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PACE autumn session focused on the challenges faced by journalists

03/10/2025 | Session

Debates on an "Urgent call to put an end to the devastating humanitarian catastrophe and the killing of journalists in Gaza" as well as on the need to step up efforts to liberate Ukrainian journalists held in captivity by Russia were on the agenda of the autumn session of the Parliamentary...

 PACE sees a ‘breakdown of democracy’ in Georgia, urging its reversal

PACE sees a ‘breakdown of democracy’ in Georgia, urging its reversal

03/10/2025 | Session

PACE has urged the Georgian authorities to immediately reverse the country’s “breakdown of democracy”, pointing out that the very existence of democracy in the country is now in question. In a resolution based on a report by Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC), the Assembly condemned the “ongoing and...

'Housing is a human right, not a commodity' says PACE

'Housing is a human right, not a commodity' says PACE

03/10/2025 | Session

PACE has warned that the right to adequate housing remains a “broken promise” for more than a billion people worldwide, insisting that housing must be treated as a human right, not as a commodity. Ensuring access to a safe, affordable and sustainable home, the Assembly underlined, is a...

Artificial intelligence and migration

AI can make migration management more efficient, humane and inclusive, says PACE

03/10/2025 | Session

According to PACE, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in migration management must balance efficiency gains with protection of human rights “at all stages of the migration journey”. In adopting a resolution based on the report by Petri Honkonen (Finland, ALDE), PACE proposed a set of...

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Assembly holds a ‘free debate’ on current issues

03/10/2025 | Session

PACE this afternoon held a “free debate” on current issues not included in the session agenda. Members can speak on any issue which falls within the Assembly’s mandate. Thirteen parliamentarians took the floor.

Ensuring Parliamentary Assembly members can travel freely to carry out their work

Ensuring Assembly members can travel freely to carry out their work

03/10/2025 | Session

The Assembly is amending its Rules of Procedure on waiving the immunity of its members, and will update its Guidelines on this topic, to better reflect the central importance of free movement for parliamentarians in carrying out their work. “National parliaments should facilitate travel by PACE...

PACE creates a ‘platform for dialogue’ with exiled Russian democratic forces

PACE creates a ‘platform for dialogue’ with exiled Russian democratic forces

02/10/2025 | Session

PACE has decided to create a Platform for Dialogue between the Assembly and Russian democratic forces in exile. Participants in the platform – whose composition has yet to be decided, based on a set of criteria – would be able to hold two-way exchanges with the Assembly on issues of common...

Israel must stop targeting journalists and civilians in Gaza and allow unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, says PACE

Israel must stop targeting journalists and civilians in Gaza and allow unhindered delivery of humanitarian...

02/10/2025 | Session

During an urgent debate held today in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session, once more called for “an urgent end to the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which worsens day by day”, and paid particular attention to the protection of...

For a peaceful future, Europe must ‘do everything in its power’ to deter the threat from Russia

For a peaceful future, Europe must ‘do everything in its power’ to deter the threat from Russia

02/10/2025 | Session

It is imperative that Council of Europe member states “do everything in their power to strengthen their deterrence, preparedness and resilience capabilities against the threat posed by Russia” if Europe is to have a peaceful future, PACE has warned. Unanimously approving a resolution based on a...

Political parties are an essential motor for democratic renewal, says PACE

Political parties are an essential motor for democratic renewal, says PACE

02/10/2025 | Session

Against a context of democratic backsliding and erosion of public trust in institutions, the Parliamentary Assembly considers that political parties “are an essential motor for democratic renewal”, and has called them to reconnect with citizens. According to the resolution adopted by PACE, based...

PACE calls for impact assessment and key revisions to draft convention on audiovisual series

PACE calls for impact assessment and key revisions to draft convention on audiovisual series

02/10/2025 | Session

Welcoming the finalisation of the draft Council of Europe Convention on the Co-production of Audiovisual Works in the form of Series, the PACE today said it “commends its ambition to promote cross-border collaboration and cultural diversity”. However, unanimously adopting an opinion based on the...

PACE called on member states to promote universal health coverage

PACE calls on member states to promote universal health coverage

02/10/2025 | Session

Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and budgetary constraints, and in the face of worsening inequalities in access to healthcare, PACE today emphasised the importance of promoting universal health coverage (UHC), based on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, a central political...