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
Spring Session 2015: mass surveillance; drones and targeted killings
Strasbourg, 20-24 April Debates on mass surveillance practices and on drones and targeted killings: the need to uphold human rights and international law were among the highlights of the Spring Session 2015 (Strasbourg, 20-24 April). The Assembly also debated the reform of football governance, the humanitarian consequences of the actions of the terrorist group called … Read more
The Parliamentary Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children
At a glance [11/10/2017] Strasbourg (France), Presentation of a Study of immigration detention practices and a parliamentarian monitoring guide During the meeting of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons, held on 11 October, two publications prepared in the framework of the Campaign were presented: a study of immigration detention practices and a Parliamentary … Read more
Generic Drugs in the USA
Generic Drugs Definition Generics are full-fledged analogs of branded (parental, original) drugs that third-party manufacturing companies acquire the right to release after the original developer of the drug, who is the patent holder for it, is deprived of patent protection for its invention. In most cases, the term of patent protection is between 14 … 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
Origins and history
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
Former President
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
Election of judges
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
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