Global tensions led to unusual number of urgent debates at Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe spring session
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The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) took place in Strasbourg on 7–11 April. Eleven members of the Swedish delegation participated in the session which, among other things, focused on the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul and protests in the Western Balkans and Central Europe.
Several debates on urgent matters were held during the week, including on the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, and the situation for democracy and human rights in Turkey. Furthermore the blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza and accountability in connection with Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine were debated. Other topics of debate were demonstrations and protests in the Western Balkans and Central Europe, and a draft Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law.
Debate on foreign interference – a threat to democracy
A number of reports were debated during the session. One of these dealt with foreign interference as a threat to democratic security in Europe. It discusses Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the use of cyber attacks and disinformation as a means of undermining democracy. This debate had the greatest number of notified speakers during the week. Another debate that drew considerable attention dealt with stopping collective expulsions of aliens. Members of the Swedish delegation participated in these and other debates.
The situation in Georgia
The agenda also included negative developments as regards democracy in Georgia and the follow-up of PACE’s winter session in January, at which Georgia’s accreditation to PACE was debated. The Assembly decided that Georgia would continue to have limited opportunities to participate in activities until a number of conditions have been met.
Other matters debated during the week included the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the Council of Europe, the importance of implementing judgments from the European Court of Justice and stronger relations between the Council of Europe and Latin America.
Report from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
A number of guest speakers were invited to participate in the session, including Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Head of the Government of the Principality of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora. Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Committee of Ministers also spoke at the session. Furthermore, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe participated in the customary question-and-answer session and Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights presented his annual report.
During the session, the 2025 Council of Europe Museum Prize was awarded at a ceremony. This year’s prize went to Euskararen Etxea (The House of the Basque Language). In addition, the Europe Prize – an annual prize which is given annually to the city that has been most active in promoting the European ideal – was awarded to Gaziantep in Turkey.
The Assembly also elected judges to the European Court of Human rights from Monaco.
Members
Members of the Riksdag who participated in the spring session:
- Markus Wiechel (SweDem), Chair
- Mattias Jonsson (SocDem), Deputy Chair
- Boriana Åberg (Mod)
- Azadeh Rojhan (SocDem)
- Annika Strandhäll (SocDem)
- Victoria Tiblom (SweDem)
- Denis Begic (SocDem)
- Gustaf Göthberg (Mod)
- Sofia Amloh (SocDem)
- Michael Rubbestad (SweDem)
- Kristoffer Lindberg (SocDem)
Further information
The Council of Europe works to create common European values based 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 currently has 46 member countries.
Contact person for the media
Petra Sjöström, Senior International Adviser, International Department of the Riksdag, telephone: +46-72-716 59 25, email: petra.sjostrom@riksdagen.se