22/06/2026 | 12:36:18 Dear colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen, As you know, this prize is a prize devised to honour and reward outstanding initiatives promoting the empowerment of women in all their diversity, with a broad remit ranging from achievements in gender equality, equal access to participation and decision-making to championing women's opportunities and helping them to take their place in society. I should like to express express my heartfelt thanks to the Republic of Iceland for the financial support for... 22/06/2026 | 11:58:08 The next item on the Agenda is the debate on the Progress Report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee (Doc. 16430 and Addendum 1). This will be combined with consideration of the following reports: The report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Bureau on the Observation of the parliamentary elections in Hungary (12 April 2026) (Doc.16432) presented by Mr Pablo HISPÁN; And the report on the Ad Hoc Committee of the Bureau on the Observation of early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria (19 April... 22/06/2026 | 11:51:59 Before starting, I wish to express my condolences to the family and friends of Ms Mariella MULARONI, who was a member of this Assembly from 2020 to 2024, representing San Marino. She passed away on 29 May, and I convey on behalf of all of us the deepest sympathy to the delegation of San Marino. I remind members that, in order to be registered for the sitting, you should insert your badge when you take your seat, and keep it inserted for at least 30 seconds. I also remind the Assembly that... 22/06/2026 | 11:40:41 Dear Colleagues, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Secretary General of Parliamentary Assembly, Dear friends, There are moments in history when institutions discover who they really are. Not in times of comfort. Not in times of stability. But in times of pressure. And Europe is living through such a time. An illegal war on our continent. Attacks against democracy. Challenges to human rights. And attempts to weaken international law. And yet, when I look at this Assembly today... 24/04/2026 | 11:01:33 Thank you very much. That concludes the list of speakers, and the debate is closed. The next item on today’s agenda is the continuation of the debate on the Progress Report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee (Document 16377 Addendum 3). The Bureau has proposed several references to Committees, set out in Addendum 3. These references must be submitted for ratification by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in accordance with Rule 26.3. Any objections successfully raised... 23/04/2026 | 11:22:19 I want to thank you all for this very important debate. I remind you that at the end of a current affairs debate, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is not asked to decide about a text, but the matter may be referred by the Bureau of the Assembly to the responsible committee for a report. Now I would like to come to the announcement that I already mentioned. I very much regret to inform you that the restricted Assembly document on the agenda of one of our Assembly's... 23/04/2026 | 10:06:51 Good morning, dear colleagues, The sitting is open. I remind members that in order to be registered for the sitting, you should insert your badge when you take your seat and keep it inserted for at least 30 seconds. You should also insert your badge in order to speak or to vote. To request the floor, please press the request button just once. I also want to remind the Assembly that members who have not submitted an annual declaration of interest are required to start any intervention with an... 22/04/2026 | 16:32:05 The next item of business this afternoon is the debate on the report titled "Towards the universal abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances", Document 16375, presented by Ms Gala VELDHOEN on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. This will be followed by statements by Ms Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Commissioner at the International Commission against the Death Penalty, and Ms Antoinette CHAHINE, international human rights defender. In order to finish by 6:30 p.m., I... 22/04/2026 | 15:52:30 Thank you very much, Mr Michael O'FLAHERTY, for this address. I absolutely agree that I think, first and foremost, it's important to protect our Convention system, at the core of everything. But also allow me to single out only one other issue. I think to mention the KlimaSeniorinnen-Urteil decision of the Court of Human Rights. It is really something that is guiding for us, because to protect our environment and to work on the human right to live in a healthy, sustainable and safe... 22/04/2026 | 15:34:34 Good afternoon. The sitting is open. I remind members that in order to be registered for the sitting, you should insert your badge when you take the seat and keep it inserted for at least 30 seconds. You should also insert your badge in order to speak or vote. To request the floor, please press the "request" button, just once. I also remind the Parliamentary Assembly that members who have not submitted an annual declaration of interests are required to start any intervention with an oral...