|
Themes |
|
|
|
PACE Spring Sesssion : 27-30 April 2009
The information report submitted by the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee (Luc Van den Brande (Belgium, EPP/CD) and Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE)) concluded that Georgia has not yet fully complied with all of the Assembly’s demands. Russia, for its part, has failed to comply with most of the demands and might even be seen as moving further away from the minimum conditions for meaningful dialogue. (More) Tarja Halonen calls for 'fair globalisation' in economic recovery 'Markets alone cannot give answers to the current economic crisis, declared Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, adressing the Parliamentary Assembly on 28 April. Referring to recovery plans, Mrs Halonen reminded listeners that 'a human-rights based approach will lead to more equitable and sustainable solutions' and that 'the Council of Europe can provide us with useful tools in responding to the challenges of today,' she said. (More) Rodríguez Zapatero: Council of Europe must further protect human rights Adressing the Assembly, the President of the Spanish Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, said the Council of Europe’s goals must be to consolidate democracy wherever it is still fragile and to monitor the respect of fundamental rights while protecting them further. He highlighted gender equality, the fight against terrorism, human trafficking and poverty, and promoting intercultural dialogue as some of the priority areas for Spain in its cooperation with the organisation. (More)
| ||||||||||||
|
Shortlisting limits the right to choose A proposal to draw up a list containing only two of the four candidates submitted by member governments for election to the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe should be reviewed, according to the Assembly. (More)
The Assembly reminded European governments of their “obligation and responsibility” to protect human rights defenders and their work “by providing an enabling environment” and, if necessary, “protection mechanisms to ensure the physical integrity” of those who face specific threats. (More)
Lluís Maria de Puig recalled what he described as “so many good reasons for the Council of Europe to persevere in its mission” at a ceremony held in plenary sitting to mark the 60th anniversary of the organisation. “Our first duty is never to forget the slogan of the pioneers of European integration – never again', he said. (More)
The 2009 Europe Prize has been awarded to the Turkish town of Ankara. The decision was taken unanimously. Through its forty twinnings in the world, Ankara has developed a very dense network of international contacts and attaches great importance to the development of cultural relations by organising every year Cultural Days. (More)
Despite a period of turbulent transformation and several challenges, Serbia is “moving forward and making progress on the road to European integration”, according to the Assembly. The parliamentarians called on Serbia to prepare a “roadmap” of concrete actions to reform its democratic institutions (More)
|
| |||||||||||
|
 | |||||||||||
The Assembly reviewed the action taken by Georgia and Russia on Resolution 1647 (2009) adopted by the PACE in January 2009. 
