26/04/2012 | Session
The 2012 Europe Prize has been awarded to the towns of Corciano (Italy) and Sighişoara (Romania). This decision was taken unanimously by the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development at its April plenary session in Strasbourg.
26/04/2012 | Session
Following an urgent debate on the situation in Syria, PACE firmly condemned the gross human rights violations committed by Syrian military and security forces. It also expressed regret at the continuing violations of the ceasefire implemented under Kofi Annan's peace plan and the increasing number of deaths. At the same time the Assembly expressed satisfaction that a “common position is gradually emerging” within the international community.
26/04/2012 | Session
“I want to congratulate the Governor of the State of Connecticut, who has signed a law abolishing the death penalty for future sentences,” said Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD), the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on abolition of the death penalty. “Connecticut joins a growing number of US states that have taken this step, adding to the momentum for a broader abolition.
26/04/2012 | Session
PACE's Monitoring Committee made public an information note by the co-rapporteurs on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) and Joseph Debono (Malta, SOC) on their fact-finding visit to Baku (31 January-2 February 2012). The note focuses on the state of democracy, human rights and freedoms.
26/04/2012 | Session
The efforts undertaken by the Russian authorities have improved the lives of a substantial number of displaced persons, but an important number still do not fully enjoy their rights after up to twenty years in displacement, the Assembly underlined today...
25/04/2012 | Prizes
PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon, the Chairperson of the European Museum Forum (EMF) Goranka Horjan, and Strasbourg City Councillor Nicolas Matt, have awarded yesterday evening the 2012 Museum Prize to the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum (Cologne), represented by the museum director, Prof. Dr. Klaus Schneider.
25/04/2012 | Session
Football’s governing body FIFA should open a “detailed and exhaustive” internal investigation into whether, and to what extent, the elected candidate in its recent election for President exploited his institutional position to obtain “unfair advantages for himself or for potential voters”, according to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
25/04/2012 | News
Expressing its concern at the scale of manipulation of sports results, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today called for the adoption of mechanisms to limit the risk of match-fixing, illegal betting and other forms of corruption. This problem and the illicit profits from sports betting are "jeopardising public order and the rule of law".
25/04/2012 | Session
In a resolution adopted today, PACE asked member states to "ensure respect for freedom of expression and information on the internet and online media by public as well as private entities".
25/04/2012 | Session
Speaking on the tenth anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership of the Council of Europe, the foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdžija of Bosnia-Herzegovina pledged that the struggle for full compliance with international human rights and democratic standards would continue.
24/04/2012 | Session
Moroccan Foreign Minister Saad Dine El Otmani today pledged to ensure that partnership with the Council of Europe is a success. Speaking today to the Parliamentary Assembly, he stressed that Morocco shares the values of the Council of Europe, and that a solid foundation existed for establishing the rule of law and sustainable economic development.
24/04/2012 | Session
PACE today elected Paul Lemmens as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Belgium. Mr Lemmens, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected a judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of office of 9 years starting on 12 September 2012.