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PACE summer session: addresses by the President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Malta, award of the 2025...

27/06/2025 | Session

Addresses by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela, as well as the award of the 2025 Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment to the Women of the Sun organisation were among the highlights of the summer plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly...

President Zelenskyy hails Europe’s commitment to justice in an address to PACE as aggression tribunal is signed

President Zelenskyy hails Europe’s commitment to justice in an address to PACE as aggression tribunal is...

26/06/2025 | Session

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked PACE for “real leadership” in its stand against Russian aggression and hailed Europe’s commitment to justice in an address to the Assembly just after the signature of an agreement to create a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against...

PACE urges de-escalation in the Middle East, and recalls need to minimise civilian suffering

PACE urges de-escalation in the Middle East, and recalls need to minimise civilian suffering

26/06/2025 | Session

PACE has called on all parties in the broader war taking place in the Middle East to de-escalate and to respect international law, and recalled the need to spare civilians and minimise their suffering and casualties. Approving a resolution based on a report by Ingjerd Schie Schou (Norway, EPP/CD...

Saving the lives of migrants at sea and protecting their human rights

Saving the lives of migrants at sea and protecting their human rights

26/06/2025 | Session

PACE today called on member states to fully comply with the instruments of international humanitarian law, maritime law and those relating to the protection of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Recalling the obligation to protect the right to life – as set out in the European Convention on...

Responding to the needs of public and private actors involved in migration management

Responding to the needs of public and private actors involved in migration management

26/06/2025 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly today called on member states to strengthen the co-operation between public and private actors involved in migration management, whether in terms of first assistance, reception, or inclusion of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. According to PACE, the actors...

Clean and affordable energy 'crucial' for sustained prosperity and human rights, says PACE

Clean and affordable energy 'crucial' for sustained prosperity and human rights, says PACE

26/06/2025 | Session

Ensuring clean, safe and affordable energy is not only central to addressing climate change and pollution but is also a matter of human rights of present and future generations, PACE has said. Transition to more sustainable energy systems is “essential to securing Europe’s continued prosperity...

PACE urges Olympic Movement to prioritise human rights over political neutrality

PACE urges Olympic Movement to prioritise human rights over political neutrality

26/06/2025 | Session

PACE has called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reinforce its commitment to human rights and democratic values. Recognising the Olympic Movement’s unique role in promoting peace, democracy and internationally recognised rights, the Assembly underlined that the principles of...

Croatian Foreign Minister addresses Parliamentary Assembly, praises shared values amid global crises

Croatian Foreign Minister addresses the Assembly, praises shared values amid global crises

26/06/2025 | Session

In a wide-ranging address to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Croatia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman called on all Council of Europe member states to face the many challenges facing Europe today, while praising the organisation’s role upholding...

PACE calls for women's rights to be secured and mainstreamed in national legislation

PACE calls for women's rights to be secured and mainstreamed in national legislation

26/06/2025 | Session

While noting progress in gender equality, with “growing female participation in economic, public, cultural and political life” and legal standards that have changed to reflect this progress, PACE expressed concern in an urgent debate that women's rights were increasingly being challenged and...

Current affairs debate on the immediate release of persons facing politically motivated persecution in Georgia

Current affairs debate on 'the immediate release of persons facing politically motivated persecution in...

26/06/2025 | Session

The Assembly held a current affairs debate on “A call for the immediate release of persons facing politically motivated persecution in Georgia” during its summer plenary session in Strasbourg. “We have a responsibility to our friends in Georgia and all those who aspire to the rights that we...

PACE urges parliaments to be more gender-sensitive, inclusive and accessible – and aim for parity

PACE urges parliaments to be more gender-sensitive, inclusive and accessible – and to aim for parity

26/06/2025 | Session

Parliaments across Europe and beyond should declare the goal of achieving “gender parity” in their representation, backed by strategic plans, as one of a series of measures to ensure the balanced participation of women and men in all areas of parliamentary life, according to PACE. Approving a...

PACE calls on states to reconsider the use of intermediate weapons in the context of maintaining order during demonstrations

PACE calls on states to reconsider the use of intermediate weapons in the context of maintaining order...

25/06/2025 | Session

Against a backdrop of increased social mobilisation and social unrest in a number of member states, PACE today recommended “placing dialogue and mediation at the heart of crowd control and developing strategies that do not pit law enforcement authorities against demonstrators” in order to prevent...