29/06/2012 | Session
While underlining the link between free movement of persons and freedom of expression, the Assembly today said that some Council of Europe member States have misused their legal right to determine entry into their territory in order to deny entry “to some persons merely as punishment for a political or ideological position they peacefully hold”.
29/06/2012 | Session
In a resolution unanimously adopted today, on the basis of the report by Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), the PACE summarises progress and concerns in ten countries under the monitoring procedure, and in four countries engaged in post-monitoring dialogue.
28/06/2012 | Session
Whilst welcoming the election of the first civilian President in Egypt as a “historical step in the country’s transition to democracy”, the Assembly today expressed its deep concern about recent developments which constitute “real obstacles to a slowly emerging democracy”.
28/06/2012 | Session
The recent creation of a new EU Special Representative on Human Rights may be unnecessary duplication of work already being done by the Council of Europe, warned Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE), opening a current affairs debate today on European institutions and human rights in Europe.
28/06/2012 | Session
Mayors of 12 prize-winning municipalities were today presented in Strasbourg with the European Diploma 2012, on the occasion of a ceremony attended by some 50 participants. About ten mayors from several European countries travelled to Strasbourg.
28/06/2012 | Monitoring
If Ukraine’s Court of Cassation does not satisfactorily resolve the issue of the imprisoned former government members, President Yanukovych should intervene politically in order to resolve the issue, according to PACE’s monitoring co-rapporteurs for Ukraine Mailis Reps (Estonia, ALDE) and Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin (Sweden, EPP/CD).
28/06/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
PACE’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development has expressed concern at a recent amendment to Turkish law banning strikes in the airline sector, following the calling of a strike at Turkish Airlines, as well as the subsequent sacking of hundreds of striking airline workers.
28/06/2012 | Session
Despite facing challenges, Tunisia is “well advanced in its process of reform”, the Parliamentary Assembly declared today at the end of a debate attended by the President of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia Mustapha Ben Jaafar.
28/06/2012 | Session
Concerned about the critical situation of Roma migrants in Europe, the Assembly today called on the Committee of Ministers to encourage member States to put an end to the collective expulsion of Roma, to reconsider their forced return policies of Roma to Kosovo, and to take the necessary steps to naturalise stateless Roma.
27/06/2012 | Session
While a sound State is not usually possible without a lively and strong democracy, a strong democracy also needs a sound State in order to be able to meet the expectations of the citizens, especially by providing social justice, says PACE in a resolution adopted today, during its biennial debate on the state of democracy in Europe.
27/06/2012 | Session
The PACE today welcomed the substantial progress made by Montenegro in fulfilling its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe. Drawing on the conclusions of the co-rapporteurs on this question, Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD) and Nursuna Memecan, (Turkey, ALDE), the Assembly observed that the country had signed and ratified 83 Council of Europe conventions...
27/06/2012 | Session
Governments should create a safe environment for human rights defenders to play their vital role, and pursue anyone who seeks to harm them or obstruct their work, PACE has said. In a resolution based on a report by Mailis Reps (Estonia, ALDE), the Assembly also called for public recognition of their work.