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Promoting migrants in the labour market to overcome Europe’s “demographic winter”

22/09/2016 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

With the world’s lowest fertility and most ageing population, the countries of the Council of Europe need to develop “migration policies oriented towards the future, that attract qualified migrants”, the committee said.

Parliamentary hearing in Tirana on ‘Interreligious Dialogue and Tolerance’

21/09/2016 | Monitoring

The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly, will organise a joint hearing with the Albanian Parliament on Friday 23 September (morning), on “Interreligious Dialogue and Tolerance”.

Surrogacy: governments should consider drawing up guidelines to safeguard children’s rights

21/09/2016 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

PACE committee recommends that the Council of Europe's ministerial body considers the desirability and feasibility of “drawing up European guidelines to safeguard children’s rights in relation to surrogacy arrangements”.

PACE observers: partnership with Jordan’s Parliament on the right track, early elections well administered

21/09/2016 | Election observation

Following the invitation of Jordan’s Independent Electoral Commission, PACE observed, for the first time, the early elections to the Jordanian House of Representatives which took place on 20 September.

Tax avoidance and evasion pose a threat to social justice

21/09/2016 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The committee is concerned by the scope of tax avoidance and evasion, as illustrated by the “Panama Papers” scandal, which exposed how shadow companies and secret accounts are used to hide taxable income and assets in tax havens”.

PACE to send ‘assessment mission’ to Azerbaijan’s constitutional referendum

20/09/2016 | Election observation

PACE is to send a seven-member “assessment mission”, headed by Aleksandar Nikoloski, to the 26 September referendum on amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, following an invitation from the authorities.

Parliaments as conduits for transmitting Council of Europe values to the citizen

16/09/2016 | News

The Speaker of Serbia’s National Assembly Maja Gojković, addressing the Conference of Presidents of Parliament, has said it is the duty of parliamentarians to help “bring the benefits of Council of Europe mechanisms to our citizens”.

Riigikogu President urges upholding of Council values in difficult times for Europe

16/09/2016 | News

Eiki Nestor, President of the Estonian Riigikogu, has paid tribute to the role of the Council of Europe in establishing a rights culture in Europe, and urged his fellow Speakers to uphold Council values in difficult times for the continent.

PACE to observe Jordan’s early parliamentary elections

16/09/2016 | Election observation

A 12-member, cross-party delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, headed by René Rouquet, is to observe the early parliamentary elections in Jordan on 20 September.

Anne Brasseur: ‘Let’s be stronger than racism, fear and hate’

16/09/2016 | News

“There are three elements, among others, which put our democratic systems under threat: poverty, corruption and hatred", said Anne Brasseur, member of the Parliamentary Alliance and Ambassador of the No Hate Speech Movement.

Norbert Lammert: "Lay down red lines to curb the descent into hatred"

16/09/2016 | News

"In most countries, politicians, journalists and human rights activists become targets of hate speech, insults and threats," said today the Bundestag President, speaking at the Conference of Presidents of Parliament.

Call for ‘leadership and vision’ from parliaments in tackling Europe’s challenges

16/09/2016 | News

Pedro Agramunt has closed the Conference of Presidents of Parliament by making an appeal to parliaments across the continent to show “leadership and vision” in tackling the current challenges faced by Europe.