05/10/2012 Session
Strasbourg, 05.10.2012 – In a statement adopted today, PACE’s Bureau has called on Council of Europe member States to give greater support to the North-South Centre, especially in its work to assist democratic processes in Arab countries in transition focusing on youth and young adults, including young women in Europe’s neighbouring regions.
At a time when worrying developments threaten the financial stability of the North-South Centre, the Assembly’s Bureau considered it essential to give a strong signal of support for the Centre.
The declaration, originally submitted by the Chairs of three Assembly committees, asks governments to consider joining, or reconsider their withdrawal from, the Lisbon-based Council of Europe body, and to increase voluntary financial contributions to its work.
The North-South Centre, otherwise known as the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, has offered, for more than 20 years, “a functional platform for structured co-operation between neighbouring countries and the Council of Europe”, the Bureau pointed out.