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Round table in Cyprus on strengthening ethics and integrity in parliaments

19/11/2025 | Transparency and Integrity

In the margins of its meeting on 13 November in Limassol, Cyprus, the PACE Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities held a round table on 14 November, together with the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives on Institutions, Merit and the Ombudsmen of Cyprus. The meeting opened with...

PACE and the European Court mark 75 years of the Convention with a screening of Costa-Gavras’ film ‘Z’

PACE and the European Court mark 75 years of the Convention with a screening of Costa-Gavras’ film ‘Z’

18/11/2025 | News

To mark the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, PACE and the Strasbourg Court jointly hosted a screening of Greek director Costa-Gavras’ acclaimed film “Z” on 17 November at the Cinéma Le Cosmos in Strasbourg. Opening the event, PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos...

‘Better data on child sexual abuse will help to create a safer world for children’
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‘Better data on child sexual abuse will help to create a safer world for children’

17/11/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Marking End Child Sexual Abuse Day (18 November), the Chair of PACE’s Social Affairs Committee Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC) and the Chairperson of the Lanzarote Committee Maria José Castello-Branco (Portugal) made the following joint statement: “One in five girls and one in seven boys globally...

Parliamentarians pledge full support for the ‘New Democratic Pact’ as new PACE body meets

Parliamentarians pledge full support for the ‘New Democratic Pact’ as new PACE body meets

12/11/2025 | President

PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has affirmed the Assembly’s commitment to advancing the “New Democratic Pact for Europe” – a Council of Europe initiative which aims to stop the unravelling of democracy and boost the resilience of democratic institutions against backsliding, disinformation...

Le Congrès espagnol, Madrid, Espagne
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PACE co-rapporteurs to make periodic review visit to Spain

10/11/2025 | Monitoring

Elvira Kovács (Serbia, EPP/CD) and Valentina Grippo (Italy, ALDE), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the periodic review on Spain, will make a fact-finding visit to Madrid and Barcelona from 12 to 14 November, to assess the honouring of membership...

Secretary General of the Assembly, Despina Chatzivassiliou

PACE Secretary General: 'The Pyrenean Freedom Routes are a living tribute to the values the Council of...

07/11/2025 | Secretary General of the Assembly

“The Pyrenean Freedom Routes* are a living tribute to the values of dignity, liberty and responsibility towards one another – exactly the values that the Council of Europe has strived to protect for 76 years,” said Despina Chatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, speaking...

AI at the ballot box: a threat or an opportunity for democratic elections?

AI at the ballot box: a threat or an opportunity for democratic elections?

07/11/2025 | Artificial Intelligence

At the 2025 World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, participants discussed how artificial intelligence affects elections and democratic participation. The session, titled “AI at the ballot box: threat or opportunity for democratic elections?”, was co-organised by PACE and the Council of Europe...

María Corina Machado: Freedom with courage can overcome even the darkest tyranny

Václav Havel Prize winner María Corina Machado at the World Forum for Democracy: ‘Freedom with courage can...

07/11/2025 | News

As part of the World Forum for Democracy 2025 in Strasbourg, leading figures in democracy and human rights gathered to reflect on the future of citizen participation in modern societies. Opening the third plenary session via video, Venezuelan political figure and human rights defender María...

Learning from history: strengthening democracy

Learning from history: strengthening democracy

07/11/2025 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

At the World Forum for Democracy 2025 in Strasbourg, a session co-organised by PACE and the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe explored how history education shapes democratic citizenship and resilience. Moderated by Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe, the...

Latvian Parliament

‘The Latvian parliament has finally listened to the people it represents, allowing the country to continue...

06/11/2025 | President

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos, made the following statement today: “The Latvian parliament has finally listened to the people it represents, allowing the country to continue applying the Istanbul Convention, at least until a new...

Beyond the ballot: youth-led innovations boosting democracy

Beyond the ballot: youth-led innovations boosting democracy

06/11/2025 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

At the World Forum for Democracy 2025 in Strasbourg, a discussion explored how young people are reshaping democratic participation beyond traditional voting. The session, “Beyond the ballot: youth-led innovations boosting Democracy” was moderated by Valentina Grippo (Italy, ALDE), PACE General...

'Democracy cannot survive without oxygen, and oxygen, in our time, is trust'

PACE President: 'Democracy cannot survive without oxygen, and oxygen, in our time, is trust'

05/11/2025 | President

Opening the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos compared democracy to a mine that depends on its pillars of trust, solidarity and accountability to remain stable. “Miners once used a small bird, a canary, because it was the first to sense the poison in...