29/05/2006 | President
PACE President Rene van der Linden seized the opportunity when meeting the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today to invite him to address the Assembly at one of its next plenary meetings in Strasbourg. He stressed his firm intention to make the current chairmanship of Russia in the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers a success and qualified its beginning as promising. "This meeting was a milestone in further fostering ties between the CoE and Russia", said President Putin.
24/05/2006 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament
The next European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments, organised by the Estonian Parliament in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, will be held in Tallinn, Estonia, on 30 and 31 May 2006. Themes proposed: - "Bridge-building through Parliamentary Diplomacy...
24/05/2006 | Standing Committee
On the occasion of Russia’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, PACE President René van der Linden is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their talks are expected to focus on the objectives of Russia’s chairmanship, a European partnership, and on Russia’s contribution to building a democratic Europe, including the search for peaceful solutions to existing conflicts on the continent. Russia’s role in negotiating a meaningful agreement between the Council of Europe and the EU, with a stronger parliamentary dimension, is also due to be discussed.
22/05/2006 | Election observation
The referendum on the future state-status of the Republic of Montenegro (Serbia and Montenegro) on 21 May was conducted overall in line with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and other international standards for democratic electoral processes, according to international observers. Jean-Charles Gardetto, head of the PACE delegation, said: “The high turnout showed the importance given by the people of Montenegro in deciding their future by democratic and peaceful means. They expressed their free will in a fully democratic and civil manner, something they can be proud of and that sets an example for the region. The Assembly stands ready to accompany Montenegro on the path its people have chosen.”
19/05/2006 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today called for the “modernisation” of relations between the Council of Europe’s two statutory bodies, in order to exploit the organisation's potential more effectively. In a speech to the Committee of Ministers, the organisation’s executive body, the President said: “According to its Statute, the Council of Europe is not just the Committee of Ministers; it is also the Parliamentary Assembly. We cannot continue with the same institutional arrangements that were considered adequate almost sixty years ago, for a ten-member organisation.”
19/05/2006 | President
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President René van der Linden today welcomed the Russian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as a unique opportunity for Europe to build up a sustainable partnership based on mutual respect and trust. He said that this partnership would be at the heart of discussions at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on 29 May, organised on the occasion of a PACE Standing Committee meeting in Moscow.
18/05/2006 | News
"In a democracy can we restrict freedom of expression in deference to religious beliefs?” asked the Chair of the PACE Committee on Culture, Jacques Legendre, when he opened this morning’s hearing in Paris on freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs.
17/05/2006 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Her Majesty Queen Silvia took part in an exchange of views on childrens’ rights in Sweden being organised by the Social Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Stockholm on 18 May 2006. The meeting formed part of PACE’s contribution to the Council of Europe programme “Building a Europe for and with children”.
17/05/2006 | Election observation
A 15-member delegation from PACE is to observe the conduct of the referendum on state status of the Republic of Montenegro (Serbia and Montenegro) on 21 May 2006. The delegation, led by Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), will arrive in Podgorica on 19 May 2006. It will meet representatives of the independence bloc, the pro-Union bloc, the government and the media as well as officials in charge of organising the referendum. On the day of the referendum the parliamentarians will be deployed in the capital and other towns in Montenegro. They will be working alongside observers for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament.
17/05/2006 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
Student disaffection for scientific studies is very worrying, according to PACE's Culture committte. Referring to the reasons for such decline, parliamentarians said the education pupils receive is too abstract, the image of scientists is not very appealing to young people and the social status of researchers and engineers has declined in many European countries. "If a substantial effort is not made in the coming years to counter this situation in which students are opting for other disciplines, there will be legitimate cause for concern about the future of European nations", the adopted text warns.
17/05/2006 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today condemned the shooting incident that took place in Turkey's Council of State. "By ensuring respect for the rule of law, the judges of the Council of State have played a central role in protecting democratic freedom in modern Turkey," said Mr van der Linden. "This appalling crime, apparently committed in the name of a cruel and barbaric religious extremism, is an open attack on one of the most important symbols of democracy.” He added: “I extend my sincere condolences to the family of the murdered judge, as well as my deepest sympathy to the injured and their families, at this tragic time."
16/05/2006 | News
In a letter sent today to football administrators, Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold (Switzerland, SOC) launched a new appeal against forced prostitution during the World Cup in Germany.