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PACE adopts stricter ethical rules for election observation

23/06/2025 | Election observation

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) ratified today revised guidelines for its election observation missions, aimed at strengthening integrity and transparency. Building on a PACE resolution adopted in April 2025 and focused on upholding the rule of law and combating...

Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces

PACE rapporteurs welcome Siarhii Tsikhanouskiy’s release

22/06/2025 | Political Affairs and Democracy

“The release of Siarhii Tsikhanouskiy and 13 other political prisoners in Belarus is excellent news in today’s uncertain world,” said three general rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in a joint statement. “These releases are the result of unstinting efforts...

PACE President at the Hackathon: ‘Do not be observers lost in the digital sphere’

PACE President at the Hackathon: ‘Do not be observers lost in the digital sphere’

20/06/2025 | President

“We are surrounded by more words, more images, more opinions than ever before, and yet we are not necessarily better informed,” said PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, speaking today at the opening of the Hackathon, an event organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, whose objective is...

World Refugee Day
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World Refugee Day: ‘Any of us could one day be forced to flee’ says Migration Committee Chair

19/06/2025 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

On the eve of World Refugee Day (20 June), Oleksii Goncharenko (Ukraine, ECPA), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, made the following statement: “As 2025 World Refugee Day is celebrated with a focus on solidarity, I want to stress how vital it is that...

Combating hate speech to safeguard democratic principles
©United Nations

Combating hate speech to safeguard democratic principles

17/06/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Statement by Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on Combating Racism and Intolerance, on the eve of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech (18 June): “In a climate marked by geopolitical tension, conflict and rising polarisation within society, hate speech is...

PACE President, ending working visit, praises ‘constructive attitude’ shown by Bulgarian authorities

PACE President, ending working visit, praises ‘constructive attitude’ shown by Bulgarian authorities

17/06/2025 | President

PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has ended a two-day working visit to Bulgaria by welcoming the constructive attitude of the Bulgarian authorities as regards ongoing reforms and current political and institutional developments, including within the framework of Bulgaria’s ongoing post...

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PACE General Rapporteur calls on Slovak Parliament to reject constitutional changes reducing LGBTI rights

13/06/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

"In the coming days, the Slovak parliament will be called to vote on proposed constitutional amendments. I am deeply concerned about the content of some of these amendments with regard to the protection of the rights of LGBTI persons," said Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE), General Rapporteur...

PACE monitors express their deep concern at continuing crackdown on political dissent in Georgia

13/06/2025 | Monitoring

The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Georgia by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC) and Sabina Ćudić (Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALDE), have expressed deep concern about the continuing crackdown on political dissent in Georgia, including the...

PACE parliamentary network for Ukrainian children ends fact-finding mission to Ukraine amid renewed attacks

PACE parliamentary network for Ukrainian children makes fact-finding visit to Ukraine amid renewed attacks

11/06/2025 | Children of Ukraine

A three-member delegation from PACE’s Parliamentary Network on the situation of the children of Ukraine carried out a fact-finding visit to Ukraine on 9-10 June 2025 where topics discussed included the situation of deported Ukrainian children, measures being taken to sanction those responsible...

Sofia, Bulgaria

PACE President to make working visit to Bulgaria

11/06/2025 | President

Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will make a working visit to Bulgaria on 13-14 June 2025. During his visit, President Rousopoulos will meet with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly and representatives of the...

Inauguration of the ‘Media Box’ in the Moroccan Parliament with the support of the PACE and the EU

Inauguration of the ‘MediaBox’ in the Moroccan Parliament with the support of PACE and the EU

06/06/2025 | Parliamentary support

On 4 June 2025 Rachid Talbi El Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco, presided over the inauguration of the ‘MediaBox’, a new audiovisual studio designed to enhance parliamentary communication, located in the Moroccan Parliament. The ceremony was attended by the heads of...

70 years of the Europe Prize, a testament to the power of local democracy

06/06/2025 | Prizes

Mayors from across Europe, leading officials from the Council of Europe and parliamentarians gathered in Donostia/San Sebastián in Spain today to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Europe Prize during a series of commemorative events. The Prize, created by the Parliamentary Assembly of the...