Legal Affairs and Human Rights News Sharia versus the Convention on Human Rights: protect human rights regardless of religious practices 14/12/2018 Legal Affairs and Human Rights The committee is greatly concerned that Sharia law, including provisions clearly contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, is applied officially or unofficially in several Council of Europe … Read more
Political groups
There are six organised political groups within the Assembly: the Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) the Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group (SOC) the European Conservatives Group (EC) – New site under construction, thank you for your patience the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) the Group of the Unified European … Read more
Former President
Anne Brasseur “I am proud to be the president of an Assembly which brings together 324 parliamentarians from 47 European countries, representing 820 million people. To benefit from this diversity, we must not only foster permanent dialogue and mutual respect but also make the effort to understand others, taking account of their backgrounds, their history, … Read more
Standing Committee: meeting in Paris
The Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Paris (Assemblée nationale) on 7 March 2014. Members of the Standing Committee will hold an exchange of views with Ranko Krivokapić, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. This will be followed by debates on “Migrants and refugees and the fight against AIDS”, “Europe’s … Read more
Parliamentary Project Support
The Parliamentary Project Support Division was created in 2012. Its aim is, in co-operation with the general Committees, to assist with the implementation of specific co-operation involving parliamentarians and staff of national parliaments, so as to increase the visibility and impact of the PACE’s work. It is intended to ensure that the PACE’s key recommendations … Read more
Pedro Agramunt: Biography Born in Valencia, 12 September 1951. Married, two children. Education: Bachelor in Law, University of Valencia. Political positions: President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, elected on 25 January 2016 for a one-year term, renewable once. President of the European People’s Party group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the … Read more
Autumn Session: migration crisis, public health and interests of the pharmaceutical industry, Human Rights Prize
Strasbourg, 28 September-2 October 2015 A joint debate on the humanitarian and political response to the migration and refugee crisis in Europe, the challenges for countries of transit, and the urgent need for a real European asylum system, with the intervention of the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini, will be among … Read more
Bureau
Bureau and Presidential Committee News Next step in the Assembly reform process 29/06/2018 Bureau Proposals aimed at maintaining, changing or supplementing the rules governing the ratification or challenge of credentials, and participation rights of national delegations, have been referred to PACE’s Rules Committee. More Ad hoc Committee on the role and mission of PACE 13/06/2018 … Read more
European Conference of Presidents of Parliament The European Conference of Presidents of Parliament brings together Speakers and Presidents of the parliaments of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe; of parliaments enjoying observer and partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of international parliamentary assemblies. … Read more
Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs News Rules Committee proposes to strengthen PACE’s decision-making process on credentials and voting 20/09/2018 Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs The Committee on Rules of Procedure proposes to amend some of the Assembly’s Rules on challenges to the credentials of national delegations, including as regards the majorities … Read more
The Network Women Free from Violence
The Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence is composed of parliamentarians, engaged at national level in the fight against violence against women. They belong to delegations of member and observer States with the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as delegations of partners for democracy. The Network has been active since 2006, when it contributed to the … Read more
Standing Committee meets in Sofia as Bulgaria takes over CoE Chairmanship
The Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will meet in Sofia on Friday 27 November, in the context of the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers (November 2015-May 2016). After the opening of the meeting by PACE President Anne Brasseur, the Speaker of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva … Read more
The Parliamentary Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children
On 20 April 2015, PACE launched the Parliamentary Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children. It seeks to raise awareness of this issue in Europe and to encourage States to adopt alternatives to detention that fulfil the best interests of the child and allow children to remain with their family members and/or guardians in non-custodial, … Read more
Former President
Pedro Agramunt “I have the honour of addressing all of you at this important moment in the life of PACE. It is clear that the creation of the Assembly was essential for the success of the Council of Europe and to ensure that European principles are embodied in international legal standards. However, PACE currently … Read more
In brief
The democratic conscience of Greater Europe The Assembly brings together 324 men and women from the parliaments of the Council of Europe’s 47 member states. Though it contains many voices, reflecting political opinion across the continent, its mission is to uphold the shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law that … Read more
The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which aims to reward outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, was launched on 25 March 2013 at a ceremony in Prague (Czech Republic). To be awarded each year by the Assembly, in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the … Read more
Committees
Most of the reports debated in plenary session or at the Standing Committee are prepared by a committee. The nine general committees of the Assembly are the following: Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy (AS/Pol) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (AS/Jur) Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development (AS/Soc) Committee on Migration, … Read more
Terrorism: #NoHateNoFear, a PACE initiative
With the Terrorism: #NoHateNoFear initiative, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe wishes to encourage all players in society to stand firm against the terrorist threat by refusing to give in to hatred or fear. Certainly, terrorism must be combated, but this fight must be waged with due regard for the values which unite … Read more
Transparency and integrity at the Assembly
The Assembly has a framework for ensuring the transparency of its work and the accountability and integrity of its members, in place for many years. This was significantly improved in 2017 and is regularly updated, ensuring that members act in line with the highest ethical standards. The Code of Conduct spells out what is expected … Read more