporteur

Faced with the energy crisis, PACE rapporteur calls for swifter transition to sustainable local energy

10/04/2026 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), PACE rapporteur on “Analysis and guidelines for a sustainable and socially fair energy transition”, made the following statement today: “War in the Middle East is sending shock waves across the energy sector in Europe and worldwide. Large swathes of national...

PACE rapporteur urges Israel to lift the ban on NGO access to the Palestinian territories

PACE General Rapporteur urges Israel to immediately release unlawfully detained healthcare workers from Gaza

08/04/2026 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Statement by Joseph O’Reilly (Ireland, EPP/CD), PACE General Rapporteur on the situation of women and children in the Palestinian territories: “As the situation in many parts of the Middle East places more and more civilians, particularly women and children, in an extremely vulnerable situation...

Lord German urges European lawmakers to uphold international law in migration policy

PACE General Rapporteur urges EU to abandon proposal to detain migrant children in coming Returns Regulation

08/04/2026 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE), the General Rapporteur on Asylum and Migration of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has raised the alarm over the position adopted at the end of March by the European Parliament, which would allow for the detention of migrant...

The head of PACE’s Migration Committee urges the creation of a European search-and-rescue corps to save lives
©Fabian Melber/Seawatch/X

The head of PACE’s Migration Committee urges the creation of a European search-and-rescue corps to save lives

08/04/2026 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co‑operation, made the following statement today: “On Easter night, tragedy once again struck in the Mediterranean. A vessel carrying migrants capsized, claiming the lives of at least...

Budapest
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PACE to observe the parliamentary elections in Hungary

08/04/2026 | Elections

A 30-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Pablo Hispán (Spain, EPP/CD), will travel to Hungary from 10 to 13 April to observe the parliamentary elections, alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Office for Democratic...

International Romani Day: ‘Remembrance and knowledge of the past are essential to combat deeply entrenched prejudice’

International Romani Day: ‘Remembrance and knowledge of the past are essential to combat deeply entrenched...

07/04/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

On the eve of International Romani Day (8 April), Georgios Stamatis (Greece, EPP/CD), General Rapporteur on Roma and Travellers, made the following statement: "On International Romani Day and throughout the “Opre Roma!” month, we celebrate the rich heritage, resilience and contributions of Roma...

Hungary’s elections must not be shaped by fear, abuse of state resources or foreign manipulation, says PACE pre-electoral delegation

Hungary’s elections must not be shaped by fear, abuse of state resources or foreign manipulation, says PACE...

01/04/2026 | Elections

A cross-party delegation of observers from PACE, visiting Budapest on 30 and 31 March ahead of the 12 April parliamentary elections, held talks with representatives of the authorities, the election administration, political parties, civil society, the media and the diplomatic community. The...

 PACE Secretary General highlights growing trust with Ukrainian partners as latest high-level dialogue focuses on post-war governance

PACE Secretary General highlights growing trust with Ukrainian partners as latest high-level dialogue...

01/04/2026 | Secretary General of the Assembly

PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou has highlighted growing trust between Ukrainian partners and the Council of Europe after nearly four years of high-level dialogue between them – and underlined the Assembly’s continued support as the country looks to reinforce its democratic...