25/11/2008 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
“The need for immigration on a continent that experiences a greying of its population, and in many countries a decline in population, should be clearly raised,” said Corien Jonker (Netherlands, EPP/CD), Chair of the PACE Migration Committee, at a seminar organised by the committee in Geneva on the “Interaction between population decline in Europe, global population growth and migration”.
25/11/2008 | News
“Too many women in Europe are battered and killed by their partners or former partners, simply because they are women,” said PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig in a statement on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. “No Council of Europe member state is immune. It is time to put a stop to this repeated, widespread violation of human rights. National parliaments must pass the requisite laws. At European level, there is an urgent need to strengthen protection for victims, prosecute those who perpetrate violence and take measures to prevent it,” he added.
24/11/2008 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
Recent developments in Spain in the field of combating gender-based violence, and the effects of the Spanish law on integrated protection measures for the victims, will be discussed at the meeting of the Sub-committee on Violence against Women in Madrid on 27 November. The Spanish Minister for Equality, Bibiana Aído, is scheduled to participate in this exchange of views. The sub-committee will also be assessing progress with the drafting of a Council of Europe convention on combating violence against women.
24/11/2008 | Standing Committee
The influx of migrants by sea into southern Europe and how to address the “boat people” phenomenon will be the focus of the meeting of PACE Standing Committee to be held at the Spanish Senate in Madrid on 28 November 2008, as Spain takes over the chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s executive body. The meeting will be opened by PACE President, Lluís Maria de Puig, and Francisco Javier Rojo, Speaker of the Spanish Senate. Assembly members will then have an exchange of views with Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.
21/11/2008 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population is organising three consecutive seminars in Geneva on 25 and 26 November 2008 in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Participants will be discussing the following topics: Interaction between population decline in Europe, global population growth and migration; Protracted internal displacement in Europe; and the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
21/11/2008 | Monitoring
As part of the post-monitoring dialogue with Turkey, Serhiy Holovaty (Ukraine, ALDE), Chair of the PACE Monitoring Committee, will be making a fact-finding visit to Ankara and Istanbul from 23 to 27 November 2008, where he will have talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Justice, and with the Head and Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Cassation, and the Chief Judge of the Constitutional Court. Mr Holovaty will also be meeting representatives of the political parties, the media, civil society, the diplomatic corps and religious dignitaries.
21/11/2008 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
“Following my visit this week to the region of Abkhazia and the border district of South Ossetia, I am greatly concerned by the restrictions on movement into and from the conflict territories in Georgia and the great humanitarian concerns affecting the day-to-day lives of the people in the region,” said Corien Jonker, Chair of the PACE's Migration and Refugee Committee.
20/11/2008 | Monitoring
Albania’s political parties should “commit themselves to maintaining the current momentum for political change” ahead of the major challenge of the coming elections, according to PACE’s two monitoring co-rapporteurs on Albania. In an information note declassified yesterday, Jaakko Laakso (Finland, UEL) and David Wilshire (United Kingdom, EDG) also said Albania should implement adopted legislation more promptly and effectively, and criticised a lack of co-operation with some Council of Europe bodies.
20/11/2008 | Monitoring
PACE’s co-rapporteurs on Monaco have welcomed the progress achieved by the Principality since it joined the Council of Europe four years ago, but pointed to some promises it has not yet honoured. In a declassified information note on a recent visit, Leonid Slutsky (Russia, SOC) and Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) said adoption of the law on the functioning of the National Council would be a key part of the on-going programme to modernise the Principality’s democratic institutions.
20/11/2008 | Monitoring
“The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” still faces systemic challenges, eight years after the closing of PACE’s monitoring procedure, and new challenges to democratic institutions have emerged, according to the Chair of PACE’s Monitoring Committee. In an information note on his recent visit, declassified yesterday, Serhiy Holovaty (Ukraine, ALDE) called for “constructive dialogue” between the majority and opposition, currently hampered by a climate of distrust and mutual accusations.
20/11/2008 | Monitoring
Moldova is “moving in a positive direction” in fulfilling the requirements to close the monitoring procedure, according to PACE’s two monitoring co-rapporteurs for the country, but they pointed out that new laws must be applied more effectively. In an information note on a recent visit, declassified yesterday, Josette Durrieu (France, SOC) and Egidijus Vareikis (Lithuania, EPP/CD) said that the 2009 parliamentary elections will be “the ultimate test” of Moldova’s democracy.
18/11/2008 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Global safety and security depend on co-operation between world leaders, according to PACE Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Paris today. The G20 meeting is a start for co-operation the committee declared. It welcomed the positive attitude adopted by the leaders who participated in the meeting in Washington DC last weekend.