07/04/2005 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Adressing the 26th Conference of European Ministers of Justice in Helsinki, the Chairperson of the PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Serhiy Holovaty (Ukraine, LDR), today sounded the alarm referring to the position taken by the European Commission on behalf of 22 member States of the European Community on the draft Council of Europe Convention on the trafficking in human beings. “The position of the European Commission is seen by many as potentially undermining the Council of Europe´s acquis. Here I refer, in particular, to the so-called “disconnection clauses”, which, if applied, could result in these conventions not being applicable to the European Community’s “constitutional context”. If the Council of Europe does not pay sufficient attention to the question, it may then in the near future permit the EU member states to apply – potentially – lower standards than those negotiated within the Council of Europe. Thereby introducing different standards for different groups of European countries. A line is drawn between EU member states and those not members of the EU”, he warned.
06/04/2005 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today expressed profound emotion at the death of Prince Rainier of Monaco, "a long-standing friend of the Council of Europe". René van der Linden recalled that Monaco consolidated its independence and prospered over the centuries largely thanks to the political acumen shown by the Grimaldi family. According to the PACE President, "the political vision and the resolve of Prince Rainier did much to achieve Monaco’s membership of the Council of Europe in October 2004". "I convey by deep sympathies and sincere friendship to the members of the Grimaldi family," he concluded.
06/04/2005 | President
Senior representatives of the 46-nation Council of Europe attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II, in Rome, on Friday 8 April. Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation’s Committee of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Poland Adam Daniel Rotfeld, PACE President René van der Linden, Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe Giovanni Di Stasi, were among the mourners in St Peter’s Square.
05/04/2005 | President
“Asia made history today”, announced Philippine Congress Speaker Jose de Venecia following the proposal made by the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) Senior Advisory Council in Manila, to create, within the next five years, an Asian Parliamentary Assembly on the model of the PACE. Addressing the AAPP Senior Advisory Council, PACE President René van der Linden stressed that an Asian Parliamentary Assembly would serve at least two important purposes. “If Asia decides to strengthen its co-operation in the fields of democracy, human rights and rule of law, as essential building blocks for political integration, an Asian Parliamentary Assembly could indeed be an important catalyst. It would provide an additional guarantee that future mechanisms will be open, transparent and close to their citizens", he said.
05/04/2005 | News
In his speech before the 112th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Manila (3 – 8 April) PACE President René van der Linden announced that the Parliamentary Assembly has decided to conduct a pan-European campaign against domestic violence in 2006, in co-operation with European and national partners such as national parliaments, the European Parliament and NGOs and called on the IPU to consider carrying out a similar campaign. With regard to trafficking in human beings, he pointed out that a European convention is being drafted and will soon be opened for signature by the member states. “This convention is designed to protect victims’ rights and ensure respect for human rights. It will aim to strike a balance between matters relating to human rights and those relating to criminal proceedings”, he said. As far as women’s participation in politics is concerned, René van der Linden reminded participants that PACE has recommended that European governments draw up a “charter for electoral equality” in which the Council of Europe member states would guarantee women’s electoral rights,improve their participation in elections and outlaw “family voting”. "PACE set the objective of increasing the minimum representation of women in parliaments and other elected assemblies to at least 40% by 2020," he concluded.
02/04/2005 | News
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, René van der Linden, tonight paid tribute to John Paul II: “On behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe I wish to pay tribute to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, for placing his life at the service of understanding among peoples, and peace and freedom across the world. We are grateful for his tireless efforts to end the division of our continent and promote democratic reform. The death of this great pilgrim of peace is a loss to us all. John Paul II was a firm ally of the Council of Europe in his support for a unified continent free of the death penalty, which is now a reality for 800 million Europeans in our 46 member states.
01/04/2005 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
At the end of a fact-finding visit to Ukraine, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (Germany, LDR), rapporteur for the launching of a new enquiry into the murder of the Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze, said she was particularly impressed by the determination of Mr Omelchenko, Chair of the Rada's Committee of Enquiry, Mr Lutsenko, his former deputy and present Minister of the Interior, and Mr Fedur, the lawyer representing the victim's family. Prosecutor General Piskun presented the current state of the investigation and assured her of his willingness to move against all those responsible, regardless of their rank. Whilst the case has dragged on for four years under previous governments, substantial progress has been made, in particular the arrest of three suspects. "But the Gongadze case cannot be considered as solved, before all those responsible – the perpetrators as well as those who ordered and organised the crime – have been brought to justice", said the Rapporteur. This can best be done if all available evidence is used, including that which could be provided by Mr Melnychenko, a former presidential security officer who had secretly taped conversations in President Kouchma's office.
31/03/2005 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today attended the rally held in Paris (Parvis des Droits de l’Homme) by French parliamentarians in support of journalist Florence Aubenas and her guide Hussein Hanoun al Saadi, held hostage in Iraq since 5 January. René van der Linden expressed his solidarity with the hostages’ families and the French authorities and parliamentarians, and said press freedom and freedom of expression lay at the core of the Council of Europe’s mission. He called for the hostages’ speedy release and voiced his anxiety about the three Romanian journalists missing in Iraq. He was taking part in a meeting with the French Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee and met Christian Poncelet, President of the Senate, Jean-Louis Debré, President of the National Assembly, and Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, Minister for Cultural Affairs, as well as Serge July, editor in chief of the newspaper “Libération”, and Robert Ménard, head of “Reporters Without Borders”.
30/03/2005 | News
PACE President René van der Linden said today that "a French 'yes' to the draft European Constitution is also a 'yes' for a Europe based on democracy and human rights". The Assembly President was addressing the foreign affairs committees of the French National Assembly and Senate and the Senate European Union delegation in Paris today. The draft Constitution is essential for Europe and for European citizens, he said. It provides for Union accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, which safeguards the fundamental rights of over 800 million Europeans. "This clearly shows that protecting Europeans' fundamental rights is a central strand of the draft Constitution".
30/03/2005 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (Germany, LDR), rapporteur for the launching of a new enquiry into the murder of the Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze on behalf of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), will be in Kyiv from 30 March to 1 April for a fact-finding visit. Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger is expected to meet the President of the Republic, the Interior and Justice Ministers, the State Prosecutor, the ad hoc committee of the Rada and experts who have worked for that committee, as well as the legal counsel of the late Mr Gongadze’s mother. A press conference will be held on 1 April at noon in the Interfax agency’s offices (8/5 a, Reitarska Str, Kyiv).
24/03/2005 | News
The European Union should consider the Council of Europe as the primary framework for its "neighbourhood policy", sign up to Council of Europe treaties to create a "single European legal space" and make systematic use of the Council’s expertise, PACE President René van der Linden told the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Luxembourg Parliament yesterday during a visit to the Grand Duchy. "The message is clear and direct," said the President, "the EU should make full use of the experience, institutions and instruments of the Council of Europe". Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who currently chairs the EU Council, is due to address PACE at its April session.
24/03/2005 | President
Speaking ahead of a possible vote in the United Nations Security Council on the Darfur crisis, PACE President René van der Linden today called on all Security Council members – including the United States, which holds observer status with the Council of Europe – to allow the ICC to help protect the people of Darfur. “The Assembly believes that an immediate and credible threat of accountability is essential to help prevent further violations. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is best placed to provide such deterrence," he said.