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PACE rapporteur urges Israel to lift the ban on NGO access to the Palestinian territories

PACE General Rapporteur urges Israel to immediately release unlawfully detained healthcare workers from Gaza

08/04/2026 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Statement by Joseph O’Reilly (Ireland, EPP/CD), PACE General Rapporteur on the situation of women and children in the Palestinian territories: “As the situation in many parts of the Middle East places more and more civilians, particularly women and children, in an extremely vulnerable situation...

Lord German urges European lawmakers to uphold international law in migration policy

PACE General Rapporteur urges EU to abandon proposal to detain migrant children in coming Returns Regulation

08/04/2026 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE), the General Rapporteur on Asylum and Migration of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has raised the alarm over the position adopted at the end of March by the European Parliament, which would allow for the detention of migrant...

The head of PACE’s Migration Committee urges the creation of a European search-and-rescue corps to save lives
©Fabian Melber/Seawatch/X

The head of PACE’s Migration Committee urges the creation of a European search-and-rescue corps to save lives

08/04/2026 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co‑operation, made the following statement today: “On Easter night, tragedy once again struck in the Mediterranean. A vessel carrying migrants capsized, claiming the lives of at least...

Budapest
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PACE to observe the parliamentary elections in Hungary

08/04/2026 | Election observation

A 30-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Pablo Hispán (Spain, EPP/CD), will travel to Hungary from 10 to 13 April to observe the parliamentary elections, alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Office for Democratic...

International Romani Day: ‘Remembrance and knowledge of the past are essential to combat deeply entrenched prejudice’

International Romani Day: ‘Remembrance and knowledge of the past are essential to combat deeply entrenched...

07/04/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

On the eve of International Romani Day (8 April), Georgios Stamatis (Greece, EPP/CD), General Rapporteur on Roma and Travellers, made the following statement: "On International Romani Day and throughout the “Opre Roma!” month, we celebrate the rich heritage, resilience and contributions of Roma...

Hungary’s elections must not be shaped by fear, abuse of state resources or foreign manipulation, says PACE pre-electoral delegation

Hungary’s elections must not be shaped by fear, abuse of state resources or foreign manipulation, says PACE...

01/04/2026 | Election observation

A cross-party delegation of observers from PACE, visiting Budapest on 30 and 31 March ahead of the 12 April parliamentary elections, held talks with representatives of the authorities, the election administration, political parties, civil society, the media and the diplomatic community. The...

PACE Secretary General reiterates the Assembly’s support for Ukraine as the country prepares for post-war governance

PACE Secretary General highlights growing trust with Ukrainian partners as latest high-level dialogue...

01/04/2026 | Secretary General of the Assembly

PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou has highlighted growing trust between Ukrainian partners and the Council of Europe after nearly four years of high-level dialogue between them – and underlined the Assembly’s continued support as the country looks to reinforce its democratic...

PACE President Petra Bayr

PACE President: Knesset vote ‘seriously jeopardises’ Israel’s observer status with the Assembly

31/03/2026 | President

“I am deeply disappointed by last night’s vote in the Knesset, which seriously jeopardises Israel’s observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,” said PACE President Petra Bayr, reacting to the Israeli parliament’s approval of a new law expanding the death penalty in...

Albania

Albania: post-monitoring visit by PACE co-rapporteurs

27/03/2026 | Monitoring

Ionuț-Marian Stroe (Romania, EPP/CD) and Paweł Jabłoński (Poland, ECPA), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will make a fact-finding visit to Albania from 30 March to 1 April, in the context of the post-monitoring dialogue with this country. During their...

PACE monitors, ending visit to Serbia, focus on Novi Sad tragedy, ‘Mrdić laws’ and local elections

PACE monitors, ending visit to Serbia, focus on Novi Sad tragedy, ‘Mrdić laws’ and local elections

27/03/2026 | Monitoring

Following a visit to Belgrade on 23 and 24 March, Victoria Тiblom (Sweden, ECPA) and Yunus Emre (Türkiye, SOC), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Serbia’s obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe, made the following...

PACE rapporteur strongly urges Knesset members to oppose ‘discriminatory’ bill expanding the death penalty in Israel

PACE rapporteur strongly urges Knesset members to oppose ‘discriminatory’ bill expanding the death penalty...

27/03/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Gala Veldhoen (Netherlands, SOC), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the abolition of the death penalty, made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned about the bill currently under discussion in Israel which would introduce death...

The Hungarian Parliament
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PACE delegation makes pre-electoral visit to Hungary

26/03/2026 | Election observation

A six-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Pablo Hispan (Spain, EPP/CD), will make a pre-electoral visit to Hungary on 30-31 March to assess the election campaign and political climate prior to the parliamentary elections on 12 April. In Budapest...