14/01/2016 Session
Europe's migration and refugee crisis, international terrorism and the functioning of democratic institutions in Poland will take centre-stage at the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 25-29 January 2016).
The migration crisis will be addressed with reports on "The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration" and on "Organised crime and migrants".
With regard to international terrorism, reports on "Foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq" and "Combating international terrorism while protecting Council of Europe standards and values"* will be the focus of discussions. Harlem Désir, French Minister of State for European Affairs, will take part in the joint debate.
The parliamentarians will also discuss "The functioning of democratic institutions in Poland"* and "The Protection of Women and the honest reporting of unpalatable truths"*.
The Assembly will elect its President for a one-year term, renewable once.
Among the other items on the agenda are reports on "Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan" and on "Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water". The situation in Kosovo** and the role of the Council of Europe and a report on strengthening the protection and role of human rights defenders in Council of Europe member States will be debated as well.
Parliamentarians will also be called upon to decide whether to grant the request for partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly submitted by the Parliament of Jordan.
Among the personalities who will be addressing the Assembly are the President of Bulgaria Rossen Plevneliev and the Captains Regent of San Marino Lorella Stefanelli and Nicola Renzi.
Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, will address the Assembly in his capacity as Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland will make his annual statement.
The final agenda is decided by the Assembly on the opening day of the session.
* Subject to a decision by the Assembly.
** All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
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Draft agenda
Monday 25 January
• Election of the President of the Assembly
• Election of the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly
• Progress report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee
• Communication from the Committee of Ministers presented by Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers
• Free debate
Tuesday 26 January
• Election of a Judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Cyprus
• Joint debate
o Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan
o Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water
• Address by the President of Bulgaria, Rossen Plevneliev
• Communication from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe presented by Thorbjørn Jagland
• Request for partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly submitted by the Parliament of Jordan and statement by Atef Tarawneh, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan
• Introduction of sanctions against parliamentarians
Wednesday 27 January
• Joint debate
o The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration
o Organised crime and migrants
• Joint debate
o Debate under urgent procedure: Combating international terrorism while protecting Council of Europe standards and values
o Foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq
Thursday 28 January
• Possible urgent debate or current affairs debate
• Address by Lorella Stefanelli and Nicola Renzi, Captains Regent of San Marino
• The situation in Kosovo and the role of the Council of Europe
• Joint debate
o Strengthening the protection and role of human rights defenders in Council of Europe member States
o How to prevent inappropriate restrictions on NGO activities in Europe?
Friday 29 January
• Access to school and education for all children
• Judicial corruption: urgent need to implement the Assembly’s proposals
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Practical information
Live web stream: The session is streamed live on PACE’s website.
Twitter: #PACEwinter2016
Press conferences: PACE President Anne Brasseur will give a press conference on Monday 25 January at 10.30 a.m. Other press conferences will be announced on the spot. They are streamed live over the web.
For TV planning units: videos in broadcast quality summing up PACE highlights can be downloaded for free. Further information from the Council of Europe Audiovisual Service, tel. +33 3 88 41 25 64 (prior to the session) or +33 3 88 41 35 00 (during the session).
For accreditation: Directorate of Communication, [email protected].
Further details: see the Assembly's website.
Contact: PACE Communication Division, tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93; [email protected].