The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
The Council of Europe works to create a common set of core values founded on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Sweden was one of the founders of the Council of Europe and its parliamentary assembly in 1949. The Council of Europe has 46 member countries today.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is primarily concerned with the core issues democracy and human rights, but current political issues are receiving increasing attention. Thanks to its topical debates and the positions it takes, the Parliamentary Assembly is a platform for discussion of issues of central importance for the future.
The Council of Europe is an institution with a normative role in European policy through the agreements, or conventions, that the member states have to follow. One of the most well-known conventions is the Convention on Human Rights.
Election-monitoring missions
An important task for members of parliament in the delegation to the Council of Europe is to examine how member states honour their commitments. Election-monitoring missions are an important part of this examination. They are organised in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Europe (OSCE) and involve members of parliament visiting polling stations before and during election day to monitor whether the citizens of the country in question are given adequate opportunity to vote. Election-monitoring missions promote democratic development, and the Swedish delegation to the Council of Europe regularly participates in such missions.
Adopts resolutions and issues statements
The Council of Europe meets four times a year in Strasbourg, where the organisation is also based. At these meetings, also known as sessions, members of parliament debate reports and adopt joint resolutions, directives and recommendations to the Committee of Ministers. The Council of Europe also makes statements on topical issues.
The Assembly has ten specialised committees and one standing committee, which also meet between sessions. The committees are:
- The Standing Committee
- The Monitoring Committee
- The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
- The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
- The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
- The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
- The Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media
- The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
- The Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutions
- The Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights
The Council of Europe has five party groups:
- The Socialist Group (SOC)
- The Group of the European People's Party (EPP/CD)
- The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
- The European Conservatives Group & Democratic Alliance (EC/DA)
- The Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
The Swedish delegation
The Swedish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is elected by the Riksdag for a full electoral period, that is for a four-year period. The delegation consists of six ordinary members, including one chair and one deputy chair, plus six deputy members. Every year, the delegation submits an annual report of its activities to the Riksdag. The report is considered by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and a debate is held in the Chamber.