Last updated on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 | 14:17
President
Jean-Claude Mignon calls for less duplication and increased co-operation between PACE and the EP
[15/02/2012]Increased co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament was the main focus of meetings held yesterday and today in Strasbourg by the PACE President, Jean-Claude Mignon. During meetings with the Chair of the Group of the European People's Party, Joseph Daul, the Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Hannes Swoboda, the Co-Chair of the Greens, Rebecca Harms, the Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists, Martin Callanan, and the Head of the EU Delegation to the Council of Europe, Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, Jean-Claude Mignon advocated increased reciprocal participation in activities of common interest organised by the two institutions, including joint field visits.(more..)
Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Strengthening the role of PACE in securing compliance with Council of Europe standards
[22/02/2012]Marieluise Beck (Germany, ALDE) will conduct a fact-finding visit to Kyiv in connection with the preparation of her report on “Threats to the Rule of Law in Council of Europe member states - Upholding the authority of the Parliamentary Assembly”.
Equality and Non-Discrimination
Status of women in the southern Mediterranean: visits by the PACE rapporteur
[14/02/2012]Fatiha Saïdi (Belgium, SOC), a member of the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, will make a fact-finding visit to Casablanca and Rabat (15-18 February), followed by Tunis (19-21 February), in connection with the preparation of her report on "Gender equality and the status of women in the Council of Europe southern neighbourhood". (more..)
Monitoring
PACE co-rapporteurs make fact-finding visit to Hungary in the framework of a request for the opening of a monitoring procedure
[13/02/2012]Kerstin Lundgren (Sweden, ALDE) and Jana Fischerová (Czech Republic, EDG), PACE co-rapporteurs who have been appointed to assess the request for the opening of a monitoring procedure in respect of Hungary – following a motion signed by 24 members of the Assembly in January 2011 – will make a fact-finding visit to Budapest on 16-17 February 2012. (more..)
President
The media are an essential tool for promoting cultural diversity, says PACE President
[14/02/2012]Media professionals have a genuine power to "convey a positive message of intercultural dialogue and promote ideological, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity" PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon declared today in Strasbourg at the opening of a colloquy on the theme "Media which express cultural diversity: situation and prospects", organised by the University of Strasbourg's UNESCO Chair.
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Jean-Claude Mignon meets the members of the French Senate's European Affairs Committee
[13/02/2012]During an exchange of views yesterday with the European Affairs Committee of the French Senate, PACE President, Jean-Claude Mignon, recalled the main activities carried out by the Council of Europe, which focuses on the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. On this occasion, Mr Mignon presented the priorities of his Presidency. (more..)
PACE pre-electoral delegation told of urgent need for a fair election
[13/02/2012]Russia on the eve of its Presidential election remains a nation poised between hope and fear, where much is possible but nothing is yet sure, according to a PACE pre-electoral delegation, concluding a four-day visit to Moscow. The five-member delegation, in Moscow from 8 to 11 February 2012, met four of the five candidates: Sergey Mironov, Mikhail Prokhorov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Guennady Zyuganov. (more..)
Chair of PACE Migration Committee calls for improvements in the EU Family Reunification Directive
[13/02/2012]“Family reunification is an important element of the right to family life and an essential part of the integration process for migrants,” said Giacomo Santini (Italy, EPP/CD), Chair of the PACE Migration Committee, following the approval by the committee of a position paper on reform of the EU Family Reunification Directive.(more..)