A joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, on the role of sanctions and on the erasure of cultural identity, are among the highlights of the summer plenary session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, taking place from 24 to 28 June 2024 in Strasbourg.
The parliamentarians will hold an urgent debate on challenges to democracy in Georgia has been requested, as well as a current affairs debates on "War in Gaza: ensuring the release of the hostages, the implementation of an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid" and on "Can the Council of Europe step up its efforts to counter threats to the freedom of expression?".
A ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe is planned, with a statement by Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council of Austria. A chamber orchestra will play the Ode to Joy under his direction.
The Assembly will also award the first ever Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, which rewards outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity in Europe and beyond, with statements by Guðni Thorlacius Jòhannesson, President of Iceland, and Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Market of Iceland.
On Tuesday June 25, parliamentarians will elect the new Secretary General of the Council of Europe for the next five years. The result of the vote for the first round will be announced in plenary at 12:55 p.m. (shortly before the end of the morning session) and the result of the vote for a possible second round will be announced at 7:25 p.m. (shortly before the end of the evening session )
Lithuania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, the President of the Committee of Ministers, will present its communication to the Assembly and take questions from members. Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will address the Assembly.
Also foreseen are a statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and a joint debate on strengthening democracy through participatory and deliberative processes, and on strengthening the youth perspective in the work of the Assembly.
Items on the agenda also include Varosha’s return to its lawful inhabitants, protecting women human rights defenders in Europe, ensuring human rights compliant asylum procedures, and reparation and reconciliation processes to overcome past conflicts.
There will also be debates on policy solutions and support for the displaced people of Ukraine, on defusing ticking time bombs for a safe return of displaced populations, on safeguarding human rights for future generations, and on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia.
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Practical information
With the completion of renovation work, the Assembly will return to its usual home in the debating chamber of the Palais de l'Europe.
Media accreditation: please fill in this accreditation form. More details here, or contact the Council of Europe Communications Directorate via [email protected].
PACE website: the agenda, adopted texts, reports to be debated, voting results, speakers lists, video recordings of each sitting (in English, French and original languages), as well as the verbatim record of each sitting (in English, French, German and Italian), are available on the special session page. News items on all debates appear on the Assembly’s home page.
Social media: follow the Assembly’s official accounts via X, Facebook and LinkedIn (#PACEsummer2024).
Webcast: the session is webcast live (in French, English, German, Italian and Spanish) on PACE’s website. Each sitting is also streamed live via the Assembly’s YouTube channel in English, scrollable in mid-stream, with instant replay.
Video clips: an online tool allows video clips from plenary sessions to be edited and downloaded.
Photos: photos from session week can be downloaded from the Council of Europe media library or via the Assembly’s Flickr account.
Contact: PACE Communication Division, tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93, [email protected].
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
Changes in the membership of committees
Changes in the membership of committees – Add.1
Changes in the membership of committees – Add.2
Award ceremony of the 2024 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment
Monday 24 June 2024
Doc. 16012 (Report on credentials) Examination of credentials of representatives and substitutes Doc. 16007 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (19 April – 23 June 2024) Doc. 16007 Add. 1 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (24 June 2024) Doc. 16007 Add. 2 (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 16013 (Election observation report) Observation of the presidential and parliamentary elections in North Macedonia (24 April and 8 May 2024) Doc. 15996 (Report) Modification of various provisions of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Doc. 15968 (Communication) Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Doc. 16001 (Report) Strengthening democracy through participatory and deliberative processes Doc. 15871 (Report) Strengthening a youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly Doc. 15872 (Committee Opinion) Strengthening a youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly Doc. 15993 (Report) Protecting women human rights defenders in Europe Doc. 15997 (Report) Ensuring human rights-compliant asylum procedures
Wednesday 26 June 2024
Doc. 16007 Add. 2 (Progress report) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights Doc. 15988 (Communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Austria Doc. 15991 (Communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Finland Doc. 15985 (Communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Serbia Doc. 15998 (Report) Legal and human rights aspects of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine Doc. 16000 (Report) The role of sanctions in countering the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine Doc. 16003 (Report) Countering the erasure of cultural identity in war and peace Doc. 15933 (Report) Reparation and reconciliation processes to overcome past conflicts and build a common peaceful future – the question of just and equal redress Doc. 16019 (Committee Opinion) Reparation and reconciliation processes to overcome past conflicts and build a common peaceful future – the question of just and equal redress Doc. 15994 (Report) The honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia
Thursday 27 June 2024
Doc. 16018 (Report) Challenges to democracy in Georgia Doc. 16002 (Report) An urgent call to Europe and its partners: envisioning immediate and long-term policy solutions in support of the displaced people of Ukraine Doc. 16004 (Report) Call for Varosha’s return to its lawful inhabitants Doc. 15995 (Report) Post-conflict time: defusing ticking time bombs for a safe return of displaced populations
Friday 28 June 2024
Doc. 15999 (Report) Safeguarding human rights for future generations Doc. 16016 (Committee Opinion) Safeguarding human rights for future generations Doc. 16007 Add. 3 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (28 June 2024)
Result election – Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Result election – Judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Austria
Result election – Judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Finland
Result election – Judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Serbia
List of voters 1st round – 25 June 2024
| Date | Lists |
|---|---|
| Monday 24 June | 1 2 |
| Tuesday 25 June | 1 2 3 4 5 |
| Wednesday 26 June | 1 2 3 |
| Thursday 27 June | 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
| Friday 28 June | 1 |
| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 24 June |
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| Tuesday 25 June |
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| Wednesday 26 June |
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| Thursday 27 June |
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| Friday 28 June |
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| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 24 June | OV EN | OV EN |
| Tuesday 25 June | OV EN | OV EN |
| Wednesday 26 June | OV EN | OV EN |
| Thursday 27 June | OV EN | OV EN |
| Friday 28 June | OV EN |
