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, 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
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 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
The Standing Committee (*) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) met at the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki on Friday 23 November 2018, as Finland began its six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s ministerial body (21 November 2018-17 May 2019). PACE President Liliane Maury Pasquier opened the meeting, followed by a … Read more
Many parliamentarians across Europe have a right to visit detention centres for irregular migrants and asylum seekers as part of their mandate as national parliamentarians. Yet a survey conducted by the Parliamentary Assembly has shown that this right is not always known to parliamentarians or used to its full capacity. The Committee on Migration, refugees … 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
PACE meets four times a year for week-long plenary sessions in Strasbourg. The 324 representatives and 324 substitutes are appointed by national parliaments from among their members. The parliament of each country sends a delegation of between two and eighteen representatives, depending on the country’s population, which must reflect the balance of political … 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
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
