23/06/2024 Session
A joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, on the role of sanctions and on the erasure of cultural identity, are among the highlights of the summer plenary session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, taking place from 24 to 28 June 2024 in Strasbourg.
The parliamentarians will hold an urgent debate on challenges to democracy in Georgia has been requested, as well as a current affairs debates on "War in Gaza: ensuring the release of the hostages, the implementation of an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid" and on "Can the Council of Europe step up its efforts to counter threats to the freedom of expression?".
A ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe is planned, with a statement by Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council of Austria. A chamber orchestra will play the Ode to Joy under his direction.
The Assembly will also award the first ever Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, which rewards outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity in Europe and beyond, with statements by Guðni Thorlacius Jòhannesson, President of Iceland, and Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Market of Iceland.
On Tuesday June 25, parliamentarians will elect the new Secretary General of the Council of Europe for the next five years. The result of the vote for the first round will be announced in plenary at 12:55 p.m. (shortly before the end of the morning session) and the result of the vote for a possible second round will be announced at 7:25 p.m. (shortly before the end of the evening session )
Lithuania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, the President of the Committee of Ministers, will present its communication to the Assembly and take questions from members. Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will address the Assembly.
Also foreseen are a statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and a joint debate on strengthening democracy through participatory and deliberative processes, and on strengthening the youth perspective in the work of the Assembly.
Items on the agenda also include Varosha’s return to its lawful inhabitants, protecting women human rights defenders in Europe, ensuring human rights compliant asylum procedures, and reparation and reconciliation processes to overcome past conflicts.
There will also be debates on policy solutions and support for the displaced people of Ukraine, on defusing ticking time bombs for a safe return of displaced populations, on safeguarding human rights for future generations, and on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia.
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Practical information
With the completion of renovation work, the Assembly will return to its usual home in the debating chamber of the Palais de l'Europe.
Media accreditation: please fill in this accreditation form. More details here, or contact the Council of Europe Communications Directorate via [email protected].
PACE website: the agenda, adopted texts, reports to be debated, voting results, speakers lists, video recordings of each sitting (in English, French and original languages), as well as the verbatim record of each sitting (in English, French, German and Italian), are available on the special session page. News items on all debates appear on the Assembly’s home page.
Social media: follow the Assembly’s official accounts via X, Facebook and LinkedIn (#PACEsummer2024).
Webcast: the session is webcast live (in French, English, German, Italian and Spanish) on PACE’s website. Each sitting is also streamed live via the Assembly’s YouTube channel in English, scrollable in mid-stream, with instant replay.
Video clips: an online tool allows video clips from plenary sessions to be edited and downloaded.
Photos: photos from session week can be downloaded from the Council of Europe media library or via the Assembly’s Flickr account.
Contact: PACE Communication Division, tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93, [email protected].