An urgent debate on "The situation of Ukrainian civilians, including children, forcibly displaced or transferred to the Russian Federation or Ukrainian territories under the de facto control of the Russian Federation", with the online intervention of Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, was one of the main topics debated at the Spring plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which took place in Strasbourg on 24-28 April 2023. The was followed by a current affairs debate on "Russia’s role in escalating tensions in the Republic of Moldova".
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, the Assembly debated a report on political strategies to prevent, prepare for, and face the consequences of natural disasters.
On the #RoadToReykjavik, the Assembly held a current affairs debate on the fourth Council of Europe Summit, which takes place in the Icelandic capital on 16-17 May 2023. Síofra O'Leary, President of the European Court of Human Rights, delivered a statement during this debate.
The parliamentarians also heard an address by Icelandic President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. Icelandic Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir presented the Communication from the Committee of Ministers, which Iceland currently chairs.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović presented her annual activity report for 2022, while Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić held her usual question time with members.
Other topics discussed included the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and national constitutions, youth and the media, and safeguarding democracy, rights and the environment in international trade.
Finally, the Assembly assessed the functioning of its partnership for democracy status and looked at San Marino’s honouring of its Council of Europe membership obligations.
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Note to editors
Due to ongoing renovation work in the debating chamber of the Palais de l'Europe, the plenary sittings were held in the debating chamber of the European Parliament.
All PACE committee activities and meetings, as well as all side events, took place in the Palais de l’Europe premises, as did all media-related activities (press room, interviews, press briefings, MediaBox, etc.)
11/04/2025 - Session
PACE spring session focused on Georgia, Türkiye and Ukraine
10/04/2025 - Session
PACE welcomes draft Convention on environmental crime, but calls for stronger and more balanced provisions
10/04/2025 - Session
As the situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate, PACE sets out additional demands to reverse democratic backsliding
Statutory report on the activities of the Committee of Ministers
Commissioner for Human Rights - Annual activity report 2022
Vice-Presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly
Changes in the membership of committees
Changes in the membership of committees add.
Changes in the membership of committees add.2
Monday 24 April 2023
Doc. 15746 (Report on credentials) Examination of credentials of representatives and substitutes Doc. 15745 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (27 January-23 April 2023) Doc. 15745 Add. 1 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (24 April 2023) Doc. 15745 Add. 2 (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 15744 (Election observation report) Observation of the presidential election in Montenegro (19 March and 2 April 2023)
Tuesday 25 April 2023
Doc. 15745 Add. 2 (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 15733 (Communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Romania Doc. 15741 (Report) European Convention on Human Rights and national constitutions Doc. 15740 (Report) Assessing the functioning of the partnership for democracy
Wednesday 26 April 2023
Doc. 15745 Add. 2 (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 15733 (Communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Romania Doc. 15738 (Report) Political strategies to prevent, prepare for, and face the consequences of natural disasters Doc. 15738 Add. (Addendum to the report) Political strategies to prevent, prepare for, and face the consequences of natural disasters Doc. 15742 (Report) Implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
Thursday 27 April 2023
Doc. 15748 (Report) Deportations and forcible transfers of Ukrainian children and other civilians to Russian Federation or to Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied: create conditions for their safe return, stop these crimes and punish the perpetrators Doc. 15739 (Report) Safeguarding democracy, rights and the environment in international trade
Friday 28 April 2023
Doc. 15737 (Report) The honouring of membership obligations to the Council of Europe by San Marino Doc. 15726 (Report) Youth and the media Doc. 15745 Add. 3 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (28 April 2023)
Voting procedure for the elections by secret electronic ballot (EP)
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| Tuesday 25 April | 1 2 3 4 |
| Wednesday 26 April | 1 2 |
| Thursday 27 April | 1 2 3 4 |
| Friday 28 April | 1 2 |
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| Monday 24 April | OV EN | |
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| Wednesday 26 April | OV EN | |
| Thursday 27 April | OV EN | |
| Friday 28 April | OV EN |
