28/05/2021 | Standing Committee
The Standing Committee called on national parliaments to mobilize for the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Global Compacts for Migrants and Refugees by all Council of Europe member states. The parliamentarians are convinced "that by joining forces, parliaments can change the...
28/05/2021 | Standing Committee
“The first thing we should do is call for the immediate release of Roman Protasevich and the release of all other political prisoners in Belarus,” today said John Howell (United Kingdom, EC/DA) opening a current affairs debate on 'The forced landing by the Belarusian authorities on 23 May of...
28/05/2021 | Standing Committee
The humanitarian situation of refugees and migrants is extremely serious in many countries in North Africa and the Middle East, which is a transit region towards Europe for these people, many of whom risk their lives on the Mediterranean Sea, the PACE Standing Committee said, meeting by...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
At the opening of the Standing Committee (*) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting by videoconference today, the parliamentarians decided to hold two current affairs debates, one on "Democracies facing Covid-19: the way forward" and a second one on "Developments...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
The Standing Committee, meeting today by videoconference, held a current affairs debate on “Democracies facing Covid-19: the way forward”. Ian Liddell-Grainger (United Kingdom, EC/DA) opened the debate. Following this current affairs debate, PACE President Rik Daems issued a statement...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
Speaking to members of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić emphasised that that since the start of the health crisis in Europe, the Council of Europe has not only advised but also provided material support to its member States. “We have...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
In his address to the Standing Committee today, German Minister of State Michael Roth stressed that strengthening the role of the Council of Europe as a guarantor of human rights and the rule of law was one of the top priorities of the German chairmanship of the Council of Europe. “How can we...
19/03/2021 | President
PACE President Rik Daems has again recalled that the rule of law must prevail in the emergency situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic – and stressed that any laws linked to the pandemic should comply with the constitution and international standards. “Today’s debate – held as the crisis...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
PACE Standing Committee has said it deplores the complacency of both countries of origin and destination concerning children who are “left behind” when their parents migrate abroad for work, potentially depriving them of support and protection. “Leaving millions of children without parental care...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
The Standing Committee, meeting today by videoconference, held a current affairs debate on “Recent developments in Turkey concerning parliamentary democracy”. Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC) opened the debate.
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
PACE has again urged Council of Europe member States to do more to confiscate illegal assets, including by reversing the burden of proof as to the illegal nature of the assets, pointing out that national and international efforts to combat money-laundering are still “falling far short of declared...
19/03/2021 | Standing Committee
The PACE Standing Committee, meeting by videoconference, today expressed its deep concern over victims of arbitrary displacement, underlining that nearly 2.8 million Europeans were internally displaced persons (IDPs). “Many Europeans are refugees in other countries, in particular Ukrainians who...