30/09/2021 | 12:33:29 For more than two decades all states of the western Balkans have been members of the Council of Europe. Croatia and Slovenia have also become members of the European Union. The balance of countries are European Union candidates. The advantage of this process is enhanced political and economic stability for the area. On the current scope for the Council of Europe to help the Western Balkans, I'll touch on three points: facilitating the journey towards the European Union, encouragement to cross... 28/09/2021 | 16:02:59 Secretary General, Firstly, on migration and refugees, your special representative, Mr ŠTEFÁNEK, has already done some excellent ground work. However, I find natural constraints preventing from helping in more than just a very few areas within the Council of Europe host countries. Therefore, would you support increasing budgetary resources for his work, for example, through voluntary contributions? Secondly, do you agree that expanding this mandate would be consistent with last May's new... 27/09/2021 | 19:39:40 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) I join with others in congratulating Mr Paul Gavan on his useful report. As he summarise for us : the main issues include the dead, missing and wounded; prisoners of war captives ; allegations of crimes, war crimes and other wrongful acts ; land mines and unexplored ordnance ; displaced persons ; border tensions ; cultural heritage; hate speech. Today I will concentrate on the land mines problem. We are glad that Armenia has recently produced... 24/06/2021 | 11:45:53 Mr President, Mr Notis MITARACHI, dear colleagues, The voluntary relocation of refugees and asylum seekers is probably the strongest solidarity mechanism between European countries to relieve migratory pressure on frontline countries. Having been appointed rapporteur on such voluntary relocations by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, I am very glad today to speak on behalf of my political group about this. My report will be represented in the autumn. Mr Notis... 30/01/2020 | 17:02:05 Mr President, I join others in congratulating this joint debate's four rapporteurs on their excellent contributions towards two reports which we now consider. As current Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People, and in focusing upon missing refugees and migrant children, I will briefly connect together three prescriptions. Firstly, among our 47 states, the case for greater collective preparedness to acknowledge responsibility and to take... 29/01/2020 | 16:21:57 During the United Kingdom's chairmanship of the Council of Europe a few years ago, local democracy and cross-border cooperation formed key priorities. The Council of Europe's international conventions remain key facilitators. Commercial and cultural partnerships between different cities and regions are increasing. Currently I'm assisting proposals for these which within the United Kingdom involve the city and region of Inverness and the city of Dundee. And within Croatia, the cities and... 03/10/2019 | 19:50:08 Madam President, all of us will be very grateful to the co-rapporteurs Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS and Ms Maryvonne BLONDIN for the informative report. I'll briefly comment upon three points. The first two are already in the report. Firstly where we are at the moment and why we should be grateful for what has happened over the last few months as a result. Secondly an identification of key issues for Moldova and the Council of Europe to work together further to progress. Yet thirdly although... 03/10/2019 | 18:14:02 Madame President. For this debate, we're very fortunate to have the excellent report written by Ms Marie-Christine VERDIER-JOUCLAS. Briefly today, I'll comment upon three anomalies which she implies. In the first place, insufficient preparedness to anticipate and deal with the problem, some explanations for this inadequacy, then misleading semantics undermining the legal status of climate refugees. In 2005, as the rapporteur observes, shortly after the ocean tsunami, over 168 governments... 02/10/2019 | 19:45:20 Madam President, assisting this debate, and as your colleagues have already observed, we have a very useful report indeed. Consequently, all of us will be grateful to its co-rapporteurs, Ms Christofferson, and Mr Alexander Pociej. Today, I'll briefly connect together three considerations within North-Macedonia, certain recent, yet solid achievements, which are much to be welcomed. Following this, what should now be monitored, is the way in which this exercise is of service to the rest of the... 02/10/2019 | 12:14:00 Secretary General, A key issue, as we will agree, is the strength and consolidation of our culture and education. For, in feeding hearts and minds, it is these which produce a collective resolve to dissuade racism and intolerance, an ability together to prevent the violation of human rights in all its forms, and a conviction that our shared values and standards transcend national boundaries. Then, the positive corollary to that: This is that success at local levels best protects national and...