Strasbourg, 18-22 April 2016
The Presidents of Austria, Heinz Fischer, and of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Prime Ministers of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, were among leading personalities who addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during its Spring session.
The refugee and migrant crisis in Europe was on the agenda, with debates on a stronger European response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the human rights of refugees and migrants in the Western Balkans and the new challenge posed by forced migration.
Other items on the agenda included debates on assessing the impact of measures to improve women's political representation, preventing the radicalisation of children, humanitarian concerns with regard to people captured during the war in Ukraine, the handling of international public health emergencies, and the fight against antisemitism in Europe. There were also several requests for urgent and current affairs debates.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Daniel Mitov, addressed the Assembly in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, presented his annual activity report 2015. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, answered questions from parliamentarians.
The Assembly also evaluated the partnership for democracy in respect of the Palestinian National Council.
Monday 18 April 2016
Doc. 14017 (Report on credentials) Examination of credentials of representatives and substitutes Doc. 14016 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (29 January-17 April 2016) Doc. 14016 Addendum I (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (18 April 2016) Doc. 14016 Addendum II (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 14018 (Communication) Activities of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly between the first and the second part of the 2016 Ordinary session
Tuesday 19 April 2016
Doc. 13982 (Communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights{In accordance with Article 22 of the European Convention on Human Rights.} List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Slovenia Doc. 14016 Addendum II (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 14010 (Report) Preventing the radicalisation of children by fighting the root causes Doc. 14010 Add. (Addendum to the report) Preventing the radicalisation of children and young people by fighting the root causes Doc. 14025 (Committee Opinion) Preventing the radicalisation of children by fighting the root causes Doc. 14024 (Committee Opinion) Preventing the radicalisation of children by fighting the root causes Doc. 13992 (Report) Towards a framework of competences for democratic citizenship Doc. 14002 (Report) Evaluation of the partnership for democracy in respect of the Palestinian National Council Doc. 14021 (Committee Opinion) Evaluation of the partnership for democracy in respect of the Palestinian National Council Doc. 14022 (Committee Opinion) Evaluation of the partnership for democracy in respect of the Palestinian National Council
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Doc. 14008 (Report) Renewed commitment in the fight against antisemitism in Europe Doc. 14023 (Committee Opinion) Renewed commitment in the fight against antisemitism in Europe Doc. 14014 (Report) A stronger European response to the Syrian refugee crisis Doc. 14013 (Report) Human rights of refugees and migrants – the situation in the Western Balkans Doc. 14028 (Report) The situation of refugees and migrants under the EU-Turkey Agreement of 18 March 2016 Doc. 14009 (Report) Intellectual property rights in the digital era
Thursday 21 April 2016
Doc. 14011 (Report) Assessing the impact of measures to improve women’s political representation Doc. 14015 (Report) The humanitarian concerns with regard to people captured during the war in Ukraine Doc. 14015 Add. (Addendum to the report) The humanitarian concerns with regard to people captured during the war in Ukraine Doc. 14031 (Report) After the Brussels attacks, urgent need to address security failures and step up counter-terrorism co-operation
Friday 22 April 2016
Doc. 14012 (Report) The handling of international public health emergencies Doc. 13983 (Report) Forced migration: a new challenge Doc. 14007 (Report) The case against a Council of Europe legal instrument on involuntary measures in psychiatry Doc. 14016 Addendum III (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (22 April 2016)
