A global perspective

On January 31, the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will close in Strasbourg. Many topics of great interest are on the agenda, with an outlook that, as always, extends beyond the boundaries of the continent to reaffirm and revitalize the role that Europe can play on the international stage provided it is united, free from divisions and populisms. In the opening session, on January 27, the Assembly elected its new president, Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg), member of the Liberal and Democrats group, the second woman in the history of this institution to hold this one-year position, renewable only once. Elected by an absolute majority – 165 votes, 125 against attributed to Robert Walter (United Kingdom) – the new president succeeds Jean-Claude Mignon. The Vice-Presidents were also appointed (the seat Bosnia-Herzegovina is entitled to is still vacant), and Danish judge Jon Fridrik Kjølbro to the European Court of Human Rights.Refugees and capital punishment. The focus of the session was on Syria and on the humanitarian tragedy of the refugees – over three million at the end of 2013 according to UNHCR data – towards whom the Assembly invited member States and observers “to show generosity and solidarity” by welcoming them in their countries whilst recommending “a balanced distribution among countries.” In a resolution adopted on the basis of a report by Jean – Marie Bockel, PACE expressed gratitude to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq for their generous hospitality, and to the Member States that have agreed to receive them, namely, Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. Most of these countries, MEPs have pointed out, continue “to evaluation asylum requests on an individual basis”, while “comprehensive policies” are needed instead. In October 2011, the Assembly granted the Palestinian National Council, the status of “partner for democracy.” Rapporteur Tiny Kox summarized the two-year period. At the conclusion of the debate, the resolution adopted unanimously highlights among other things the “lack of legislative power that causes severe imbalances in the structure of the Palestinian State,” due to the “scissions” that have led to the failure to form a government of national unity and the impossibility of holding elections. Serious non-compliance of the moratorium on executions in Gaza, a commitment taken in Strasbourg was equally denounced.Immigrants as a resource. To fight distorted ideas and prejudices about immigrants “propagated by politicians and media.” Migrants constitute a “benefit to society”, and not just because they can “make up for shortages in the labour market” and “contribute to counteract the demographic decline and aging,” but because they are also “a source of cultural enrichment,” states the resolution adopted following the report by MEP Athina Kyriakidou. Negative views were conveyed on the so-called “integration tests” for immigrants – an issue raised by Tineke Strik – increasingly used by certain countries, as they might “encourage exclusion” and constitute “a step backwards.” MEPs also voiced their ‘no’ to growing racism and intolerance present at every level of society. Two preliminary reports: by Jonas Gunnarsson, who called for a “strategic approach”, and by David Davies, which denounces episodes of racism in the police urging governments to combat them.Listening to the Pope’s warning. General Secretary Thorbjørn Jagland called upon member States to ratify the Social Charter of the Council of Europe and to step up efforts to curb social inequalities. “I share the warning that the Pope who expressed concern over the trend that the ‘winner’ takes it all’ while those on the margins of society are increasingly cut out,” he said. Regarding freedom of expression, privacy, and the global governance of the Internet, Jagland highlighted the CoE Convention on data protection. It is necessary to safeguard the freedom of expression and of the press, because a free press is “a fundamental condition for democracy” and “journalists need protection,” underlined the Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.EU-CoE cooperation. On January 29, in his speech before the Assembly, Martin Schulz, President of the EP (Germany), invited to strengthen cooperation between PACE and the European Parliament, former “partners” in ensuring fair elections and the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Schulz also said that the EU’s forthcoming access to the European Convention on Human Rights will be a “historic step” on the path “towards convergence and coherence in Europe.”