Strasbourg, 17.09.2009 – The challenges posed by climate change, the war between Russia and Georgia one year after and the election of the Council of Europe’s new Secretary General are among highlights of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg (28 September-2 October 2009).
Slovenian President Danilo Türk will address the Assembly and French Secretary of State for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche will take part in a debate on the future of the Council of Europe in the light of its 60 years of experience.
The Assembly will also debate a request, made by 72 of its members, to reconsider, on substantive grounds, the credentials of the Russian delegation to the Assembly.
Other topics for discussion include a proposal to end the monitoring of Monaco and a call for an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to a healthy environment. Reports on politically-motivated abuses of the criminal justice system, the protection of “whistle-blowers”, and the rape of women, including marital rape, are also due to be debated.
A current affairs debate has been requested on the situation of human rights defenders in the North Caucasus region.
Earlier in the week, Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar will present the traditional Communication from the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe’s executive body.
German conductor Kurt Masur will contribute to a debate on cultural education, while the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Angel Gurría will take part in the annual enlarged debate on the activities of the OECD.
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Draft agenda
The Assembly will decide on its final agenda at the opening of the session.
Monday 28 September
· Opening of the session and statement by the President
· Election of Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in respect of Bulgaria and Spain
· Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and the Standing Committee
· Communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly presented by Samuel Žbogar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers
Tuesday 29 September
· Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
· The war between Georgia and Russia: one year after
· The promotion of Internet and online media services appropriate for minors
· The challenges posed by climate change, and statement by Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (to be confirmed)
· Cultural education: the promotion of cultural knowledge, creativity and intercultural understanding through education, and statement by Kurt Masur, conductor
· The functioning of democratic institutions in Moldova: implementation of Resolution 1666 (2009)
Wednesday 30 September
· Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (possible second round)
· United Nations reform and the Council of Europe member states
· The activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2008-2009, and statement by Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD
· Reconsideration on substantive grounds of previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation (Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly) (date and time to be confirmed)
Thursday 1 October
· Possible urgent debate or The protection of "whistle-blowers"
· Address by Danilo Türk, President of Slovenia
· The future of the Council of Europe in the light of its 60 years of experience, and statement by Pierre Lellouche, Secretary of State for European Affairs of France (to be confirmed)
Friday 2 October
· Rape of women, including marital rape
· Lobbying in a democratic society (European code of conduct on lobbying)
· Joint debate: Water: a strategic challenge for the Mediterranean Basin and
Towards a new ocean governance
· 15 years since the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action
Practical information
Press conferences:
Lluís Maria de Puig, PACE President, will give a press conference on Monday 28 September at 10.15 am. Other press conferences will be announced on the spot.
Further details:
See the Assembly's website, as well as the special commemorative website created to mark the 60th anniversary of the first session of the Assembly in August 1949. A special file can also be found on the Council of Europe web portal.
For TV planning units: videos in broadcast quality summing up PACE highlights can be downloaded for free at http://dl.coe.int no later than two hours after the event.
Contact: PACE Communication Unit: Tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93; [email protected]
For accreditation: Directorate of Communication:
Danielle Schreiber-Somoza, [email protected], tel. +33 3 88 41 25 44
Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93
Fax : +33 3 90 21 41 34
[email protected]
assembly.coe.int
