29/09/2026 | 15:40:09 The sitting is open. I remind members that in order to be registered for this sitting, you should insert your badge when you take your seat and keep it there for at least 30 seconds. You should also insert a badge in order to speak or vote. To request the floor, please press the "request" button once. This morning we held a ballot to elect a judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Bosnia-Herzegovina. An absolute majority of the votes was required. I will now announce the... 29/09/2026 | 13:00:54 We now must conclude the questions to Mr Alain BERSET. On behalf of the Assembly, I would like to thank you, most warmly, for your statements and for answering all our questions, thanks a lot. It is now 1.01 p.m., does any member still wish to vote in the election of judges for the European Court of Human Rights? This is not the case, then the ballot is now closed. The counting of votes will take place under the supervision of the tellers, Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, Mr Sergiy... 29/09/2026 | 11:00:23 Thank you very much for this very rich debate on how the Council of Europe can really be fit for purpose, be grounded in our values and meet the challenges of the time ahead. I had many, many arguments. Thank you for that. And I would like to single out four where I think we really have a broad agreement: First, to focus: indeed, we must do fewer things and do them with more impact. Second, speed: when democracy is under attack, our answer cannot arrive years later. We must react faster, and... 29/09/2026 | 10:07:32 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 vote. To request the floor, please press the “request” button once. I also remind the Assembly that members who have not submitted an annual declaration of interests are required to start any intervention with an oral... 28/09/2026 | 17:35:47 Thank you very much. That brings us to the end because we have to conclude now that we ran out of time. You were very elaborate but we would have 18 other people who would have liked to ask, but we now have other sittings, other meetings so we have to end now. Next time we will pack in more for sure but thank you very much for answering our questions so very carefully. I also appreciate that of course, thank you. [Off mic] It's fine. I also want to thank that so many ambassadors are here... 28/09/2026 | 17:01:06 Thank you very much, Mister President. I just want to outline that it's important that you reminded us of the fundamental idea of Montesquieu and the separation of powers. We are separated, but nevertheless, we have one common goal, which is also possible under Montesquieu. Thank you also for mentioning the Russian cases. I know that there were some questions about it. And as you mentioned, Kavala v. Türkiye, there will be a hearing on Wednesday this week, also in the presence of Ms Ayşe... 28/09/2026 | 16:39:39 So, we will now hear the address by Mr Mattias GUYOMAR, the President of the European Court of Human Rights. And after his address, Mr Mattias GUYOMAR will take questions from the floor. But let me say as an introduction, dear President of the Court, I really want to welcome you warmly to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This is the first time the Assembly is holding an institutional exchange with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, and I hope it will be... 28/09/2026 | 12:47:32 Ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues and friends, Let us welcome the members of the selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize who are with us today. Mr Tiny KOX, Ms Liliane Maury PASQUIER, Mr Josef PAZDERKA, Mr Jiří PŘIBÁŇ, Ms Ingjerd SCHOU and Ms Klára ŠIMÁČKOVÁ LAURENČÍKOVÁ. On behalf of all members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I thank our partners very much; The Charta 77 foundation, the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation, Visa 97 and of course Her... 28/09/2026 | 12:32:12 Dear colleagues, welcome to one of the highlights of this week for sure. Welcome to the 14th ceremony of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. As President of this Assembly, it is a great honour for me to open it. Let me be clear from the start. Human rights are not just one priority among many. They are our first priority. They are the reason why this Assembly exists. And today we put them centre stage. I'm especially happy that we are joined today by the 2021 winner of this prize, one of the... 28/09/2026 | 11:58:51 So, the next item on the Agenda is the debate on the Progress Report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee. It's Document 16484 and Addendums 1 and 2. The Progress Report will be presented by Mr Mogens JENSEN. With this, we will consider the report by the Ad Hoc Committee of the Bureau on Observation of the parliamentary elections in Armenia (7 June 2026), that's Document 16486, revised and presented by Mr Damien COTTIER; and the report by the same committee on Observation of the early...