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Autumn Session: 28 September-2 October 2009
In a recommendation based on a report by José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), the Assembly said the European Court of Human Rights, in its case-law, had already on some occasions protected such a right as a “knock-on effect” of other rights. (More) Thorbjørn Jagland elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe PACE elected Thorbjørn Jagland (Norway) Secretary General of the Organisation for a five-year term. In the first round of the election, Thorbjørn Jagland obtained 165 votes (an absolute majority) and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (Poland) 80 votes. There were 245 votes cast. Mr Jagland has been President of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) since 2005 and Member of Parliament for Buskerud County since 1993. (More) PACE demands Russia allow access to South Ossetia and Abkhazia Before the end of this year, Russia should allow EU monitors into South Ossetia and Abkhazia, lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid to the two regions and let Georgian civilians move freely across the boundary lines, PACE demanded. Debating the war between Georgia and Russia a year on, the Assembly deplored there had been “little tangible progress” in addressing the consequences of the war – and said that in several areas, the situation had actually regressed. (More) | ||||||||||||
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20 journalists have been killed on duty The Council of Europe area has suffered a “marked setback” in the overall level of media freedom in the past three years, according to a background report by an independent expert presented to PACE’s Sub-committee on the Media. “It is apparent from this survey of the last three years that the violations and abuses are more acute and pervasive than has been widely understood,” according to the report. (More)
The Assembly called on European political leaders “to show political will in order to ensure unwavering support for the Council of Europe in the performance of its statutory functions”. Aware that the Organisation’s activities must constantly be subjected to objective critical analysis, the parliamentarians asked member States to show “political courage” in censuring behaviour that is inconsistent with the Council of Europe’s principles and values. (More) The Assembly decided to close the monitoring procedure relating to the honouring of the obligations and commitments of Monaco towards the Council of Europe. In a resolution adopted on the basis of the report by Leonid Slutsky (Russian Federation, SOC) and Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD), the Assembly considered that Monaco has clearly demonstrated “its determination and ability” to fulfil the undertakings made upon its accession in 2004. (More)
Speaking at the Assembly, the President of the Republic of Slovenia said that a 'Europe united around common values is still not fully realised'. He stated that this aim should remain the priority of the Council of Europe, which should continue to be the 'ultimate watchdog for human rights in the continent'. (More)
Moldova’s new coalition government and opposition should enter into meaningful negotiations to break the deadlock over electing the President, the Assembly said. Debating a monitoring report on Moldova, the Assembly also said that once the President and Prime Minister were in place, there needs to be far-reaching reform – including, where appropriate, of the Constitution – to avoid such institutional deadlock in the future. (More)
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PACE called for the “right to live in a healthy and viable environment” to be enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights – which would make it legally enforceable in courts across Europe. 
