Newsroom
Committee of Ministers' President Landsbergis: collective effort needed to ensure sustainable peace and respect for human rights
“It is time to put even more pressure on Russia and ensure its full accountability for its crimes,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, when addressing the Parliamentary Assembly. “Only this way will we lay the path...
Secretary General meets H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco
The Secretary General, Alain Berset, and Prince Albert II of Monaco met during the Sovereign Prince’s visit to mark the 20th anniversary of the Principality of Monaco’s accession to the Council of Europe. They discussed Monaco’s contribution to the Council of Europe’s activities, the importance...
Parliamentary Assembly recognises Julian Assange as a ‘political prisoner’ and warns against the chilling effect of his harsh treatment
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed deep concern at “the disproportionately harsh treatment” faced by Julian Assange and said this has had a “dangerous chilling effect” which undermines the protection of journalists and whistleblowers around the world....
Secretary General stresses the Council of Europe’s crucial role during the Assembly’s autumn plenary session
“The combined effects of these wars, together with climate change and the erosion of democracy, constitute an unprecedented challenge for our societies, a challenge I think we could call the perfect storm. In the face of that challenge, the Council of Europe has already shown its solidity, its...
International Day of Non-Violence: Violence against grassroots politicians has a chilling effect on local democracy
On the occasion of International Day of Non-Violence (2 October), Bernd Vöhringer, Congress Rapporteur on combating violence against local and regional elected representatives, has made the following statement: “Over the last ten years, we have witnessed an alarming rise in violent attacks...
Congress observes local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A 20-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will carry out an election observation mission from 3 to 7 October to observe the local elections throughout the country. Prior to the election day, the delegation, led by Carla Dejonghe, Belgium (R, ILDG), is expected to...
Julian Assange at Parliamentary Assembly hearing, ahead of a plenary debate on his case: 'I pleaded guilty to journalism'
Julian Assange, accompanied by his wife Stella, took part in a parliamentary hearing on his detention and conviction - and their chilling effect on human rights - ahead of a full plenary debate on this topic by the Parliamentary Assembly due on 2 October. The hearing was organised by the...
Vladimir Kara-Murza: ‘The best promise of long-term security and stability on our continent lies with a democratic Russia’
In his statement before the award ceremony for the 2024 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, Vladimir Kara-Murza – the prize winner in 2022 – conveyed his deep respect to this year’s finalists and paid tribute to the past recipients who were still held in captivity “for the only ‘crime’ of expressing...
Parliamentary Assembly called on the CEB to enhance support for reconstruction in Ukraine and focus on social dimensions of climate change
Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, congratulated the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for “its flexible and tailored support to its member states” in the context of the pandemic and natural disasters, and for the rapid assistance to Ukrainian refugees. The...
Parliamentary Assembly elects two new Vice-Presidents
Parliamentary Assembly elected, at the opening of its Autumn 2023 Session, two news Vice-Presidents: Gerardo Giovagnoli (Saint-Marin,SOC) and Andries Gryffroy (Belgique, NI). Nineteen Vice-Presidents are elected annually at the beginning of an ordinary session and remain in office until the...
Theodoros Rousopoulos: 'We must not rest until all political prisoners in Russia and Belarus are freed'
“Dear Vladimir, let me once again express my utmost relief to see you free, and all the more determined to continue with your fight for the free and democratic Russia which we all long for, and which poses no threat to its neighbours nor to its own citizens”, PACE President said today at the...
2024 Václav Havel Prize awarded to Venezuelan political figure and rights defender María Corina Machado
The twelfth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to leading Venezuelan political figure and rights defender María Corina Machado. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special ceremony on the opening day...
“Youth, Ukraine, Europe: coming of age during war”
How can European youth policy adapt to the war in Ukraine, and how can we support the well-being of young people coming of age in war conditions, displaced within their own country or to other European states? This is the key question of a five-day seminar in Strasbourg starting on Monday 30...
Georgia: Parliamentary Assembly monitors and observer mission head express deep concern as Transparency International Georgia is forced to end its election operation
“We are deeply concerned by the fact that Transparency International Georgia has been forced to close its election observation operations because of the deplorable decision by the Anti-Corruption Bureau to declare this civil society organisation and its Director as ‘subjects with a declared...
Podgorica early local elections orderly but improvements desired
A five-member Congress Election Observation Mission completed its mission to monitor the early municipal elections in Podgorica, which took place on Sunday 29 September in 212 polling stations. On election day, four Congress teams led by Randi Mondorf (Denmark, R, ILDG) visited 55 randomly...
Youth participation in focus at Cultural Routes Forum in Hungary
More than 350 participants from over 30 member states of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) attended the 13th Annual Advisory Forum on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Visegrád, Hungary (25-27 September) to explore “Transmission and...
Secretary General at the United Nations General Assembly
“During the Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary year, we will be making the case for as many countries as possible to sign and ratify our key conventions, at a time of democratic backsliding, for our member states to do ever more to uphold our values, both in words and in action. That is the way...
Congress experts discuss foreign interference with local and regional electoral processes in Europe
Meeting in Strasbourg on 26-27 September 2024, the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government – an advisory expert body for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities...
Award of 2024 Václav Havel Prize a highlight of PACE autumn session
The award ceremony for the 2024 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which honours outstanding human rights defenders worldwide, will be among the highlights of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), from 30 September to 4 October. An overall winner will be...
Slovakia: GRECO delegation urges tangible progress to prevent corruption and strengthen integrity in government and police
Following meetings in Bratislava on 26 September the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has called on the Slovak Republic to fully implement its recommendations to prevent corruption and strengthen integrity within the central government (persons with top executive...
