Strasbourg, 27-31 January 2014 An urgent debate on “The functioning of democratic institutions in Ukraine”* as well as a debate on “Refusing impunity for the killers of Sergei Magnitsky” are among highlights of PACE’s Winter Session, taking place in Strasbourg from 27 to 31 January 2014. Werner Faymann, Federal Chancellor of Austria, and Martin Schulz, … 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

Debates on threats to the rule of law in Council of Europe member States, European institutions and human rights in Europe, ensuring comprehensive treatment for children with attention problems, democratic participation for migrant diaspora, and student mobility, featured on the agenda of the Standing Committee (*) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe … Read more

Biography Born on 19 May 1950 in Luxembourg Responsibilities in the Parliamentary Assembly since 1993 President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since January 2014 President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in 2009-2014 President of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education in 2008-2010 Rapporteur : has … Read more

Equality and Non-Discrimination News Empowering intersex people: a crucial means of guaranteeing their rights 26/10/2018 Equality and Non-Discrimination “For far too long, discrimination against intersex people has played havoc with their lives and led to appalling violations of their rights,” said Piet De Bruyn, on the occasion of Intersex Awareness Day. More ‘It’s time to … 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

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 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

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

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

  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

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

    Michele Nicoletti “At a time of great and dramatic challenges – from terrorism to migration, from poverty old and new to mistrust in representative institutions, from the re-emergence of racism and xenophobia to the desperate solitude of so many people – we must offer a response to nationalist and chauvinistic temptations to close … Read more

Home News Search web content Search News Home-old Members Members Search Members since 1949 Vice-Presidents President Anne BRASSEUR BiographyPresident test template Jean-Claude MIGNON Activities Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU Lluís Maria de PUIG René van der LINDEN Peter SCHIEDER Anne BRASSEUR Pedro AGRAMUNT Biography Pedro Agramunt Roger GALE Stella KYRIAKIDES Michele NICOLETTI NicolettiOpeningSpeech Liliane MAURY PASQUIER Work Documents … 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

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

  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