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Europe should take inspiration from Germany’s 'impressive stance' on asylum seekers

27/08/2015 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

Michele Nicoletti today expressed his welcome for the German government’s announcement that it will stop sending Syrian asylum seekers back to the country through which they first entered the EU.

Secretaries General meet in Copenhagen to discuss co-operation

26/08/2015 | Secretary General of the Assembly

PACE Secretary General Wojciech Sawicki joined his counterparts from the NATO and OSCE Parliamentary Assemblies, David Hobbs and Spencer Oliver, to discuss co-operation between the three bodies.

Václav Havel Prize: human rights defenders from Russia, Afghanistan and Balkan region shortlisted

25/08/2015 | Prizes

Russian human rights defender Ludmilla Alexeeva, the grassroots NGO "Women for Afghan Women" and the Balkan NGO "Youth Initiative for Human Rights" have been shortlisted for the 2015 Václav Havel Prize.

PACE President deplores sentencing in Russia of Sentsov and Kolchenko

25/08/2015 | President

“The sentencing of Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko on charges of terrorism, respectively to 20 and 10 years in prison, appears to be manifestly excessive," says PACE President Anne Brasseur.

The Council of Europe Plaque of Honour awarded to Ternopil (Ukraine)

24/08/2015 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Robert Biedron, former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, will present the Plaque of Honour to the town of Ternopil (Ukraine) during a ceremony on 28 August.

Anne Brasseur reacts to the release of political prisoners in Belarus

23/08/2015 | President

Anne Brasseur welcomed the release of six political prisoners by the Belarusian authorities but expressed her continuing concern about the political orientation of leaders.

Irregular migration through the Mediterranean Sea: PACE rapporteur to meet Frontex officials

21/08/2015 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

Daphné Dumery will be visiting the headquarters of Frontex, the EU’s border agency, in Warsaw on 28 August, in the context of her report on “The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration”.

Situation in Kosovo*: PACE rapporteur to hold meetings in Belgrade

21/08/2015 | Political Affairs and Democracy

PACE rapporteur Agustín Conde will be visiting Belgrade on 24-25 August, in the context of the preparation of his report on the situation in Kosovo and the role of the Council of Europe.

Azerbaijan: visit by rapporteur on the issue of inhabitants of frontier regions deprived of water

20/08/2015 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Milica Marković will visit different towns in Azerbaijan from 24 to 27 August in the context of the preparation of her report on “Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water”.

2015 Václav Havel Prize: shortlist of three ‘outstanding’ human rights defenders to be named

20/08/2015 | Prizes

The shortlist for the 2015 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize - three individuals or organisations judged to have undertaken “outstanding” civil society action in defence of human rights - is to be announced on 25 August in Prague.

PACE President reacts to declaration of migrant state of emergency

20/08/2015 | President

Anne Brasseur today expressed solidarity with the authorities of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" over its declaration of a state of emergency, while also cautioning the government.

Azerbaijan: PACE President outraged at sentences for Leyla and Arif Yunus

13/08/2015 | President

“I am shocked and outraged by the sentencing of Leyla and Arif Yunus for eight-and-a-half and seven years of imprisonment, respectively,” said PACE President Anne Brasseur.