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. The … Read more

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

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

Strasbourg, 29 September-3 October 2014 A current affairs debate on the crisis in Ukraine, a report on countering neo-Nazism, and the award of the second Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize will be among highlights of PACE’s autumn session in Strasbourg, from 29 September to 3 October. Other items on the draft agenda, just made public, … Read more

  Jean-Claude MIGNON “The Parliamentary Assembly was the instigator of many initiatives which have made the Council of Europe what it is today, from the European Convention on Human Rights to the integration of the new democracies in central and eastern Europe as a result of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the establishment … Read more

Strasbourg, 23-27 June 2014 The election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, an address by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and a joint debate on the “left-to-die boat” and on the large-scale arrival of mixed migratory flows on Italian shores are among the highlights of the forthcoming PACE plenary session in … Read more

  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

Standing committees 2013 Yerevan, 31 May 2012 Paris, 8 March 2012   Standing committees 2012 Andorra la Vella, 30 November 2012 Tirana, 25 May 2012 Paris, 9 March 2012   Standing committees 2011 Edinburgh, 25 November 2011 Kyiv, 27 May 2011 Paris, 11 March 2011   Standing committees 2010 Antalya, 12 November 2010 Skopje, 21 … Read more

Observers The Assembly may, on the proposal of the Bureau, grant Observer status to national parliaments of non-member states of the Council of Europe which meet the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of Statutory Resolution (93) 26 of the Committee of Ministers on Observer status. The Assembly shall specify the number of members of … 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