A debate on the application by Kosovo* for membership of the Council of Europe, and vote on a draft opinion, will be one of the highlights of the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), taking place in Strasbourg from 15-19 April.
There will also be a joint debate on “Alexei Navalny’s death and the need to counter Vladimir Putin’s totalitarian regime and its war on democracy”, and on “the arbitrary detention of Vladimir Kara-Murza and the systematic persecution of anti-war protestors in Russia and Belarus”, together with a third report proposing targeted sanctions against the individuals involved in Mr Kara-Murza’s detention, conviction and earlier poisoning.
The Assembly is also due to discuss support for the reconstruction of Ukraine, including a proposal to use frozen Russian state assets for this purpose, with the participation of the Chairman of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk. An urgent debate concerning the "draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law" has been requested – the Assembly is due to give its statutory Opinion on this new Council of Europe draft treaty – as well as a current affairs debate on "the role of the Council of Europe in preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza".
Personalities due to address the Assembly include HSH Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova Mihail Popşoi. Liechtenstein Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler will present the communication from the Committee of Ministers in the framework of Liechtenstein's Presidency of the Council of Europe. Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinovic Burić will hold her usual question time. Other debates foreseen include the freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people in Europe, and a joint debate on “mainstreaming the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment” and on Council of Europe strategies for healthy seas and oceans.
The parliamentarians will also discuss the protection of children against online violence and hold a joint debate on the relationship between the majority and the opposition in a democracy, and on good practice in referendums. Finally, the Assembly will debate the honouring of obligations and commitments by Albania – including a proposal to end the full monitoring of this member state. The Assembly will adopt its final agenda on the first day of the session.
* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
