06/05/2026 | Prizes
The selection panel of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, which rewards outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the third edition of the prize. A joint initiative of the Icelandic...
05/05/2026 | Election observation
A seven-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Damien Cottier (Switzerland, EPP/CD), will make a pre-electoral visit to Armenia on 11-12 May to assess the election campaign and political climate prior to the parliamentary elections on 7 June. In...
04/05/2026 | Monitoring
PACE’s co-rapporteurs for the periodic review of Greece, ending a three-day fact-finding visit to the country to assess how far it is honouring its Council of Europe membership obligations, said they were able to discuss “all issues relating to the rule of law and democracy openly and in depth...
30/04/2026 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2026), PACE's General Rapporteur on media freedom and the safety of journalists, Valentina Grippo (Italy, ALDE), has issued a warning about the critical situation of press freedom and media pluralism in Europe, highlighting the numerous threats...
30/04/2026 | Prizes
The Selection Panel for the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, chaired by Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and composed of six independent members with recognised standing in the field of women’s empowerment, will meet on 6 May at the...
29/04/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The General Rapporteur for political prisoners of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), made the following statement on the second anniversary of Anar Mammadli’s detention in Azerbaijan: “Today marks exactly two years since Anar Mammadli, a...
29/04/2026 | Election observation
“Free and fair elections are fundamental for our democracies – and credible election observation is essential to safeguarding them. It is a key part of the response to democratic backsliding and the growing loss of trust among voters,” today said Pablo Hispán (Spain, EPP/CD), Chair of the Council...
28/04/2026 | President
For more than thirty years, “the Assembly together with the Venice Commission and the Congress has not only monitored elections. We have helped shape electoral legislation, guided democratic reforms, and strengthened public trust in democratic institutions,” said PACE President Petra Bayr today...
27/04/2026 | Monitoring
The Rapporteurs on Türkiye of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Lord David Blencathra (United Kingdom, ECPA) and Yves Cruchten (Luxembourg, SOC), of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), of the...
24/04/2026 | Session
Addresses by the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović and France’s Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot were among highlights of the spring plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which took place in...
24/04/2026 | Session
PACE this morning held a “free debate” on current issues not included in the session agenda. On this occasion, members could speak on any issue which falls within the Assembly’s mandate. Seventeen parliamentarians took the floor.
23/04/2026 | Session
“We are the leading international Organisation to support Ukraine, neither with money, nor with weapons, but with political power,” today said Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC), opening a current affairs debate on “Accountability and justice: a call to step up efforts for the establishment of the...