23/04/2008 | Monitoring
The co-rapporteurs from the PACE Monitoring Committee, Luc Van den Brande (Belgium, EPP/CD) and Theodoros Pangalos (Greece, SOC), were encouraged by recent reforms initiated by the Russian authorities and their statements of intent to address some of the outstanding concerns of the Assembly. In their view there is now a window of opportunity for Russia to fulfil a number of commitments to the Council of Europe.
22/04/2008 | Election observation
A four-member delegation of the PACE, led by Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE), will make a pre-election visit to Tbilisi from 23 to 25 April, ahead of the parliamentary elections of 21 May in Georgia. The delegation will meet the President of the Republic Mikhail Saakashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament Nino Burjanadze, the Chairman of the Supreme Court Konstantin Kublashvili, the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Levan Tarkhnishvili, as well as the Parliamentary opposition and representatives of civil society and the media.
18/04/2008 | Session
“Too much tourism can kill tourism, and it is up to policy-makers to take strong action in support of a quality-oriented growth of tourism based on the principles of sustainable development, which covers environmental protection, quality of life, cultural diversity, social equity and an economy ensuring prosperity for all”, said José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), presenting his report to the Assembly plenary session.
18/04/2008 | Session
In order to better control immigration from sub-Saharan Africa into Europe, PACE today called on European governments for more and better information on how sub-Saharan migratory flows work, more humane and secure removals, improved provision for migrant students, closer harmonisation of European legislation, and stronger links with African countries, including development aid. “European states are reminded that sub-Saharan migrants have the same rights and duties as others, and have the right to be treated humanely”, said Jean-Guy Branger (France, PPE/DC), the author of the adopted text.
17/04/2008 | Session
PACE today called on the member states to promote the teaching of Europe’s literary heritage and introduce new ways of teaching literature, reflecting its European dimension. “Learning about European literature is an integral part of education for European citizenship”, said Jacques Legendre (France, EPP/CD), rapporteur for the Culture Committee.
17/04/2008 | Session
In a world currently facing a ‘‘crisis of civilisation,’’ Europe represents hope for bridging ‘‘the growing gap’’ between globalisation’s technological progress and humanity’s ‘‘capacity to cope’’ with globalisation, said celebrated Lebanese author Amin Maalouf in his address to the Assembly on 17 April.
17/04/2008 | Session
While noting with satisfaction that today there is a broad consensus on the question of the accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights, PACE today said it is “time for the declarations of intent to be carried into effect”. The adopted text, drafted by Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc (Netherlands, EPP/CD), underlines that the accession will convey “a clear commitment to the protection of human rights not only within the boundaries of the EU but also Europe-wide, and will confirm the EU’s essence as a “community based on law”. Henceforth, the parliamentarians said, “the accession must be the priority in the dialogue between the two Organisations”.
17/04/2008 | Session
At a hearing held by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the PACE, the representatives of various NGOs asked that the Council of Europe show firm political resolve towards the protection of human rights defenders and that it adopt a specific European instrument, in addition to the instruments that already existed for their protection. According to Amnesty International, the members of the PACE could play a significant role in persuading governments to make arrangements to deal with crisis situations (for example by granting emergency visas).
17/04/2008 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
PACE's Rapporteur on the media Andrew McIntosh (United Kingdom, SOC) today called on the Belarus authorities to investigate police brutality against journalists reporting on a peaceful demonstration in Minsk on 25 March. In a statement Lord McIntosh - who also chairs PACE's Sub-committee on the Media - gave his support to the “constructive criticism” of a new draft law on information currently being discussed in the Belarus Parliament, submitted by the Belarusian Association of Journalists. A representative of the association briefed the sub-committee on the media situation in the country at a public hearing yesterday.
17/04/2008 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE’s Political Affairs Committee has called for “consistent and coherent” international pressure on China ahead of the Olympic Games to improve its record in the fields of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, including freedom of expression. In a statement adopted today following a hearing it had organised, the committee pledged to look into the question further, pointing out that China had “a unique opportunity” to show Europe and the world at large its determination to improve its record.
17/04/2008 | Prizes
The 2008 Europe Prize has been awarded to the Polish town of Katowice. The decision was taken unanimously by PACE's Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs meeting today in Strasbourg. This town in Upper Silesia, developed a very dense network of international contacts with municipalities in central, western and eastern Europe, the United States of America and China.
17/04/2008 | Session
Addressing the Assembly on 17 April, Bernard Kouchner, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of France, applauded the work of the Council of Europe, describing the organisation as a genuine instrument of freedom and peace in Europe for the past 60 years. The progress made in the protection of human rights and the rule of law should not, however, lead to acceptance of the status quo. He also made a ''solemn and friendly'' appeal to the Russian Federation to ratify Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights.