René van der Linden Biography Born in Eys-Wittem, Netherlands, on 14 December 1943 Married, three children Education Economics: international administrative studies Catholic Economics Faculty in Tilburg (1966-1970) Present and previous main functions Member of the First Chamber (Senate) of the States-General of the Netherlands (from 1999) President of the Committee for European cooperation of … Read more
Biography May 2006 – to 31 January 2011: Director General, Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (deputizing for the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly) 1 November 2009 – 31 March 2010: Acting Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe October 1996 to … Read more
SpeechesReturn to Full Page Opening statement, October 2016 Part-Session Opening statement, October 2016 Part-Session Strasbourg, Monday 10 October 2016 Dear colleagues, Ladies and gentleman, Fear is present in the atmosphere within our societies. Fear of terrorism, fear of war, fear of the “other” – foreigners or migrants coming to our societies. These various fears taken … Read more
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
Réunions des commissions Bien que les commissions s’occupent principalement de rapports, elles ont une grande liberté pour examiner toute question entrant dans leur domaine de compétence lorsqu’elles en décident ainsi. Elles organisent sur des thèmes particuliers des auditions, des colloques ou des conférences dont les résultats servent ensuite à rédiger les rapports soumis à l’Assemblée. … Read more
Strasbourg, 26-30 January 2015 Address by the President of Ireland, as well as debates on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and on protection of media freedom in Europe are among highlights of the Assembly’s Winter session 2015 (26-30 January). There will be a discussion of intolerance and discrimination in Europe, with a special focus on … Read more
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
How are judges of the European Court of Human Rights elected? The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe elects the judges of the European Court of Human Rights, providing them with democratic legitimacy. According to the European Convention on Human Rights, judges must “be of high moral character and possess the qualifications required for … Read more
Le Réseau parlementaire pour le droit des femmes de vivre sans violence se compose de parlementaires, issus des délégations d’Etats membres et d’observateurs auprès de l’Assemblée parlementaire et des délégations des partenaires pour la démocratie. Il est en place depuis 2006, année où il a contribué à la campagne du Conseil de l’Europe « Combattre la … Read more
Strasbourg, 30 September-4 October 2013 Strasbourg, 05.09.2013 – Addresses by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and the Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin will be among highlights of PACE’s forthcoming autumn plenary session (30 September-4 October). Also on the agenda are debates on national security and access to information, and … Read more
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 Left … Read more
Diary Print version December 2018 Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Year 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 … Read more
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
En vertu des compétences que lui confère le Statut fondateur, l’Assemblée peut : demander l’adoption de mesures aux 47 gouvernements européens, qui sont tenus d’apporter une réponse commune ; enquêter pour révéler des faits nouveaux concernant des violations des droits de l’homme ; poser des questions aux chefs d’Etat ou de gouvernement sur tout sujet de … Read more
Members President Vice- Presidents All Members Work Documents Sessions Committees Functioning In Brief Procedure Political Groups
The idea of a united Europe, and of the establishment of some body representatives of Europe as a whole and competent to speak, perhaps to act, on its behalf, was commonly advanced at least as early as the XIXth century. Only in the XXth century, however, has that idea taken concrete form – and then … Read more
Strasbourg, 7-11 April 2014 At its Spring session in Strasbourg on 7-11 April the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) will debate a request to reconsider the already ratified credentials of the delegation of the Russian Federation on substantive grounds (under Rule 9.1.a of the Rules of Procedure) and is likely to hold an urgent … Read more
In its 60-plus years of existence, PACE’s role as a “human rights watchdog”, a motor of ideas and a forum for debate has triggered positive change, defused conflict, and helped to steer the continent towards an ever-evolving set of shared values. Among the Assembly’s most important achievements are: Ending the death penalty in Europe by … Read more
Liliane Maury Pasquier “We must continue to work tirelessly to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law, both on the European continent and beyond in the face of rising extremism, violence and repression, and in a context in which migration and security are very strained issues. The President of the Assembly therefore … Read more
