21/05/2026 | Monitoring
The Monitoring Committee has expressed “serious concerns about the democratic breakdown and deep political and social crisis” in Georgia, warning that “the democratic backsliding has continued unabated as has the crackdown on civil society, political opposition and dissent”. In a draft resolution...
21/05/2026 | President
The adoption yesterday by the UN General Assembly of a resolution on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on climate change sends a strong and timely message: climate action and human rights are inseparable. The resolution reaffirms that states have obligations under...
21/05/2026 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy has adopted a draft report stressing that artificial intelligence (AI) brings both major opportunities and serious risks for democratic systems, while warning that “efforts to ensure that AI systems are safe and regulated by democratic governance...
21/05/2026 | Monitoring
The Monitoring Committee, meeting in Sarajevo on 19 May, welcomed the progress made by Serbia as regards the reform of the judiciary and prosecution services since its accession to the Council of Europe in 2003, in particular the adoption of amendments to the Constitution in February 2022 and of...
20/05/2026 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Following the adoption of the Chişinău Declaration on migration, PACE’s Migration Committee has requested a current affairs debate on the topic at the Assembly’s forthcoming summer plenary session (22-26 June 2026). The committee’s Chairperson Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC) echoed Assembly President...
19/05/2026 | Monitoring
Ending a three-day visit to Warsaw, the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Poland, Christophe Brico (Monaco, EPP/CD) and Didier Marie (France, SOC), have reiterated their concern at the level of polarisation within the country. “Key...
15/05/2026 | President
PACE President Petra Bayr has welcomed the political declaration on the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted today by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers – and urged member states to “talk about us” to their citizens so that the Convention’s role in protecting them...
15/05/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
“The protection of the rights of LGBTI persons lies at the heart of our democratic values” stressed Kate Osborne (United Kingdom, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI persons, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia (17...
13/05/2026 | Election observation
Following a two-day visit to Yerevan on 11 and 12 May 2026, a pre-electoral delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)* has emphasised the importance of conducting the 7 June 2026 parliamentary elections in an environment free from fear, undue foreign influence and...
13/05/2026 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
The Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation, meeting today in Paris, called on member states’ health authorities to “ensure that migrants and refugees have free access to healthcare from the moment of first arrival”, including mental healthcare, with psychiatric...
06/05/2026 | Prizes
The selection panel of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, which rewards outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the third edition of the prize. A joint initiative of the Icelandic...
05/05/2026 | Election observation
A seven-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Damien Cottier (Switzerland, EPP/CD), will make a pre-electoral visit to Armenia on 11-12 May to assess the election campaign and political climate prior to the parliamentary elections on 7 June. In...